Let’s talk about a mistake nearly every family historian makes—yes, even me. 🙋‍♀️

When I started building my family tree, I was so excited to find names, dates, and full-blown ancestors just sitting there online. I thought I struck gold! So, like many enthusiastic beginners, I copied an entire branch from someone else’s tree on a genealogy site. Guess what? That “gold” turned out to be more like glitter…shiny, but totally fake.

Why Copying Online Trees Can Be a Genealogy Disaster

Online family trees are like group projects from middle school—there’s always that one kid who just makes stuff up. Many online trees are:

• Unsourced (no documents or records to back them up)
• Based on guesses or family myths
• Mixed up with other families with similar names
• Outdated or abandoned for years

Relying on them without checking the details can lead you to chase the wrong ancestors, waste time, and even delete entire branches later. Not fun.

But I Already Copied a Tree…Now What?

First, take a deep breath. You’re not alone. I did it, and I lived to tell the tale (and so will your tree). Here’s how to clean up the mess:

1. Start verifying each person with records—birth, marriage, death, census, probate, land, military, etc.
2. Add sources as you go so you can track what’s real and what’s still a guess.
3. Detach incorrect people—yes, you can break up with that “great-grandfather” who turns out to be from the wrong side of the country.
4. Keep a notes section for anything suspicious or “still investigating.”
5. Don’t delete—just detach and reassign. Save people in a “Holding Pen” tree if you’re unsure.

How to Copy Smart (If You Really Want To)

If you spot a tree with promising leads:

• Check the sources. No sources? No dice.
• Use it as a hint, not a fact.
• Verify every name and date yourself.
• Be cautious with “shared ancestor hints” on genealogy websites. These are great for ideas, but they’re not always right.

A Lesson Learned (The Hard Way)

I once spent hours researching a man I thought was my 6th-great-grandfather… only to realize he lived 1,000 miles away from where my actual ancestor had records. Turns out, I’d copied a stranger’s tree because the name was close. Yep. Oops. Lesson learned: Shiny trees aren’t always your family tree.

Final Word: Trust, but Verify

Think of online trees like internet recipes. Some are amazing, others forget the sugar and leave out the oven temp. Use them as a starting point, but always double-check the ingredients.

🧬 Happy tree-taming, and remember: real research beats wishful thinking every time.

---

Need more help? Visit Loganalogy.com Research Specialist page! I offer guidance to streamline your research, provide expert tips, and help you build a family tree that future generations will cherish.