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Error-Proof Your Family Tree
No one's research is immune to bad dates, faulty facts and even downright lies. Learn how to diagnose—and cure—five common genealogical ills.
By Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
Genealogists are lot like doctors: We have to look for and diagnose a variety of "ailments" that trip up our research. A good diagnostic genealogist knows every genealogy
has the potential to be sick and contagious, no matter where the exposure came from: the Internet, a book, Aunt Susie, a journal article or an original record. To avoid spreading
research bugs to unwary family historians (or running up against a brick wall), you don't have to become a DGD (doctor of genealogical diagnostics) or enroll in the Online College of
Perpetuating Pedigrees. Use the Carmack Manual of Genealogical Diseases to diagnose—and treat—your troubled trees.
1. Genealogist's Chorea Intentionally fraudulent genealogies were a bigger pitfall in the past, when someone wanted to join a lineage society or felt his social standing would be improved with a more illustrious
family tree. If you happen to find and use one of those sham pedigrees, your genealogy is in for a nasty illness. The most notorious family tree faker was Gustave Anjou (1863-1942)—and
the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City still has more than 100 of Anjou's creative ancestral compilations on its shelves.
But you can protect your pedigree by consulting the list of Anjou's works at Fraudulent Lineages.
Sometimes our ancestors deliberately lied, too—even on legal documents. Suppose Uncle Tommy wasn't quite of age to serve in the military but really wanted to enlist. He might've
monkeyed with his birth certificate or lied about his age. In some cases, you won't know if your ancestors fibbed, but you may uncover other records or details that don't jibe with the
questionable source. Then you know you're dealing with Genealogist's Chorea.
2. Dateitis Once you start looking for the symptoms, you'll find many genealogies afflicted with Dateitis. Be careful: It's really contagious, and usually involves massive regurgitation. I've seen
patients where Mom gave birth at age 12, or she's having more menopause babies than she did in her childbearing years. Dad got married at age 11. Kids were born before their parents or less
than nine months apart. Boys enlisted in the service before puberty. Twins were born on different days. Unbelievably, unsuspecting genealogists have regurgitated these sick genealogies
over and over again online. No one bothered to check the dates to see if they made any sense.
Here's an example of Dateitis from a real genealogy I consulted on. (In fact, all the cases presented here are from real genealogies, but I've changed some names to protect patient privacy.)
3. Lineagaires Disease 4. Acute Faulty Logic Syndrome Index to Revolutionary War Service Records by Virgil D. White (National Historical Publication Co., out of print) shows that a William Hillman served in the Revolutionary War from
Somerset County, Md., but this William was born about 1753-1754 and died in Somerset County Aug. 16, 1822. The wives' and children's names didn't match, either—but someone must have found
this other William and because the name and place were the same, assumed it was the "right" William. Clearly, this patient is suffering from Acute Faulty Logic Syndrome.
5. Inflammatory Biography Disease At the age of 18 [Abraham Riggs] joined the American Revolutionary Army, serving with great distinction throughout the great war for America's independence or until 1781. He was badly wounded
in the battle of Brandywine in 1777 and carried scars of this conflict up to the time of his death. At the age of 85 he was offered a pension by the U.S. Government and more from family pride and
lack of necessity, than haughtiness, he refused same. He died at the age of 86 and was always considered one of the great lights of the Revolutionary War.
The file also contained the War Department's decision. They rejected his application, stating that "our records afford no evidence of his alleged service in the Virginia line," and he hadn't
given sufficient information to confirm his claim. The War Department also wanted to know why Abraham had waited so long to apply, and why he hadn't applied under the pension act of 1818.
No further response from Abraham was in his file.
Next, we'll check all the sources relating to Revolutionary soldiers we can think of, from printed publications to microfilms of rosters to anything we can find online. The results: no proof
of Abraham's service. Interestingly, the regiments commanded by the men Abraham named never served at Brandywine, nor did any other Virginia regiment, according to Virginia Lineages of
Revolutionary War Regiments by John W. Lynn (Lynn Research, out of print). Abraham obviously suffers from inflammatory biography disease (IBD).
Sadly, there was little we could do to treat this chronic case of IBD, except to document our findings in our files and in the information we share. The legend of Abraham's service is
too widespread and—like any epidemic—impossible to eradicate unless everyone is inoculated and treated.
So now you have a greater understanding of diagnostic genealogy and how diagnosticians work—and can use your training as preventative medicine for your own family tree.
In this article:
In family history, we hope the genealogies others have compiled are accurate, but could your ancestors lie? Certainly. And could another genealogist lie? 'Fraid so. That's why I call this
disease "Genealogist's Chorea"—after the medical condition involving involuntary dancing or writhing of the limbs or facial muscles. It's the equivalent of tap dancing around the facts.
I've discovered a date condition to which genealogists seem predisposed. In this disease, the dates don't make any sense and seem to get inflamed each time they're repeated.
In other words, they're "rash" dates—hence the name Dateitis.
When a researcher links a child to parents who can't possibly be hers—although the names and places of residence are the same—her family tree contracts Lineagaires Disease.
Let's look at one from Ancestry World Tree.
Let's stay with William Hillman Jr. a moment longer, because all of a sudden, he's presenting with more symptoms. Another genealogist reported that William served in the Maryland Regiment
in the Revolutionary War. If William's birth year of 1764 is correct, he would've been 11 when the war started in 1775. The Revolution spanned from 1775 to 1783, so it's possible
he served toward the war's end—plus, a number of youngsters did serve as drummer boys and tend to the horses.
Our last case is a tricky one: We're attempting to settle a long-running debate about Abraham Riggs—did he serve in the Revolutionary War? Online, you'll find many references to his service,
including this glowing biography, which has been repeated over and over again in various wording (and naturally, provides no source):
More on this topic: Six Symptoms of a Sick Genealogy • Assessing Online Data • Ellis Island Myth • Misconceptions About Crests
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