What Do I Enter Into My Family Tree? Resolving Conflicting Evidence | Ancestry

If you've been doing family history for any length of time, you've come across conflicting evidence. Family names spelled different ways in different records. Ages and birthplaces varying wildly from census to census. That inevitably leads to the question - what do I enter in my family tree? Join Crista Cowan for a look at recording and resolving conflicting evidence.
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What Do I Enter Into My Family Tree? Resolving Conflicting Evidence | Ancestry
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[@janicemoerschel4428]

This was interesting and I go through some of the same processes though I've not used a spreadsheet. Unfortunately when you have even more limited information on Ancestry records, particularly on Scottish records where you just have an index, you have to go elsewhere to get the original. Also, it would be great if we had the capability to organize our shoebox so as to be able to easily access all the records we've saved which could relate to a particular individual. I would add one more tidbit to Crista's presentation which would be this observation: if a person could not write, it could also be quite likely that they couldn't do math - and that may be an indication that he was unlikely to have been a carpenter.

[@07ARYSSA]

Hello. I LOVE you Crista Cowan,you are so clear in explaining things. I just started a few months ago and I almost gave up several times. Your videos are so encouraging. Thank you and God Bless

[@hilaryelmer9764]

I am so grateful for your videos, Crista! I was just called as the Ward Family History Consultant which I didn't feel at ALL qualified for... I've been watching some of your videos and i feel like I've got a much better handle on guiding other people, and myself, to do quality genealogical research. Thanks!

[@AncestryUS]

Good luck in your new responsibilities, Hilary. The fact that you are doing your part to educate yourself tells me that you will do just fine.

[@ron8416]

I found this presentation to be very useful. One of the best. I loved that you showed, step by step, how you came to the conclusion you made. Thank you very much.

[@EllenWorth32]

Fabulous technique for comparing multiple documents while resolving conflicting info. No matter how organized I try to be, I always get muddled and lost when confronted with this situation. Your method is simple and great!! (Now I can't wait for a problem to try it out!)

[@AimeeML]

Love Christa’s videos. This one was very helpful to me. Confirmed my process is good and gave great suggestions that will help me improve. I hope she’s still doing videos!

[@billtalbott]

This has been one of the most helpful presentations yet. Christa did a wonderful job of explaining and showing the how to of research. I will start using this method in my research.

[@trishperez4954]

I haven't used the tables before- great idea. I will definitely implement charts and tables from now on!

[@DeniseMSimpson]

Awesome process that will reahelp. I know see the value of a spreadsheet and not just a digital tree. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@kathyl6677]

Using tables? How cool! I'll try that. And always view the record. I found one ancestor (for instance) surname Laniger, and the transcriber wrote Saniger. Or Oscar O transcribed as Oscar R. (the O had an extra big loop)

[@OneCatholicSpeaks]

This was a very good video. Thanks. The one difference I am putting in my spreadsheet is to use the fact that it is a spreadsheet. I am setting it up that it will do any math needed. I will also have it double check if the person who entered the information did their math correctly. However, I would like to say again that this was an excellent video and I never thought to use my spreadsheet software at all. So, it was a major help in organizing my data.

[@khamilton7537]

Wow, great stuff! You’re a great teacher! Thank you for showing your reasoning here.

[@kathyl6677]

A lot of times, the census will tell you way over on the right whether they can read or write, also

[@simplyimpish1055]

You are such a talented young woman You surly have found your calling 🌈

[@ceirrageorgia9128]

I would also go one step further and try to follow Molly and see what records come up and also the child before I determine that he is no longer with Mollie.

[@marciakunz2927]

Your video is excellent for showing how to resolve conflicts in records that seem to be for the same person. And thanks for reminding me about using tabs! I tend to follow this process by scribbling what you put in excel, and it doesn’t slow my analysis down. However the table could really help in the next steps. I need clarification on what comes after selecting and entering the chosen birthdate and birthplace. Should I enter my reasoning in a person note on FTM or would you recommend putting it in a separate document which can be attached as media which will also be uploaded to ancestry? Lately I’ve realized I’m not presenting any of my analysis in either place. Ancestry is soo addictive that I just hop on and ride! Your videos bring me back to earth-in a good way.

[@kimjaconetti2617]

Thank you. This video was very helpful in my family search for a g g grandfather that had a cousin with the same name, living in the same town.

[@jennj31]

Thank you so much this is really helpful I come across this so much in my own research! You gave me some great pointers. Very much appreciated.

[@pegpowell2486]

Wow, what a system. Thanks for sharing.

[@suz0000]

Helpful, as always! Thank you!

