Correcting Family Tree Errors Found Online

Most of us have done some shoddy research at one time or the other, or just have found some new clues which indicate our previous assumptions were in error. But what happens when this research has been published online, and the errors seem to propogate like wildfire?

Family Trees You Have Submitted

Begin by logging into the account under which you submitted the family tree. If you submitted a file to multiple locations (such as both RootsWeb WorldConnect and Ancestry World Tree (AWT), you'll need to make the changes or request removal of the family tree from both locations.

Where Did I Submit My Family Tree?
If you have a family tree online through RootsWeb.com or Ancestry.com (both part of the same parent company), you'll need to edit or delete the tree from the place you first submitted it. What if you can't remember, or have multiple family trees? Check the URL for the database ID (db=).

• Database IDs that begin with a colon ":" (db=:) were submitted through Ancestry's Online Family Tree (OFT).

• Database IDs that begin with a colon plus the letter a (db=:a) were submitted via Ancestry World Tree (AWT).

• Database IDs comprised of letters, numbers and characters without the colon indicate family trees submitted through RootsWeb's WorldConnect.

Files submitted to Ancestry's Online Family Tree and RootsWeb's WorldConnect can be edited or deleted by logging in to your account. Older files submitted to Ancestry World Tree, prior to the introduction of Online Family Tree, may not be as easy to delete, however. Look at the URL for the file, specifically the letters and characters which follow the "db=" section. If this indicates a file submitted to Ancestry World Tree, you will generally not be able to edit or delete it yourself. The best option here is to submit a removal request to Ancestry.com (using the Email Ancestry Support link). If you'd like your family tree to remain online, it is still best to delete this old family tree and then submit a new one that does allow for easy editing.

Ancestry's OneWorldTree
This one is a special situation, because family trees are not submitted directly to OneWorldTree (OWT). Instead, One World Tree is a special search service offered to Ancestry.com subscribers, and includes data from files submitted to Ancestry World Tree. Once you remove or change your file in Ancestry World Tree, the changes should eventually show up in OneWorldTree. The search servers for OneWorldTree do not run on a regular basis, however, and Ancestry.com makes no promises on how frequent the updates will be.

Family Trees Submitted by Others

Even if a family tree posted online is an apparent copy of yours, most genealogy services will not make changes or remove the data at your request. Only the submitter of the family tree can make changes or ask that the family tree be removed. At this point, the best option is to contact the person who submitted the data. Although this is obviously a frustrating situation, try to restrain yourself. A threatening letter citing plagerism and demanding complete removal of your family tree will often go unanswered, while a polite letter noting that you have additional information on the family may actually elicit a response. They may even give you credit for the new information. Most importantly, the errors may be corrected, and the misinformation stopped at its source.

Take an Alternate Route

Because of the inherent problems with people misusing your genealogy data, and the difficulties in making changes or corrections, some people opt not to publish their GEDCOM file to any of the online family trees. The downside to this is that the people who may have more information about your family won't be able to find you either. To make your family tree available online but still retain complete control over your data, many people suggest creating your own genealogy Web site. You control how much information you choose to share and how easy it is for people to copy or download it, yet still make it easy for others to find your family tree and contact you.