Advice before editing this pre-1700 Thresher profile?

Question

I have information to contribute to the profile of Susannah (Thresher) Cooke. This is what I can add but I am not member of this project:

• Her father: Robert Earl Thrasher 

• Her mother: Isabell Elizabeth Thrasher

These are the sources I am using:

• Robert Earl Thrasher (1598-1657) - Find a Grave Memorial
• Susannah Thrasher (1625–1670) | Person | Family Tree | FamilySearch
• Geni - Susannah Cooke (Thrasher) (c.1625-c.1670)

On her profile https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Thresher-16, her parents are "unknown" .  And her maiden name should be changed to "Thrasher"?

Answer 1

Hi Bruce, Find-A-Grave and family tree links are not reliable sources for a Pre-1700 Profile. That link explains more about primary sources. That profile is also Project Managed and Project Protected (PPP). These profiles tend to be controversial and have often been subject to bad information spread on the internet, incorrect family attachments, and incorrect changes.

It is best to leave a message on the profile with your information and source/s before you make changes. The project will respond and collaborate with you. That profile has a note that the data you changed had previously been changed. Like many, it is a profile in progress. :-)

Comments

I was puzzled why you stated "Find-A-Grave" is not a reliable source for a Pre-1700 Profile.  I read and answered every question on the Pre-1700 Badge.  Here is the reason why I used that convincing source on "Thrasher" to replace "Thresher" as follows: 

5.)   Is Find A Grave a reliable source?

A.) Yes.
B.) No.
C.) It depends.

Correct. Find A Grave memorial pages are user-contributed and therefore subject to error; gravestone information may have been added long after the person's death. A good entry on Find a Grave will cite its sources so they can be double-checked and used as reliable sources on a WikiTree profile.

Are you saying that this following source is not reliable? 

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130616631/susannah-peasley-cooke : accessed 23 May 2022), memorial page for Susannah Thrasher Peasley-Cooke (1625–1670), Find a Grave Memorial ID 130616631, citing Ware Episcopal Church Cemetery, Gloucester, Gloucester County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Stella (contributor 47848948) .

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Yes, that is what I am saying. This is the important part of that statement to understand "A good entry on Find a Grave will cite its sources so they can be double-checked and used as reliable sources on a WikiTree profile." It means that if the memorial lists a reliable source then locate the source. You need to use a reliable source. This page and the links on it may help. Find-A-Grave Usage on pre-1700 and project-managed profiles.

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I am trying to understand why "Thresher" is correct when I can not see the "reliable" source for it.  It appears that this source: Thresher-29 was created by Sjana Dreyer through the import of 01_26_07_complete.ged on Jul 15, 2014. Also July 17. (Susanah, 1650-1744.)

 is the supreme reliable source?  I thought this was overlooked. This should be removed because it is very confusing when one looks at the ridiculous dates.

Why are "imports" more reliable than real gravestones?

Anyway, I respect your experience with tough decisions. Thanks. 

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We do not change birth names (LNABs) without a reliable source. If it is incorrect then it will stay that way until a reliable source is found.

You changed her date of birth. That profile is project managed and protected. Did you see the comment that Liz left you on that profile? Read the page with the links that I posted. Gravestones are not reliable, they may have been placed at a later date, or may not be the original stone. The Find-A-Grave that you posted has no gravestone.