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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Clear on Saturday 02 July 22 19:42 BST (UK)

Title: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: Clear on Saturday 02 July 22 19:42 BST (UK)
I was quite shocked that Ancestry is full of inaccuracy and sometimes to a ridiculous level.  As a total novice I trusted Ancestry's "suggested parent" feature and ended up related to Mary Tudor ! I had to delete hundreds of records from my tree. Is this a deliberate way to embarrass novices ?
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: CaroleW on Saturday 02 July 22 20:28 BST (UK)
Why on earth would an organisation the size of Ancestry want to embarrass novices??   

The clue is in the word "suggested".  It's just that - a suggestion.     How many times does somebody "suggest" something to you in everyday life but it's up to you to determine whether that suggestion is relevant or acceptable

Ancestry doesn't force you to accept anything.  It's up to you to research your FH yourself and ensure it's correct.







Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: snowqueen on Saturday 02 July 22 20:49 BST (UK)
Many of the inaccuracies aren't from Ancestry, they are from subscribers who dont research their ances
tors particularly well, then their mistakes are copied over and over by people who just blindly follow without checking
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: Sandrafamilytree on Saturday 02 July 22 21:26 BST (UK)
I'm fairly new to Ancestry and was researching a relative a few weeks ago.

I felt I had sorted out who he was and had the correct relationships and locations.

Then I looked at other publicly available trees on Ancestry and found everyone else seemed to have a contrary view.

As I am a novice I initially assumed I must be wrong, but after further investigation that turned out not to be the case and the details I'd researched were correct.

I guess several people had copied from one tree, assumed it was correct and duplicated the errors.

Just treat anything on Ancestry as a guide. :)

Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: CaroleW on Saturday 02 July 22 23:09 BST (UK)
There are numerous posts on Rootschat about inaccurate trees - and we always give the same advice - do your own research
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: Rosinish on Saturday 02 July 22 23:43 BST (UK)
The clue is in the word "suggested".  It's just that - a suggestion.     How many times does somebody "suggest" something to you in everyday life but it's up to you to determine whether that suggestion is relevant or acceptable

Ancestry doesn't force you to accept anything.  It's up to you to research your FH yourself and ensure it's correct.
I completely agree with Carole.

Hints/suggestions are all very well, a bit like seeing a special offer on your favourite chocolate which turns out to be no cheaper as it weighs less ;D

However, to accept the offer without checking is not a good idea.

It puts you in what I call the 'Click & Collect' category.

I see no enjoyment in clicking & accepting hints without further research.

The thing here is, you've learned a good lesson, many don't, they ignore errors & carry on regardless!

That lesson will help you in the future & I'm sure your tree from now on will be well researched & more enjoyable.

Annie
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: Ruskie on Sunday 03 July 22 05:42 BST (UK)
I was quite shocked that Ancestry is full of inaccuracy and sometimes to a ridiculous level.  As a total novice I trusted Ancestry's "suggested parent" feature and ended up related to Mary Tudor ! I had to delete hundreds of records from my tree. Is this a deliberate way to embarrass novices ?

You posted the same thing on this thread:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=863610.msg7333233#msg7333233
 
(Intentional or an error?)  :-\

I’m not sure why you had to delete hundred of records from your tree because you ended up related to Mary Tudor - maybe you are related to Mary Tudor.  ;D

Btw, if you have “hundreds of records on your tree” you probably wouldn’t be classed as a “total novice”.  ;)

Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: Guy Etchells on Sunday 03 July 22 07:43 BST (UK)
I'm fairly new to Ancestry and was researching a relative a few weeks ago.

I felt I had sorted out who he was and had the correct relationships and locations.

Then I looked at other publicly available trees on Ancestry and found everyone else seemed to have a contrary view.

As I am a novice I initially assumed I must be wrong, but after further investigation that turned out not to be the case and the details I'd researched were correct.

I guess several people had copied from one tree, assumed it was correct and duplicated the errors.

Just treat anything on Ancestry as a guide. :)


Thank you for your post, your confidence in your research reassures me that there are still people around who have the ability to make decisions for themselves rather that simply follow the pack. You and people like you are the future of genealogy.
Cheers
Guy
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: snowqueen on Sunday 03 July 22 09:49 BST (UK)
I wish everyone thought like you Guy.  I have endeavoured to research my tree to the best of my ability, although it disagrees with 90% of the trees on Ancestry.  The difference is I have records to back mine up.  My research is in North Yorkshire where lots of records are available online, so why others can't do the same instead of blindly copying others is beyond me.  I like to know who's blood is in my veins LOL
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: CaroleW on Sunday 03 July 22 10:40 BST (UK)
Quote
Btw, if you have “hundreds of records on your tree” you probably wouldn’t be classed as a “total novice”.

Exactly - I haven't even counted how many I have but I know I haven't had to delete any because I researched them thoroughly myself before adding them.  To blindly follow "hints" or "suggestions" without checking is asking for trouble

Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: chrissiecruiser on Sunday 03 July 22 13:25 BST (UK)
Sandrafamilytree, as the others have said....it's really up to you and your research!
I was on Ancestry for quite a while, unsure at first, then started filling in my rellies lives with lots of research.
I did a DNA test and was pleasantly surprised that it proved everything I had done!
Keep going, it's great to put "flesh on the bones".
Cheers,
Chris
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: CaroleW on Sunday 03 July 22 14:11 BST (UK)
AngelJunction

Your thread here   https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=863047.0

Your reply 15 

Quote
Are you happy for a large group of hobbyists to research your family  as they see fit ,?

Reply 16

Quote
It already happens- think of the countless inaccurate family trees, people attaching your ancestors to the wrong family, etc.