[@stephenhammond1745]

Have a similar situation with a great uncle. He's listed on the 1901, 1911, and 1921 (age then 20) Canadian census and then just disappears. Lots of further info on his siblings but nothing more on him: no census, death, border-crossings, newspaper, etc records. Maybe kidnapped by aliens?

[@Babygorl1209]

This was really helpful

[@tanelise4673]

I have an age discrepancy. I located my 3X great grandfather Ned, on an estate inventory from 1853. I have 2 records for him that point to his birth around 1802 (1870 census and 1880 mortality schedule) I recently discovered the slave owner's father died in 1789 and also had a slave named Ned. I know people inherit enslaved persons from their parents after death and always figured this was how Ned was acquired. Problem is, if this is the same Ned, he is older than I thought, and there isn't an age given for him on the 1789 record. Given the nature of slavery, I don't know how else to determine if this is the same Ned or a cruel coincidence. 😢 I've combed through all of the deeds and haven't found a single bill of sale or anything else to give me a clue.

[@rjb6327]

What you just typed into the spread sheet, in a few minutes, would take me a hour to do. :-)

[@aninklin]

I guess I'd modify your methodology a little bit. I'd start a new tree with John Wesley and enter the info I know. Then I would create different persons for each potentially conflicting person. I'd import the info I have on each. Then I would go to a Custom Report and export a CSV file. I'd end up with the same spreadsheet, perhaps with more info, and not have to type as much. Since I have two monitors- one usually contains the research info (eg excel) and one FTM, I can go through and verify through the original images, etc. In general, I try to avoid typing. The tree I construct may or may not be throw away. If it is good and I'm really building another tree, I can merge my researched individual tree with the primary tree and get that individual added.

[@michaelsommers2356]

Just because a person signed with a mark does not mean that that person can't write. When one of my great-great-grandfathers applied for a Civil War pension, she signed several documents, but made her mark on another. I would guess that the lawyer's clerk who prepared the papers simply assumed that she could not write.

[@matildebello157]

Sometimes one ancestor is listed as double as if were sisters look like twins how can I fix it?

[@aninklin]

I found that even 64 bit excel 2010 doesn't exports of large (>7500) trees, with minimal info, such as name bd, death, AFN, ID, marriage date. FTM just returns after thinking a while and nothing is generated. I've tried 2500 persons and it works. Has anyone experienced this limitation?

[@cherylsingleton3357]

I have ruined my main tree. One of my grandfather's has many different spelling's of his first name on different censuses. Such as Sye, Sy, and Cyrus. By me adding different censuses to my tree it appears as if he is more than one person. My maternal grandfather now appears as my great uncle. I have no clue how to fix the mess I created. I also had another tree since 2010, but have since changed my email address and don't remember my pass word. What can I do to retrieve my tree and make it active again.

[@michaelsommers2356]

One of my great-great-grandfathers was named Marcellus, but in one city directory he appears as Silas.

[@Ellandriel]

Do you have this video but the opposite? So I’ve got the family but I don’t know where he came from instead of where he went lol I have the marriage certificate just like your situation but I don’t know where he materialized from. I do have the birth records from his children and discovered where he was born but between where he was born and it almost year and his marriage certificate there’s nothing.

[@mistycrowell20]

My difficulty is find information on my husband family mother side Lemonds I found only 1 census trying to know more about it Henry lemonds

[@stevehunter6849]

There are too many researchers ONLINE. Some don't know about how genealogical research works. I still depend on actual documents and actual personal correspondence. I spend time writing actual letters and I spend time in county records and local libraries. ANYTHING on the Internet must be considered questionable until actual documents can be shown.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi Steve, Ancestry has more than 22 billion records online. Many of these are digital copies of the same records available at archives and repositories around the world.

[@anarivero3952]

Información en Españo por favor gracias

[@fayfrederick]

Too much information at a time it needs to be broken down into half hour videos

[@CristaCowan]

This video is a half an hour.

[@hannannah1uk]

Don't have your patience. Guess my grandad is going to stay a mystery man. ❤

[@AncestryUS]

We hope you will one day have the time and opportunity to launch your research into this family history mystery, hannannah1uk! Many have overcome seemingly insurmountable research challenges in the past even when little hope appeared to exist at first glance. Rest assured that we will be right by your side if you ever need our support along the way. You can learn about some strategies to achieve such aims here if you're curious to learn more : support.ancestry.com/s/article/Overcoming-Roadblocks-in-Your-Research . Best of luck and thanks for stopping by to visit! 🌳

[@denisemsingleton2171]

The Tryiing to find my my people last name milloy

[@gatheringleaves]

Why do you call yourself The Barefoot Genealogist?

[@brysonhatfield9557]

Because she goes barefoot and wears flip flops....LOL