How can I contact/make corrections at Findagrave?

Question

I have found some possible errors on Findagrave memorial pages that contradict census information that I have located, and wanted to discuss them with the person who had contributed the information at Findagrave.  I found the contributor's name, and clicked on the "Send Message" link, and then was taken to a page where I needed to join Findagrave in order to send the message.

Is there any other way to request a correction or discuss the information found there?  I really don't want to join the site as a member,  I am adding the Wikitree ID and Findagrave URL for one person involved in the possible errors, but I feel (based on the census information) that there may be more family connections that could be different from what is given at Findagrave.

The Findagrave contributor does appear to have inside information about the family in question, perhaps a family Bible or some such source, so I'd rather discuss the differences, rather than flatly state that the FIndagrave information is wrong -- in case it's not.  There are no headstone photos, so the information shown there is almost entirely about family connections.

Here is the URL at Findagrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166030967/berry-rickman

Here is the URL for the individual at Wikitree (which I am working on): https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Rickman-663

Can someone suggest another method of making contact, or at a minimum, to get Findagrave to review the information shown there?

Reba

Answer 1

Hello Reba,

I am afraid there is no way to contact the member without signing up. And unfortunately, at this time there is no way to actually cancel your membership once you sign up.

They just revamped their website and they are still working on it. I sent a message to one of the curators and made the suggestion that they add a cancel or delete feature. However, if you would like to send me a written message to send to the contact person, I would be happy to send it to them.
Gina Jarvi

Comments

Gina, I would recommend that you remove your e-mail address from your post as it puts you at risk of being spammed. Other members can contact you using your Wikitree id.

---

Gina,

Thank you so much for your offer!  I have contacted you through your Wikitree ID (and I agree with Lynda that you should remove your email address from your post, since you'll probably get spammed for your good deed.)

Reba

---

Thank you both!

I removed my email.

Gina

---

Gina, I worked with findagrave for a long long time.  I do not contribute anymore because people are sending requests to link family member memorials to each other and making a genealogical site out of it    This isn't its purpose IMHO. Sadly, they have no source requirements.  I also get sick seeing death records on memorials - especially tragic ones.

Can you possibly make in-roads on this?  I also ask to have primary evidence sent and "Decline" until it arrives.  They don't usually follow up. I know Ancestry and Findagrave are really one organization now. Thanks for the opportunity to ask.

---

Hello Barbara,

I am not sure if I understand the in roads you would like me to make. I am a member of Find-a-grave and I have had good experiences using it, though it is a clunky and not very well managed site. I manage some of my own family memorials and I have done some photogrphy for people at a local cemetery.

Ancestry owns pretty much everything geneology, which makes for much difficulty.

If you could be more specific, I will see what I can do, but communication with that site is not easy.

Gina

Answer 2

I have been a member of FindAGrave since I started down this rabbit hole.

It has proved to be an excellent resource although I have seen false information. (My Aunt's date of birth was wrong on her tombstone, placed by her alcoholic husband)

I have not knowingly been spammed or had any negatives. One suggestion is to create a separate email address for all your Genealogical information. That compartmentalizes it and makes for easy housekeeping.

Good Luck!

Comments

Thank you Michael --

The concern about spamming was here at the Wikitree forum, where Gina had listed her email address. (She removed it.)  I don't think it would be possible to spam a contributor at Findagrave, since it's not even possible to contact them without becoming a member -- which is what I didn't want to do.  

I have had both good and bad luck with information at Findagrave, like you.  I know of a relative who put up a headstone for a deceased ancestor out of respect -- but got the birth and death dates wrong, based on inaccurate information he had been given.  That information was dutifully photographed by someone at Findagrave, and will probably become established history since it's carved in granite.

Thanks for the well-wishes!

Reba