Good Idea? Bad Idea? Online Trees? Part 1

Is there such a thing as One World Tree? One tree that documents every ancestor back to....... well, as far as records exist. Those advocating a One World Tree believe (as do I) that we're all children of God and therefore we are related. Somehow. Somewhere in time. But the information on those 20th generation ancestors is beyond our ken and our reach, isn't it? 

Let's talk practicality. Ask yourself these questions: 

• How far back can I, or do I want, to find (and document) my ancestors??
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• Aren't we mostly happy if we can find records back into the 1500s? That's 20 generations, a million names! Can we keep track of a million ancestors? Can we know a million ancestors? I think not. I cannot!
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• Do we really care what path other genealogists might choose to pursue?
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• What do know about the last 5 generations of ancestors? (That's nearly 200 years!) Isn't that the point of doing family history.... to get to know at least something of an ancestor's life and times? 

Once those questions have been answered in your mind, consider these:

• Do I want to share my tree/information or keep it (safely) to myself?
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• Back 200 years (or more) are those folks just your ancestors? Hardly. 
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• Besides, how many answers have I gained for my family tree/ancestors from others?? Isn't sharing really the best option?
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• Lisa Louise Cooke (FamilyTreeMagazine, May/June 2022) advocated YES for sharing but to "keep the heart of our genealogy at home..... a master family tree of your family tree, built on your own computer, is the key to securing your family history now and for generations to come." 
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• While I greatly respect Lisa Louise, I puzzle her answer. Just keep my tree on my computer? What if my computer crashes/floods/burns in a fire...... and I've not kept backups regularly? And/or shared them with family? All will be lost. 
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• Everything I've read, and from all the genealogy/tech gurus, say this: DO have an online tree, do keep it backed up in multiple places, and DO keep your tree in a home computer program on your own computer. 
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• Puzzle and ponder your answer to these questions and "problems"............ Part 2 next time. 

Nurture Your Family Tree Online Or On Your Device Or Both?

 

Cyndi Ingle (who "purples" everything) gave a bang-up and comprehensive talk for Legacy Family Tree Webinars. This presentation is in their archive/library and I strongly suggest that a $49 annual subscription to hear/view this and 1000 others is worth your money and time.

Cyndi began by asking "where are you keeping your tree? Online or off line.... as in a program on your own computer. Or both? There is no right answer to this question; it is a personal choice. It's your hobby and it's okay to do it your want. You are not right or wrong."

BUT.

A 6-page handout explains all the reasons Pro and Con for keeping or not keeping your tree online. Page six is a Comparison Chart of 14 different desktop software programs and the specifics for each...... cloud based? web based? crowd sources? mobile App? App system? Private/public tree? Fee/Free?

My take: I strongly suggest you think seriously about this. As I've said so often, do you want to leave a legacy or not? If you're doing family history solely for yourself, then don't worry about what will happen to your genealogy when you're gone. If you're doing it for your posterity, then MAKE SURE you're putting it/keeping it in a fashion that will be easy for descendants to find, to use and to appreciate.