Genealogy Chat

I have come across relatives whilst looking for my ancestors, and I am wondering if there is a way to merge my tree with theirs and vice versa, instead of handwriting them down and individually entering them one at a time, and how would I go about doing this?

Barbz

NEVER take anyone elses research as correct.

Take all their information and verify it before you even think of just adding to your own tree.

I would look on the other trees as sources of information, which can be used to look into more 'relatives'.

I can say with quite some certainty that this will be one of many telling you the same. :-D

Even if they have documents such as certificates such as births marriages and deaths in their possession?

If they have every document for each entry on their tree then it would still need to be checked out to be trusted,

I saw a tree where info on some certs and census where ignored and justified with a week argument/explanation in the notes,

Whats the point of having a hobby like Genealogy and then copying some else's work unless it's just a race to get as many names as possible

Just my opinion

if you want to merge your tree you will need a family tree program their are several you can download free, try google for one that suits your needs

Roy

How can you be certain that any certs. etc. are for the right people?

When I first started out I was contacted by 2 cousins from same side of the family tree, but different stems. They both sent me almost identical information. But I still checked everything. I found several errors and so I ordered relevant BMDs and through this I was able to get back to both parties and point out the mistakes, they were so grateful. And through my own checking I was also able to add children that they had not found etc.

Nothing goes in my tree unless I am really happy with my own investigation and if I am at all 'uncertain' I will ensure that a note is made letting others know of my doubts and the reasoning behind the note.

But this all in my tree on Ancestry, I only keep a basic tree on here now as I found that after about 2 years the contacts I made were so far removed that they were not really helpful to me and I seemed to be providing more that receiving.

I've recently made contact with a cousin who has a lot of historical documentation I don't. On the other hand I've got Platinum on GR with access that allows and between us we have a lot of knowledge of various lines of the same family.

We are now working together to build a better tree. He gives me info to put on mine and I make a note of it. I check it out first on here or FreeBMD etc before it goes on. Some knowledge of course is more personal. I've previously found a choice of three possible marriages for his grandparents but he knows for certain which one is correct as he knew them. In return I send him what I have found using census', etc. Because he knows living relatives on his side, he has given me up-to-date stuff I would never have got around to finding out and I'm doing the same. All my up to date family who I have on here, I have a ref for and I have still checked details from my cousin about births/marriages on here or FreeBMD before I have put them on my tree.

Until this week I have never included anyone on my tree that I hadn't discovered for myself but I've broken that rule with the up to date family. I've identified them by putting his initials in brackets next to the surname of the person.

Fortunately accuracy is something we are both keen to maintain so we are paying attention to every detail.

I have access to other trees belonging to distant relatives on an unconnected line but I haven't transfered anything because I've not got as far as verifying the info yet and because I hadn't come up with a way of showing at a glance where the name came from.

It's not that I don't trust them, but I know the info on my tree is as good as I can make it. If I make a mistake and go off on the wrong line, it's my mistake and I can sort it. But if I've added on faith and it's wrong.... I'm stuffed.

I'm with PigletsPal that nothing goes on unless I'm certain. I really do make use of the notes box for each individual too - and sometimes my thoughts about doubts and reasoning. And questions raised that I hope to answer in the future.

Barbz - also forgot to answer your original question, it is not possible to merge trees on this site.

Do not be too disheartened by what we have all said, by using someone elses information and doing some digging of your own can be so rewarding.
You gain a lot of experience and also get to 'know' your ancestors personally, which you would not do if you just added a whole pile of names. Look on all of this as a really goood thing.

:-)

Thank you all for the information giving recently to my initial question.

When I first started off, I had very little information, but over time that has grown, and due to my family being on other trees, I still check the information par se.

The other sites I often use are FreeBMD and Familysearch.org, when it comes to FreeBMD, it does not really help much from 1983 to present day as it is not updated, with Familysearch.org, it is prettty much the same but the difference with this one is it can go back as far as the 1500s. Both in the manner of given the volume reference of the document in question.

Don't get me wrong, geneaology is a hobby of mine which I thorough enjoy doing, and hopefully keep at it for as long as possible, as you all know from your own research, there are not just the direct lines but also the sibling branches that can be good to look into, which is what I do. :-)

In the early 90's when I first went to an LDS Family History Centre as they were called, I became very close to the couple working there. Evelyn was involved in setting up the computer side of things; it was a very new thing.

Our glorious leaders allowed historical information to be included but the reason that a great deal of the info on the FamilySearch site didn't progress forward after the 1890's was because they were prevented from developing resources releasing information that fell within our 100 year disclosure laws. I have noticed lately though that there is now info on there upto 1907 or so.

As for more up to date BDM. They're available on here up to around 2006 as part of a subscription. I use FreeBDM and then GR for beyond. It's not as easy to search as FreeBMD because you don't have the opportunity to narrow a search by eg giving the mother's maiden name. Not a massive problem if you have a not quite so used surname but a right :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P if you are looking for Smith.