It follows that if people post their trees on Ancestry with inaccurate info - how can Ancestry contradict it?

It also follows that if people make incorrect amendments to Ancestry entries (ie) correct census or BMD entries - then that is also outside of Ancestry's control








Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: SplanK on Sunday 03 July 22 18:32 BST (UK)
You have singled out Ancestry here, however once you start getting 'knee deep' in your research, you will find that there are many more examples where information may not be as accurate as you would like, be it 'user sourced' or official documentation!

Birth/Marriage/Death records may not contain factual information and ancestors have either adjusted the truth to fit their lives (IE listing the wrong father on marriage cert, or typically wrong age...) or simply didnt know/guessed.  It is why its important to obtain as much documentation as possible to verify things like age, and links between individuals

I always take other peoples work with a pinch of salt and always verify.   Its great when you find a tree with information in that can help you, IE maybe you have missed a sibling, so looking at other tree's may help help direct you, but should never be trusted as 'the truth'.

Other websites such as Findagrave/Billion Graves - I only ever submit an entry which I have taken a photo of a headstone and then submit exactly what I see on the stone, adding nothing else, however there are others who attempt to be helpful but adding extra information that may not be correct which can be difficult to get corrected. 

FreeBMD - again, I submit Postem's with what I see on a certificate and nothing more even if I know more, yet some others submit more information and there are no checks or ways to edit a previous entry.

Newspaper articles are very helpful, but sometimes contain inaccuracies. 

Your 'job' as such is to take this information found and fact check it... is this the right record and is the information on it accurate, and does it fit?  It maybe a case that it is the correct record, but a marriage may have the wrong father listed.... which is when you need to ask 'why is this'.  I had this and ended up unravelling a whole different family structure and narrative  because of that one record.

There will be times where you end up thinking you have the right person, only to find out you have been barking up the wrong path.... it happens!

Ancestry and other commercial sites are in the business of selling subscriptions and services so they will always want to make it appeal to a wide range of people.  We live in a world where we want everything now and as a product of that, Ancestry have tried to help this market with their tools.  These tools used correctly can be a massive time saver, but used incorrectly will result in an inaccurate tree.

Family research is difficult and time consuming but can be very rewarding.  There are no shortcuts and a single person can take hours, days, weeks or even years to complete.  Set yourself goals and limits to make your research manageable (IE my rule is siblings of direct ancestor + marriage + children.... then stop unless there is something of particular interest), and dont rush yourself to go back as early as you can as attractive and fun as it sounds to work your way back to 1600/1500/1400 or earlier and verify each generation as best as you can before progressing onto the next generation back.  Seems to have worked well for me but you will find a method that works for you.
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: Rena on Sunday 03 July 22 23:25 BST (UK)
You have singled out Ancestry here, however once you start getting 'knee deep' in your research, you will find that there are many more examples where information may not be as accurate as you would like, be it 'user sourced' or official documentation!

Set yourself goals and limits to make your research manageable (IE my rule is siblings of direct ancestor + marriage + children.... then stop unless there is something of particular interest), and dont rush yourself to go back as early as you can as attractive and fun as it sounds to work your way back to 1600/1500/1400 or earlier and verify each generation as best as you can before progressing onto the next generation back.  Seems to have worked well for me but you will find a method that works for you.

I've more or less ceased my research due to poor eyesight  the majority of my early ancestry were born in the UK.  Although I do have modest trees on ancestry dot co I do sometimes receive emails from ancestry dot com informing me that they've found early American ancestors.  Initially I responded to these prompts but the dot com website would automatically divert me to ancestry dot co  8)   

You'll be lucky to find any records as far back as the 1400s unless you find a gateway ancestor, or are already following a titled family.  Parish registers were introduced on 5th Sept 1538 by Thomas Cromwell, the advisor to King Henry VIII after he took a trip around Europe and discovered that other countries did this.

BTW:  I started my research shortly after I learnt that the family had suffered a loss in WWI and I never knew.  I felt so guilty that I started looking for him.  I was given the name of "Uncle Henry".  There wasn't a sign of a "Henry" although there should have been because I'd discovered all of 582 names old/young enough to go to war on census, bmd, etc.  It then dawned on me that Henry was recorded on all census as "William H".  He'd been called up aged 41 and KIA a few months later.   
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: Lola5 on Sunday 03 July 22 23:27 BST (UK)
That is why we need the certificates, the handwritten parish records, wills and such.

I used to correct others on ancestry and some were happy to  be corrected and others very insistent that they were correct....even though they had no certs to prove things.

Now i don 't bother.

My research has taken decades of careful  checking and rechecking and has cost a small fortune. I have been helped byfolk who looked up records for me. And solved many puzzles.

It has given  me a great deal of pleasure and sorrow along the way , enlarged my geographical knowledge and  made me very curious and thankful that i had such  kind, brave,  and talented ancestors.
I wish I had listened more, asked more questions  of those who were still alive.

So i would say to beginners....start with what youknow to be true and work slowly  and carefully and   that buying certificates is a must.
Guy, you are spot on with your advice.
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: Erato on Monday 04 July 22 02:05 BST (UK)
If you don't put your tree on Ancestry, you won't get any suggestions.  Just use Ancestry as a useful library.
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: CaroleW on Monday 04 July 22 11:26 BST (UK)
AngelJunction

I think you have been given good advice & suggest you take onboard the comments made when researching your FH.

This subject has been raised many times by others & the same advice given - I would suggest you use the Search facility above to look for those posts - the replies may be of interest to you
Title: Re: Ancestry "Suggested Parent" Feature
Post by: dawnsh on Monday 04 July 22 12:09 BST (UK)
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