Don’t be a Copycat!
That was good advice to school children taking tests or
writing papers. It’s even better advice to anyone compiling their family tree.
I get it; you are searching for an elusive ancestor when you
come across a tree or history that someone else has submitted. And right there
is your ancestor, complete with spouse, children, dates, places, and maybe a
picture or two. All you have to do to put an end to your frustration is copy
and paste.
Before you enter someone else’s data into your records,
carefully consider what you are doing. There
are several factors that call for extreme caution about genealogy information
posted on the internet:
• The
internet has no truth filter, that is, anyone can put anything on it without
the burden of accuracy. There is no guarantee that any of the data you found is
correct.
• Those
posting information range from experts sharing their knowledge to novices
repeating family hearsay. Though no one is purposely trying to deceive you,
still you do not know how accurate their “information” is.
• Multiple
people have the same data, so it must be true, right? Wrong! You may notice
that multiple family trees have the exact same information, sources, and
spellings. That is a huge indication that they are all copies of one post. One
error repeated in numerous family trees is still an error.
• Likewise,
multiple sites have the same data, making it appear legitimate. The problem
with this is that when an item is posted on one site, it is immediately picked
up by others. For instance, I posted information on FamilySearch and I was
instantly alerted that MyHeritage had new information on my ancestor. When I
clicked on it, I found the exact information I had just added on FamilySearch.
• Finding
accurate information on your ancestors can be difficult. Some people who post
their conclusions as fact may not have the experience to tell how accurate it
really is. Census records are notoriously inaccurate yet sometimes they are the
only source used to build a family tree.
I’m from Missouri, the “Show Me State,” meaning I don’t
believe anything unless I see it for myself. That’s a good rule to follow when
it comes to your genealogy information. The great news is that information
others put online is still valuable. It just must be used carefully. Consider
the data as clues to investigate your family’s past. If material is presented
that you think is accurate, check it out for yourself. In other words, show me
the proof.
There is one more consideration about copying information
and possibly the most important. Since you are going to all the effort of
gathering your ancestors’ information, you want it as complete and accurate as
possible. Your work carries your endorsement. What you compile may be seen by
others. It may even be copied by others. It’s all the more reason not to be a
copycat.