What do I do when someone changes a lot of my info on a person?
The info on this person was correct and complete. It altered much of the family info. Kind of a shock. Even the birth is ridiculous, before the parents birth! Do I have to go in and change everything back?
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Answers
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Brett, Thank you.
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Dee
You are not alone ...
MANY; Many; many, of us, ... have been there ... done that ... still do ...
Many of us have had 'wayward' "Changes" made to our "Ancestral" Lines ...
It is often a matter of the MOST "Persistent" ...
Never give in ... Never give up ...
Hopefully, the other User/Patron will eventually 'tire'; and, give up ...
Unfortunately, there are NO winners ...
But ...
That Said ...
Technically, there is no way to STOP another User/Patron working along the SAME 'Ancestral" Lines.
Unfortunately, such CANNOT be prevented.
As, basically, we are all related.
Your "Ancestral" Lines, are most likely ALSO another User's/Patron's "Ancestral" Lines, in fact, probably, that of quite a few other Users/Patrons.
Now ...
That Said ...
Basically, we DO NOT have, a "Tree", in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', than is common misconception.
And, OTHER Users/Patrons, DO NOT need/require, our (ie. one's) "Permission", to "Change" the information/details of "Deceased" individuals/persons, in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'.
Here an old 'standby' of mine, that I have previously proffered on occasion ...
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Most new (and, some old) Users/Patrons DO NOT understand the basic 'nature' and 'premise' of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', when they join in.
Please let me explain ...
We do not have our OWN "Tree" in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
We ONLY have "Branches" (ie. Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is NOT like 'On-Line' "Websites" (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "PAF"; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).
We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees' in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' like other 'On-Line' "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.
We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
And, most importantly ...
We DO NOT even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, Our OWN "Deceased" Ancestors/Family/Relatives in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is built on a "Open Edit" Platform - hence, why any registered User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
I hope that this gives you some, insight; and, perspective.
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In other words ... "Collaboration" ...
Of course ... often ... easier said, than done ...
[ Sometimes, no matter how hard one tries, "Collaboration", does not work ... such is life ... ]
Plus ...
We ALL make MISTAKES ...
NONE of US are PREFECT ...
None of us want to have our "Ancestral" Lines 'messed up'; but, unfortunately, it happens.
FIRSTLY ...
That is exactly why, many Users/Patrons, ALSO maintain their own PRIVATE "Database(s)" (ie. Copies) of their "Ancestral" Lines , on 'On-Line' "Websites" (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "PAF"; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).
And ...
SECONDLY ...
Unfortunately, some people like to ... 'look at life through rose coloured glasses'.
Some people, 'see' ONLY what they WANT to 'see', regardless of ALL the supporting evidence (ie. proof) that is provided/supplied/attached.
Honestly, we can ALL be 'one-eyed' like that ... at times ...
Truly ...
It is a matter of "Watching" (oops, sorry, 'old school', "Following") our MOST important Ancestors.
Just to keep on top of any 'wayward' changes.
One can "Follow", up to a Maximum of x4000 individuals/persons, at any given time.
'FamilySearch', sends one, a 'Weekly' NOTIFICATION, of ANY "Changes", that are made to those individuals/persons one "Follows".
Better still, I DO NOT 'Wait' for that 'Weekly' NOTIFICATION ...
I check, the "Changes", to those that I "Follow", on a "Daily" Basis; so that, I can keep on top of things.
More often that not, nothing needs to be done; but, at least, I have the opportunity, to be abreast of things; almost as, they happen/transpire/unfold.
Such is not the best; but, certainly better than nothing ...
FINALLY ...
MANY; Many; many, Users/Patrons, just do not 'play well', in the "Shared" SINGLE "One" World "Tree" concept.
MANY; Many; many, Users/Patrons, just want THEIR "Record" (ie. the "Details"/"Relationship" that they add), to appear, in THEIR "Tree", in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', despite the fact, that they DO NOT have a "Tree", in "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'; as, they ONLY have have "Branches" (ie. Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected.
Such is one of the DRAWBACKS of participating in a "Shared" SINGLE "One" World "Tree" concept.
That being:
▬ You are NOT in "Control"; and,
▬ You have NO "Control"; and,
▬ You are at the mercy of others ... just like others at your mercy.
"Collaboration" is great in "Theory"; but, as we all well know, "Collaboration" is NOT always so great in "Practice".
Certainly not ideal ...
As I previous suggested ...
We ALL make MISTAKES ...
NONE of us are PERFECT ...
Unfortunately, some People ...'look at life, through rose coloured glasses' ...
▬ They ONLY 'see', what THEY want to 'see' ...
▬ IF, they DO NOT like, what THEY 'see' ... they simply ... 'Dismiss' it ...
.... [ ie. WHATEVER, "Sources" (ie. Records); or, Other "Details", are provided as "Support"/Proof"/"Evidence" ]
Such is life ...
You CANNOT 'Whitewash' HISTORY, it is what is was ...
[ But, some People, try very hard ... ]
REMEMBER:
It is often a matter, of SURVIVAL, of the MOST "Persistent" ...
Just my thoughts.
Good Luck.
Brett
ps: And, 'Yes' ... Been there ... done that ... still do ...
