How to remove an incorrect surname/maiden name to Unknown?

Question

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Atherton-75

This profile attributes the 2nd wife of Timothy Mather to also be the same surname or maiden name as his first wife. Humprhey Atherton's probate records show there was one Elizabeth Mather daughter who had heirs and no mention of any Catherine as a daughter of Humphrey or any Weeks heirs. It would seem appropriate that this profile is UNKNOWN, not Atherton.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Torrey has this:

Name William WEEKES - WEEKS

Marriage 1652

Location Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States

Original Text WEEKES, William (1628/9-1677) & Elizabeth [ATHERTON]? (no) (1631-1710), m/2 Timothy MATHER ?1679 (she was 1/wf of Timothy MATHER); by 1652; Dorchester {Stevens-Miller 46, 273; Carpenter (1898) 58; Mosely (1878) 9; Weekes (1885) 35; TAG 10:254; Blackman An

Spouse Elizabeth ATHERTON

Volume Name Volume 3

Page 1621

Citation:

New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.

New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.

https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/i/21176/1621/426909149

Comments

Correct, as you see it says "NO" to the Atherton.  The first wife of Timothy Mather was Elizabeth Atherton.  The 2nd wife (which is the profile at issue) is the widow Weeks, maiden name unknown.

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And this:

Name Timothy MATHER

Marriage 1651

Location Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States

Original Text MATHER, Timothy (1628-1685) & Catherine/Elizabeth [ATHERTON] (1628-1678); by 1650?, by 1651; Dorchester {Reg. 10:361, 32:200, 106:64; Stevens-Miller 173; Sibley's Harv. Grad. 2:364; Pope's Pioneers 22; Putnam's Mag. 7:101; Mather 54; Ely 89; Sterling 1:36

Spouse Catherine, Elizabeth ATHERTON

Volume Name Volume 2

Page 1012

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Yes, Timothy Mather's first wife was Elizabeth Atherton Mather. In her father's probate files, she is identified as Elizabeth Mather or heirs of Elizabeth Mather, no Catherine or a 2nd Elizabeth listed with Weeks heirs.

https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/suffolk-county-ma-probate-file-papers/image?pageName=275:4&volumeId=48697&rId=69445027

The profile of the first wife is https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Atherton-74

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Name Timothy MATHER

Marriage 1678

Location Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States

Original Text MATHER, Timothy (1628-1684) & 2/wf Elizabeth (____) WEEKS (?1631-1710), w William; 20 Mar 1678, prob 1678/9; Dorchester/ Roxbury {Reg. 4:279, 5:467, 6:20, 86:244; McCormick-Hamilton 89; Stevens-Miller 273; Mather 54; Kimball Anc. 19; Bradford Anc. (1897)

Spouse Elizabeth [____] WEEKS

Later Residences Roxbury

Volume Name Volume 2

Page 1012

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Given the above, there seems to be some conflation due to misreading/interpreting the source and I would agree that Elizabeth's LNAB is unknown.

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Yes, correct she is Elizabeth _____ or UNKNOWN Weeks.  Not an Atherton.

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The PM was active as recently as a month ago. I would definitely send a private message or request trusted list access. Good luck!

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Thank you. I sent a private message.

Answer 2

Just go ahead and change it.  Be sure to document why you did it so the next person that comes along doesn't "correct" it for you.

Comments

I cannot change the maiden name from Atherton.

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You need to be on the trusted list.  Contact the profile mgr.

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I have posted a  message on the page, I will attempt to take it private. Thank you.

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I don't know why some profiles are like that.  There doesn't seem to be a reason for it, but this isn't the only time I've seen it.  Perhaps someone with more technical knowledge might comment.

Answer 3

I have not been successful in getting the profile manager to fix the name or respond to me. What is the next step? Are there curators on Wikitree, similar to Geni.com that look at situations like this? Thank you.

Comments

Christine,  Your next step would be to file the Unresponsive Profile Manager form.  There is a process to be followed. Take a look at this help page and it should guide you.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Unresponsive_Profile_Managers