What is the best way to split a single profile into two separate people?

+4 votes
124 views
While adding profiles to my tree, I discovered a profile  [[Ballard-3250|Jesse Morman Ballard (1861-1934)]] that at least partially matched the information I have collected for my second great grandfather. While conducting additional research, it became clear that this profile appears to be a combination of two different individuals (each with the name of Jesse Ballard). Research notes are available in the profile. Is it better to create a new profile for my 2GG and remove the information associated with him or vice versa?
WikiTree profile: Jesse Ballard
in Policy and Style by Elizabeth Lester G2G1 (1.5k points)

1 Answer

+6 votes
Looking at the profile, you have documented the sources and you left a message on the profile almost a month ago. One of the PMs was active in Dec, but not since, so there may be no response from them.  With no sources on the child or parent's profiles, it is hard to know what the reasoning was to link them together, other than possible 'hints' seen on ancestry.com.

The profile is open for editing, so I agree that a 2nd profile should be created, but I think the profile should be created for the 'son' of the currently linked parents, but only if you have found sources for that son.  This profile has the dates, spouse, and child that match, which would have to be moved to a new profile if it was created. Move the 'biography' and sources into the biography of this profile for your #1 person who has different parents.  

Create the 2nd profile for the #2 Jesse with that information.  It looks like you have not found sources that match up to the linked parent's son.  

Then add / revise Research Notes in both of the Jesse profiles indicating the Wikitree ID of the 'other' profile, using the 'LINK' next to the profile name is very good to use. Include the information that makes them distinct, so that will hopefully stop any future merge proposals and 'conflation' of information.  That way both profiles with have the Wikitree ID of the possible duplicate looking profile.

In the linked parent's profile, I would also add Research Notes with similar information to the above so that there is something to explain the reason for removing the child.  Unfortunately, there are no sources in the parents' profiles.

Let me know if you need some help.  Most importantly, THANK YOU for finding sources for an unsourced profile!! This shows why sources are needed to prove a relationship.
by Linda Peterson G2G6 Pilot (773k points)

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