Is this odd, or is it just me being cynical and suspicious?

mallog · Post by **mallog** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:27 am

I divided my family into several trees on Ancestry. I have only made one public. The one I know least about !! I do give others access to my trees but only if they are reciprocating with information. I also usually give only the year not the full date. If they are really interested they will ask more and any mistakes they have will come to light. If they don't feel like correcting them that's up to them.
I have added people from other trees but know that there are big question marks over them but I use them as a pointer to further research.

Sometimes I feel that someone has found a person of the right name say on the IGI and they have assumed that's their man not realising that there could be many folk of the same name in the Parish or they have blanket copied it from someone else

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:41 pm

After reading some of this discussion, I decided to check my family trees on Ancestry. I do that every now and then and it had been a while.

I searched for George Clerihew and funny thing, two trees popped up for George. One has been there for a while, but it is a personal tree with no way to contact the owner except that invitation thing through Ancestry, but it also didn't have much that looked interesting--until this time. Not only interesting, but very familiar, it was my information from my tree for George Clerihew.

The second tree was definitly new and is a public tree. Same thing, my family tree information exactly. But this one has a good ending. After looking over the list of people in her tree, I found a cousin of my Dad's who had moved to Texas in the 1950's and lost contact with the family in Michigan. So I emailed her and she emailed me back!!! Since this morning, we've exchanged half a dozen emails and some pictures. I'm waiting on one right now! She is the grand daughter of my Dad's cousin and was completely surprised to here from me.

Still hoping to hear from the first lot because I don't recognize the names on that tree at all and don't have a clue who they could be.

Carol

Post by **Anne H** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:05 am

Great outcome from that second tree, Carol and let's hope you hear from the other tree owner.

I personally don't have a problem sharing my information...I just don't like the cut and paste jobs without asking first, especially when I know certain people have no intention of researching their own families...as a couple of people have said to me..."no sense in both of us paying for certificates" but aren't willing to splurge on any themselves.

Regards,
Anne H

Ann In the UK · Post by **Ann In the UK** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:23 am

Hi Carol and Anne,

That's the joy of Ancestry (and such like) isn't it - finding long lost rellies?! Well done!

I really don't have a problem with people copying my tree - it's in the public domain after all - but it irritates me when they get it wrong and don't even change it when you tell them so others don't make the same mistake!

Regards, Ann

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:57 am

Hi all,

My newly found "cousin" in Texas sent me a terrific picture of my great great grandfather, great aunt and husband and great uncle and wife. We're working on exchanging more pictures later this week!

I guess the one thing that really bothers me about the other family tree using what is clearly my posted information is that they have locked up their tree as a personal tree so I can't see what's on it or contact them! I don't care that they have the information, but I would like to know what their connection is to my family. I wouldn't even care that much if they didn't answer my contact. Just please don't copy and paste me if you're not going to offer something in return. It's just plain rude!

Carol