It can be tempting to duplicate the information you find in another researcher’s online family tree, says Chloe O’Shea. But there are a number of potential problems with cutting corners…
1 A Lack Of Sources
Always be wary of trees with no sources attached, and never blindly copy them. If you can verify a person’s research through multiple sources – which may already be attached to their tree – then this can help to prove the line is correct.
2 A Gap In The Trail
If an online tree appears to have solved your brick wall, always ask where the evidence is – even if multiple trees share the same information. It’s entirely possible that all of those family historians have just copied one another, and nobody has taken the time to properly research the link between a parent and child. For example, my 5x great grandmother Elizabeth Samways has her father listed as John on 35 online trees, but I have proved that her father was actually Henry. While I have the sources to back this up, my tree is kept private meaning there are no correct family trees featuring Elizabeth currently online.
3 A Claim To Fame
There appears to be an increasing trend for family historians to want to uncover a relationship to royalty or a celebrity, and for their enthusiasm to overcome their caution. You should research such lines the same way that you would a connection to anybody else: go step by step, and thoroughly check all available sources.
4 A Relative’s Incorrect Coat Of Arms
You don’t need to be an expert in heraldry, but always remember that a coat of arms is not something that belongs to a particular surname. If one of your forebears has a coat of arms attached to them on somebody else’s tree, never copy this without researching it first. Many are attached incorrectly, and are usually easy to spot.
5 Misidentified Old Family Photographs
If you find one of your relations on another tree with a photograph attached, this can be very exciting. But it is always worth asking the person who uploaded the photograph how they came across the image, and who passed it down to them. This can help you assess the likelihood that you are indeed looking at your ancestor rather than a stranger. I have been given two photographs of my great great grandfather that are clearly depicting two different men.
6 Nonsensical Dates
If key dates don’t add up, it’s a sign that a tree has been badly researc