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Note that "changing everything back" doesn't mean "retype/re-enter everything": use the Change Log ("Show All" under Latest Changes, in the right-hand column of the Details page) and click "Restore" next to the names/dates/conclusions that you want to put back.
(However, if relationships have also been messed up, it may be easier to restore them "manually" -- the way the Change Log presents relationship changes can be rather convoluted.)
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The restore did not work. I have never seen such a mess. I will try manual but it will take some time.
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I all ways try to message the person who made the incorrect changes in FamilySearch by clicking on the contributor, then click on send a message. From there reply or lack there of, I try to ascertain if it is ignorance or something else. If it's ignorance I try to educate to prevent them doing it again and again. If it's something else on the other extreme you can report abuse, if it is repetitive, like some ex's have with previous spouse and get them blocked from FamilySearch.
With someone in between, I simply added a note comment to every correction I made, that I was correcting so and so mistakes, and that person went from telling me she has too much to add and too busy to correct her mistakes; to now not messing nearly up as much.
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DeeFrady, I'm very sorry to hear that your work has been altered for the worse.
May I recommend that in the "Reason This Information Is Correct:" boxes on a person's main page (as many of them as possible!), you put a thorough citation of your source and the relevant text, in addition to the usual links to the Sources page?
Something like this:
Doe, John. "History of Thingummy County, My-State" (Chicago : Smith & Sons, 1887) <link to book at archive.org, googlebooks, etc. if possible> (accessed 28 October 2021), p.417. "Stanley Cooper, farmer, Littleville post-office. Mr. Cooper's father Warburton Cooper came from Pennsylvania to Little township in 1803 and married Jane Jones (daughter of Winston Jones), and they had twelve children, of which Stanley was the youngest. He was born March 31, 1821 on the family farm...."
Or cut-and-paste the info from a death certificate (ideally with the parents' names), a marriage certificate (especially if it has birth dates and/or parents' names!), 1890 Veterans census, etc. etc. etc. This is not the place for our personal theories, but for primary source documentation, maybe sometimes secondary (as in the "county history" citation above).
The more information on the front page that is blatantly obviously correct, the better off the page (and the database) will be.
It feels like a lot more work, to put in source citations everywhere, but in the long run it's absolutely worth the trouble. I use the citations feature in my Legacy software at home to create them, and then often I can just cut-and-paste where needed.
https://www.amazon.com/Evidence-Citation-Analysis-Family-Historian/dp/0806315431
And it wouldn't hurt to put a note in the "Discussion" tab, either, not so much saying that you disagree with the "existing" info, but laying out your proof and rationale as clearly as possible.
Good luck!
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"Too busy to ..." ??!
We should never, ever, be too busy to correct our mistakes.
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To make changes to your relatives less likely on FamilySearch do the following. I do.
In FamilySearch you are not building a tree of your own. Others may be related to the same person you are. Or may mistakenly think your JOE BlOW is the same person as their JOE BLOW. So, you have to clearly build a picture of who your person is by finding records and writing up the Life Sketch for that person. (Keep it brief)
Find source documents or records for your person and then create a Source or Sources - typing out the text from certificates and adding it to the Source you are creating. Clearly label each Source for that person. Tag each source to the event. Organize your Sources in a logical sequence. (you can click and drag) A good source title describes what is in the Source and includes at least the - EVENT name, date, place An example - DEATH Tommy Preven 1891 London, Middlesex, England age 23
If you find out several things about the person, write it up in a story and attach it in memories. As far as I know, NO-ONE can alter, detach or re-name any photo or story you add to your person.
Type in the reason for everything you do in FamilySearch. You will be glad you did. All of your reasons are displayed somewhere on the person's page or in LATEST CHANGES.
Follow the recomendations of those below, who've left some ideas for you.
Julia Szent-Györgyi mentioned using the Change Log ("Show All" under Latest Changes, in the right-hand column of the Details page)
David Emerson Brocious mentioned that he added a note comment to every correction he made,
JSmith528 recommended using the "Reason This Information Is Correct:" boxes on a person's main page (as many of them as possible!), you put a thorough citation of your source
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Thank you for your comments. I had this family well documented. The name was changed to someone born many years before the parents were born. Other changes errors, name changes are many or deleted.. The tree extends out for several generations with the same names for this person. The page has several red exclamation points now. Lots of entries that don't fit. I have seen small changes before but this is a mess. I guess my question is how can so many changes be made with such obvious errors? (Such as entering a child born way before parents.) Two people made changes but obviously did not look at anything at all to see if it fit. I am quite sure not related so who can do this?
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I did contact one of the people. At first she apologized and said she was so busy. She did try to reverse but said it was not allowed. Now she has not answered me. She had also made numerous Genealogy Bank entries which I did advise were never accurate. I have been working in geneaology for 25+ years and never saw this before.
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Dee
I also have a branch of my family that someone just went in and changed parents names and added/deleted children who arent even related to me. Sources from people who have the same name as my family but they never came here. Yes its a mess. Im going to have to make changes probably after the first of the year. My mom has dementia and shes become a handful. I was goin to make a nice book for my daughters as they have grandchildren now I have to wait to fix information. At least I do have a family tree program on my computer that i have added to over the years. I suggest doing that. I still love Family Search and will continue using it.
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