Best practice merging and how to document sources

Question

As WikiTree grow and we get excellent tools like the Database Project we will need to merge more and we need to find best practices.

My opinion is that we should follow WikiTree honour code and always base our decisions on sources.

1. We cite sources. Without sources we can't objectively resolve conflicting information.

Please comment on one approach I did today using Free space pages used in A Research Notes section...

Scenario:

1. We have some good sourced WikiTree profiles
2. We get a gedcom imported from Ancestry ==>
   1. Profiles impossible to read lot of irrelevant text
   2. No good structure of the profile
   3. Looks like we have duplicated profiles  

My approach

1. I found an online Census 1880 for the family 
    
2. I "translate" this census to WikiTree profiles and writes merge suggestions
    
3. I create a Free space page with the merge suggestions
    
4. On profiles that need to be merged I add the free space page using this syntax
   
   ==Research Notes ==
   {{Space:Lindgreen_Iowa_1880_merges}}

See video

Please comments what is good and bad with this approach? 

Profiles that have the Research Note section with the Free space page 

Answer 1

I need to learn more about using Free Space Pages.

I believe this was my first question when I joined -- how best to collaborate on research like this.

I like what you've done here.

Comments

Using a Wiki for genealogy is excellent

As in Genealogy 

1. more people lives in the same house
2. share the same grave
3. share the same sources

then the Free space page is excellent write once use on many profiles

A tool you don't have in most genealogy software. Normally you cut and paste and loose control....

See video about cool features with a Free Space page https://youtu.be/_3gCZiCXOoA

 

1. Its easy to create just write
   {{Space:Grave xxx in Ohio}}
    
   1. You get a red link ==> click on it and it's created
       
2. Its easy to track the usage as you have Wiki Special:Whatlinkshere/Space:Grave_xxx_in Ohio
    
3. If you have a free space starting with a headline you can start edit the Free space from every page using it see Video at 1:22m

Examples of Free space usage

1. Describing a place
   1. Space:Bänntorp,_Sköllersta_härad,_Örebro_län 
      
      used in
      
      
       
   2. House Space:Linds_hus_Vedtjära 
      
      used in
      
      
       
   3. A location with great importance in the family history of a family
      Space:Lindmark_Bärbo_socken 
      
      used in or linked to
      
      maps and include other free spaces transcribing old church books
      
      
       
      1. Church book from 1755
          Space:Bärbo_-_AI:2_1755
          
      2. Church book from 1762
         Space:Lindmark_Bärbo_socken_-_Bärbo_AI_2_-_1762
          
      3. Church book from 1771
         Space:Lindmark_Bärbo_socken_-_Bärbo_AI_2_-_1771
          
   4. Grave Space:Grave_Grobjle_40_Novo_Grobjle,_Tip_2_Grobnica,_Parcela_27_Broj_27_Red_2
      
      used in 
      
      

Answer 2

New approach using Family Group sheet and annotations

After playing around I start realize we have GEDCOM imported children wth just one father or one mother set ==> they are not seen on the Family Group Sheet. I add the missing parent (a guess) and then the Family Group Sheet feels like a tool to use to suggest merges

• Free space page Space:Lindgreen_Iowa_1880_merges
• Family Group Sheet
• Annotated Family Group Sheet

EDIT new version 4

1. Found one 1900 Census used that was wrong 
2. Found one 1900 Census seems ok and says 7 living children
3. Found the gravestone for the mother Thilda

Big pic