it is MY family tree!!!!!

[Jayson]

Hi Gordon

Thanks for this

Jayson

[ryan]

The vast majority of my distant/close relations I have made contact with are very grateful for my help and don't try to thumb-off my work as their own in any way.
However, one VERY VERY VERY distant relation of my Gran who I made contact with on Genes Reunited has taken every name from my family (including my immediate family) and spelled more-or-less every name incorrectly. If you're going to use someone's research you might as well get the names right!!
Whatsmore, I have been contacted recently by various people on GR telling me that we're related. It turns out that this VERY distant relation has been claiming my work as his own, without any mention of me 

So Yes, I do see my family (including ancestors) as MY own family, especially when VERY distant relations are involved 

Very frustrating indeed.

Ryan.

[MarieC]

I found a family tree on the Net which purported to give information about one of my gggrandfathers and his parents, but it was completely wrong.

I emailed the person, gently pointing out the errors and what I had found to verify my tree.  Never heard a peep out of him!

Didn't upset me, but I was sorry that he didn't even want to enter into discussion about it to try to clarify things.  It's possible that the people he had found might be distant connections, and we could have maybe worked that out.  Ah well - never mind.

I am unwilling to put my own tree on the Net because of other people's experiences of having them used and misused.  There is enough info on my website that if anyone thinks they are related, they can Google the names and contact me - and a couple of people have, one very fruitfully.

MarieC

[Jayson]

It's really good to see so many younger people passionate about their ancestry.  On occasions when I've told people about my research/hobby they invariably look at me with an expression of great pity.  By their reactions, You would have thought that I had told them that I had been recently diagnosed with an incurable decease.

Never mind! Jayson

[PaulaToo]

Know the feeling, Jayson.
My neighbour was agog when she found out what I was doing. She had no love for her parents and couldn't care less about the family history. Me, I adored mine, and want to know everything I can. I'm no spring chicken, perhaps that's why I have this desperate need to get it all done and sorted. Well, won't be many years before I will be up there (or down there) with them.
Just wait till I meet up with that Eliza Ann!

[polidor]

I've enjoyed reading all these replies. You tend to think you're the only one that these things happen to, Non sharing distant relatives , families who get a 'fixed' look on their face when you race downstairs from the p.c to tell them what you've uncovered etc. etc.
I was thrilled when contacted through G.R by a distant relative in New Zealand. i scanned  loads of photos of family members for her and told her about some more that i had 'dug' up [metaphorically speaking of course ]
I did get a couple of photos back and a cert copy so at least we were able to share something.
Unfortunately some more contacts i made recently haven't been as interested as i had hoped when i got in touch. I sensed that they were being polite but didn't want to make any personal contact so i guess you have to get used in this line of business, to take the good bits along with the not so good bits. Poli

The Poli who is still waiting for a deffinate 'hot match' to get in touch!!!!!

[MarieC]

Yes, I've had that experience too, Jayson, PaulaToo and Poli!

On the other hand, sometimes there is a nice experience.  I was fortunate to receive records of my great-grandmother's school prizes, from the school she attended in London.  I took them to show them to my elderly aunt today (she will be 84 soon) - she was really interested!  Leafed through them and commented on them.  It makes it very worthwhile when you can bring pleasure to a family member from some research you have done.

MarieC

[Mobo]

Many of us are enlightened or have become so - we are used to illegitimate ancestors or some who were a bit short of a full deck. Not every researcher is so relaxed. They set off to find a relationship to Boadicea......

 

Hear hear Hackstaple !

I rather think a lot depends on how long you've been researching.  Over the last twenty years, I've had contact with many 'relatives', most of whom have been very nice. (just the odd time-waster & crack-pot). These days, I'm totally 'laid back' about the whole thing, and when I set up my website five years ago, I did so with the sole intention of helping others find their roots, (as well as gaining information myself, of course). I have to say, that on the whole, I've found it a very worthwhile experience as most people tend to be truly appreciative (as my Guestbook shows).

   

[Comosus]

I'm not so bothered if someone had part of the tree wrong so long as I can put them right.  It can be more difficult to trace back some lines than others.  For example if there are 2 siblings eg John Smith and Rebecca Smith who both started a family just before 1881, it would be much easier to find Rebecca with her parents on the 1871 than John as there would be several possibilities.  I have had problems like this tracing back down the tree to find descendants of siblings of ancestors.

Andrew