Untangling

Today I decided to go through the family trees of Trumbull Co. Ohio for the Wise/Weiss family.  There were so many copied errors.  As in, people just copying from one tree to another, error repeating error. I decided, to politely email everyone letting them know of the potential error and the possibility for a remedy.

It was just absolutely crazy, but I figured since I was on the subject matter it was the least I could do to help.  Hey you never know, they might be my family.  So at least I did my part in the world of genealogy to help make it a better place.

Historical Societies

During my adventure of The Hunt for Peter Wise I have discovered these lovely Historical Societies that are typically throughout counties.  The Societies tend to provide different roles and services, but for one thing they seem to all share, is just how helpful they have been via email.  One of the best things I have learned from these societies are how counties have formed and where documents may or may not be located.  They are polite, knowledgeable and helpful on pointing out where I might try researching next.  Honestly they are like these little gems of awesomeness.  So a great BIG THANK YOU to Historical Societies.

Plea to Genealogy Sites

Dear Genealogy Sites,

Please oh Please could you insist on people sourcing their dearly departed loved one.   By not insisting on sources, a conglomeration of multifaceted errors has occurred.  Novice, and I am a novice, are attaching peoples names as family members just because they have the right name or location.  Little do they know that in one locations alone, there are millions of John Smiths who were born that same year.  Some of those John Smiths even married a Betty Sue Richards, or was it Richardz. I know crazy, right.

Authenticity is in the details, and well you could really help by insisting sources be included.  You already have the options, why not make it mandatory.  Ok, yes we get the fact people would have to look through all those census reports, other lovely documents added, and OH heck they might even have to upload a document or two – but really is it that hard to do, especially if you are invested in preserving a family legacy.

How about a compromise?  If you are not going to mandate sourcing, then PLEASE for the love of all, make some fields required entry.   A Mary Jones from no where, does no one any good.  Was Mary Jones from England, America or Africa.  Seriously??  If someone doesnt know where their family member was from, perhaps having them wait until they can find the persons location is in order before entering their information into the HUGE LARGE DATABASE that has millions of Mary Jones with no additional details.

It take a community.  People have to be willing to include the sources, if their not online, then from getting it from originating sources.  A Death Certificate, Birth Certificate, or Marriage Certificate, most of these things in the 1800’s are available.  Of course I can give leniency to the later years, but at some point accountability needs taken.   So PLEASE Genealogy Sites, we recognize that people entering data can help generate part of your income, but I am willing to bet that down the road if you have a quality data base, people will be willing to invest.

Errors

Error Error everywhere and not a drop to spare.  O’mgosh.  Just after being so delighted with finding a history book with all kinds of neat orderly information, I end up finding two other books that contradict one another.   Seriously,  each book contradicts the other – thats three books with different details.  NOT ONLINE STUFF, but REAL BOOKS.  Are you freakin kidding me.  Wait it gets better, even the ship logs don’t correlate.

Ok I quite for awhile.  Genealogy research is NOT for the faint at heart, nor for those who like their history to be somewhat documented correctly.

 

Frantz

Today I added history information collected on Frantz Weiss.  It’s nice when you find information neatly documented.

I found Frantz through a DNA match I did on GEDMATCH.  I actually found him on my second round of searching because he did not fit into my first query search which included only those living in Pennsylvania.  My initial reason for that filter was knowing Peter came from Pennsylvania.  Sigh! a learning curve, because its just like human beings not to fit so neatly into the science bubble.  I wont make that narrowing mistake again.  Anyways, somehow either Frantz children or one of Frantz brother is going to be the direct ancestor of Peter.   This is turning to be like a mystery novel, and I am pealing back the pages to find out who.

Blog

Thank you for joining me on the mystery hunt for my family member:  Peter Weiss.  There have been so many twist and turns that I thought I should document the journey.  What I though might be a difficult find, ended up being a brick wall.  I am not easily detoured so I am turning to the public on the internet, and with time, hope to finally find him.

Why is this important?  Because it is a family legacy, and I do not want those before me to be forgotten.  Peter may not have been a famous person, but he is my forefather and without him, I would not be here.

Feel free to take a peek on where my research has taken me [Research]