You know, this is scary. I am going to look for mine. I did find my name in my ex-husbands family file. I was a little irritated that my permission was not even obtained for this. I was under the impression that people simply put 'living' for someone if it goes online? Good hunting everyone. Bethel -----Original Message----- From: kyallen-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:kyallen-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Shirley Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 3:37 PM To: kyallen@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [KYALLEN] Ancestral data at Ancestry.com ? Amen, Mimi. Oh, yes! They somehow managed to get my information as well. I once bought an FTM update that came with one of their CDs. I couldn't believe that it had so many of my family names on it. Then I found they had my "work-in-progress" on it was the reason for all of my family names. It was really maddening to pay for my own work. Shirley ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mimi Alexander" <wallyjakeandme@msn.com> To: <kyallen@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 2:46 PM Subject: Re: [KYALLEN] Ancestral data at Ancestry.com ? Thanks Martha, and you too, Sharon Clark, for your thoughts on the subject. It does help to know I'm not alone in my views and that others understand the problem. The thing that really bugged me was that, "I personally", had never submitted my own ancestral files and yet.....there they were, ERRORS included made from a zillion years ago! That was how I knew without a doubt that it was mine! Since making those errors many years ago, I've learned the true facts, (names, dates, locations, and spelling of names for example), and have since corrected and documented those earlier incorrect errors, but there it was at ancestry.com - the incorrect data for anyone to see and believe. Maybe Ancestry should have a place to fill out that lists the, "source of documentation", and if there is none, then a certain, "icon", is placed next to that information printed? this way the reader is notified that the data might not be correct. Well...I have that off my chest now so I guess I feel better ~ Thanks you Guys! Mimi ----- Original Message ----- From: Martha Hardcastle Guthrie<mailto:Mothra@woh.rr.com> To: kyallen@rootsweb.com<mailto:kyallen@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 12:55 PM Subject: Re: [KYALLEN] Ancestral data at Ancestry.com ? Mimi, I understand your frustration but genealogy has changed so rapidly in recent years that I don't know the solution is available at present. With Family Tree Maker, a merge of family or people is just a click away. Unfortunately, they don't currently have a method of preserving the source with those merges. When people are trying to gather information, I believe they will merge very likely people and the available data. I do this myself. Sometimes, I am able to confirm further proof but with so many different lines, it's hard to keep every one of them in pristine form. I think what happens is that in the case of FTM, it will prompt people to contribute their information at certain milestones, such as "Congratulations! You have 3,000 people in your file! Would you like to submit your information?" People get some gratification at this little "pat on the back" but don't realize that everything they have is not necessarily correct or sourced. The only thing that I can say is that I don't take anything for granted, and sometimes this information is obviously not a match or valid, in which case I delete individuals or change information about them. It's a constant work-in-progress. But sometimes these little hints may help find the path to the real information. I found an old file in Word from years ago before the advent of the current FTM - I may have been using Brother's Keeper back then, or maybe nothing at all. I found a name, Margaret West, for the wife of my ancestor Alexander Hogue that I didn't remember seeing or had ever entered into my records. As it turned out, the surname was correct but Alexander's wife was Louvicy - Margaret was her sister! This led me to something I had been searching for for 10 years or so! I think that it would be good if Ancestry.com/FTM could be convinced to find a way to mark unproven records as such and to provide the most recent sources with each merge. I don't know if this helps any, but I think this is why and how this is happening. : ) Martha in Dayton, Ohio Mimi Alexander wrote: > Hello List, > > While I subscribe to several genealogical groups, for example: ancestry.com, I have NEVER submitted any research files to them or any other internet research group. I've always entered my research, (and research others have shared with me), into my Family Tree Maker program. My reason for not wanting to submit my research and notes is because, while "some", has been documented, other data remains to be validated with documentation. A little while ago while looking for information on a certain ancestor, I discovered some of my research files are available for viewing at ancestry.com. This angers me because I DID NOT SUBMIT THE DATA. How on earth did they get this information and how could they show it without my personal permission? It's not that I do not want to share.....but rather, I only care to share that data which has been validated with documentation. Now.....people who read it at ancestry.com will take it as valid when in fact, it may not be corr! > ect. Does anyone know how this can happen? No one is happier than me to share with others, but only if it's researched and validated. When I send data that has not been validated, I'm always sure to tell the person exactly that.....or if it's data from another persons research And not mine, I tell them that as well. > > Thanks for listening and allowing me to vent a little steam on this matter! > > Mimi > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to KYALLEN-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:KYALLEN-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- ÐÏࡱá ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to KYALLEN-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:KYALLEN-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to KYALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to KYALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message