Why was FamilySearch chosen for the Pitman online trees?

The Committee investigated a number of different options but decided to focus on contributing to the shared tree in FamilySearch, with the following benefits:

• anyone can to access the tree at no cost
• anyone can add more information to the tree, reasonably easily and at no cost, and
• the information will be as accurate and secure as possible for the longer term.

Free for everyone

Whether you just want to look at the information or want to help with updating it, access to FamilySearch is free.

Some of the information is publicly available so anyone can see it with no special access or skills required. As an example, have a look at the details of Percy George Pitman of Inglewood.

If you want to see more details than appear on the public pages, or you have information to contribute, you can sign up for a free account.

Anyone can contribute

Yes, anyone! Using your free account, you can start adding extra information you know.

Is your grandfather’s date of birth or death incorrect? Please correct it. Is the place of birth or death missing? Just add it in.

Has there been a death in your family recently, but that person isn’t appearing in FamilySearch? Add them to the tree and include as many details as you know. In time other people may add extra information that will extend your contribution.

Quality can be monitored

“On no”, you say, “won’t people make mistakes and mess up the tree?”

Yes, that can happen, and sometimes, very occasionally, it does.

A number of safeguards have been put in place to try to avoid this:

• Including photos and stories about people means others will presume that the previous contributors know quite a bit about the person, and will be extra careful
• Recording sources that verify the information means the chances of someone making incorrect changes are much reduced
• Using the Follow option to monitor changes, and double checking that the changes are appropriate, helps to minimise incorrect changes