What if someone has a child listed that you can't prove with sources?

Question

What if someone has a child listed that you don't agree with and no sufficient sources?

Comments

Why do you disagree?  Do you have sources to back up your assertion that the child does not belong?

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Lydia & Melanie,

I've added sources to her profile and her husbands. See my answer below for details.

Answer 1

I found sources for two of the listed children in 1880 US Census: James and Robert.

Dovie (niece below) and Wallace (nephew below) are listed as being born 8 months apart.

In 1900 US Census Elizabeth and her husband were living with their son Robert and his family. Robert's household also included a nephew, Wallace, and two nieces, David L (must be Dovie L above) and Georgia.

Elizabeth had 2 children.

Added note:

Sources were added to profiles of Elizabeth and James.

Comments

Robert's nephew and 2 nieces, are probably the children of a brother of Robert. Since no info is available for Robert's parents and siblings, I'm not sure how to deal with them. Maybe add an unknown Lankford as father for these three children adding a good explanation.

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No, I don't agree that Emma is a child of Thomas Jefferson Holcomb and Margaret Elizabeth Welborn.  There is a comment on Emma's page.  There are currently two profiles for Thomas Jefferson Holcomb that need to be merged but I hesitate to merge them because I don't agree with Emma as a child.  The profiles are Holcomb-1788 and Holcomb-2420.   The later is the one I created.  Emma should be in the census of 1860 and 1870 but I can't find her.  There is also a photo on Holcomb-2420 that I add that is from a book called Rabun County Georgia and it's people.  It has more information on Thomas Jefferson Holcomb and his children.

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The two Thomas need to be merged. Creating duplicates is not a good idea. Much better to add research notes to the existing profile explaining issues. Wikitree aims to have one profile per person for a world tree.

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I'm going to merge them but I wanted to figure out what to do about the child that I can't find any source on.

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Lydia, I thought you were asking about the children of Elizabeth and Thomas. Your question was not clear.

Since the 1860 and 1870 US Census for the household of Thomas Jefferson Holcomb and Margaret Welborn do not include Elizabeth Emma then both parents should be detached from Emma especially since Emma is not listed in the family bible mentioned in The Holcolmes pages on profile of Thomas. Collaboration with the PM should occur before changing relationships. Research Notes should mention why the parents were detached.

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SJ,

Thank you for best answer.

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I haven't gotten a response from the profile manager for Elizabeth Emma Holcomb Stewart.  The comment on Elizabeth Emma's page that I posted is similar to the email I sent to the profile manager.  Also, while not conclusive, I don't share any DNA with the profile manager.

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The above comment is from me, I didn't realize I wasn't signed in.

Answer 2

Which child please?

Comments

I don't agree that Emma is a child of Thomas Jefferson Holcomb and Margaret Elizabeth Welborn.  There is a comment on Emma's page.  There are currently two profiles for Thomas Jefferson Holcomb that need to be merged but I hesitate to merge them because I don't agree with Emma as a child.  The profiles are Holcomb-1788 and Holcomb-2420.   The later is the one I created.  Emma should be in the census of 1860 and 1870 but I can't find her.  There is also a photo on Holcomb-2420 that I add that is from a book called Rabun County Georgia and it's people.  It has more information on Thomas Jefferson Holcomb and his children.  

Answer 3

You can edit Emma's profile to list Thomas and Margaret as "uncertain" parents for her when the merge is complete. Then just write in her biography that there are no sources that link Emma to them and her parentage is subject to change. Then if any source is found to disprove Thomas and Margaret as parent you can remove them as her parents.

Comments

The parents should be detached because Emma is not listed on either of the US Census forms for 1860 and 1870. See my post above and comment on Emma's profile.