I totally get about you being into the branches. Looking at the Gandertons which I have been doing this week, some couples have as many as twelve or thirteen children from several of their children which adds up to a lot of grandchildren, aunts, uncles and cousins. It makes the most marvelous tree to look at ;-)

It would be great, if GR can do a sort with the mothers maiden name included in the search, especially if there are marriages and births of their children. It would cut time down in half when looking for people (descendants and ancestors).

I have now over 3000 relatives in my try, as I am doing both direct lines and other branches that are through siblings of the direct lines and so forth :-)

It is a shame that our information from the census is not similar to that of the Americans, as they now have access to view the 1941 census. :-) Why wait 10 years to view the last census? :-)

Barbz ......................

mother's maiden name was not included by GRO until mid 1911 ................ so you will not find it on any bmd site until then


Unlike Jillian, I only have the basic sub on here ................. and I did not upgrade when they started adding records. I do not think it worth the money.


I firmly believe that ancestry and findmypast are superior sites.


for example, ancestry carries bmds from 1837 until 2005. They have them in 2 groups, 1837 to 1915 and 1916-2005.

The 1837-1915 records were obtained from freebmd, and are identical to those records.

The 1916-2005 were transcribed by ancestry, and you can get differing interpretations of names!


BUT you can search by mmn, just as you can on freebmd after 1911.


As for waiting another 10 years to see the 1921 census ................ that is because the government of the day promised that all censuses from then on would be held back from public release for 100 years. Privacy issues with the information being requested ........... just as happens today.



sylvia

It's a shame that we cannot view the 1941 Uk census just like the Americans can, it would cut down a lot of work for those who are keen on tracing their trees, like myself.

Does anyone know how to use GEDCOM?

Barbz

Hi Sylvia,

I'm looking at other site for when my Platinum sub runs out on here in July. I'll definitely keep some sort of membership on here because I've built a tree and the forum with it's contributors/helpers are wonderful.

And as for the reason we can't view records. We are one of the most secretive nations. It's like the power- that-be think unless they deny us access to information and records we might start to learn the truth about things that have really happened. And perhaps, and really not wanted - that we might actually begin to think for ourselves and not accept all the total bs that usually gets thrown at us.

I am hoping that I am still here in 1921 because I have much to look up.

xJ
xJ

Jillian,

We could do with a few more people like you and same ideas too. Do you have Brummie blood in your veins?

It would not hurt anyone if the 1921 census was released now or the 1931 if it survived the Blitz.
Who knows it may be a good little earner for "boy George" and "call me Dave" !!
Nala.




:-D

Hi All Dellboy here,
I'm new to this, so please forgive me if this is not quite correct.
I'm researching BOYLE FREDERICK b c1800 Bethnal Green.
Wife Ann Elizabeth Pill b1808 Stepney. m 1837 Bethnal Green.
Son Frederick Charles Boyle b1838 Bethnal Green.
Wife Sarah Elizabeth Blake b1841 St. Pancras London.
I thought I had something in the FREEBMD which I thought I had attached to my tree. I cannot locate it now.

Dellboy34th

Dellboy - you keep adding this to other peoples threads!!!

It has been suggested that you start a dedicated one of your own......what have you against doing this? You will get far more answers. :-)

And if I have read the posts on other threads correctly, his surname is Boyle, first name Frederick. It is always best to make it clear, otherwise people would be looking for someone who's first name was Boyle and last name Frederick.

Edit - PM sent to Dellboy with instructions how to start a thread of his own.

Barbz and Nala, the 1931 census did not survive and there wasn't one in 1941, so there's going to be a long wait after 1921.

How has the 1931 & 1941 census did not survive the blitz when all other BMD's did. Barbz

Hi Nala,

Quoting you.

'We could do with a few more people like you and same ideas too. Do you have Brummie blood in your veins?'

Born yards from St.Andrews in Ash Grove, Barwell Road. Raised in Solihull from age 6months but please don't hold that against me. Looking on Google Earth it's one of the few like buildings still standing and yet I was told that they were going to be part of Birmingham's slum clearance in the early 60's.

Life has taught me to question everything.No one tells the truth anymore and trust is a rare comodity. I maintain that we put up with the crap thown at us because it's a very British trait. To put up with and shut up rather than speak out and rock the boat. Not my style. I've seen too much of what goes on that people and organisations would rather be kept secret. It's not that I'm a paranoid old bag but having been raised inan abusive household with secrets and lies; some I've only learned about in the last few years,And in my time I've had to deal with departments and organisations who are the worst. I can't live with deception of any sort. And if I deal with someone who has lied to me, I will let them know. I'm not rude though and I use written words rather than having a verbal go. And I won't put up with any bs either. And I can't be doing with snobs. :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P

So if that is what it means to be a Brummie I am.

And proud to be so. :-D

For 1931 census see:
http://www.1911census.org.uk/1931.htm

There was no census taken in 1941.