Map My Ancestors: Merge
Right lane closed is information commonly encountered by every traveler. The answer is acting to merge two lanes of traffic into one while maintaining a forward flow. It is witnessing the merging of two “super highways” that brings us to stand next to Thomas Jefferson in 1783 at Harpers Ferry, WV. He poignantly says, “This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic,” as we watch the Shenandoah River flow into the Potamac. Deep thoughts arise about the merging of beliefs to support an emerging nation. Abolitionist John Brown would send out a message from here that one right lane would have to end….slavery. We hug 4th great grandfather, Valentine Ignatius Burch, in Bardstown, Kentucky, knowing that making a difference is how his story would end. Leaving Kentucky at the age of 13 for Texas put him in the battle for independence at the age of 23. The Battle of San Jacinto was a beginning to merging Texas into the United States of America. The merging of liberty’s dreams and ideas flow forward from the hallowed homes of James and Dolly Madison, and James and Elizabeth Monroe, with history coming alive in the Federalist Papers, Bill of Rights, United States Constitution and the Monroe Doctrine. He was the Marquis de Lafayette merging his love of liberty with ours, fighting in the American Revolution as a frenchman and influencing an alliance with France that changed our lives forever with the victory at Yorktown. After a good days battle, nature’s healthiest confluence cannot be forgotten….the sand, the sun and the sea!
Valentine Ignatius Burch Madison’s Montpelier James and Dolly Madison James Monroe Marquis de Lafayette Rodanthe, NC
Can map my ancestors on the family tree app help you locate any ancestors from Kentucky? West Virginia? Virginia?
Are there any duplicates in your family tree? Make a difference by correctly merging duplicates. When traveling, merging two lanes of traffic into one requires everyone to slow down. Merging duplicates requires time….so slow down and enjoy the study! On the family search tree app, possible duplicates appears on every person’s page drop down menu. On familysearch.org, possible duplicates is a research hint found in the right hand column.
Family Tree app familysearch.org
Review the merge with questions like these….Do the names match? Why would they be different? Do the dates match? Are there any sources attached to support the dates like birth, marriage, or death certificates? Did the dates and places come from an attached census record? Do the places match? Are the relationships the same? What is different about the relationships? Are there any records that show the relationships? Study both individuals, your person and the duplicate. If you feel strongly they are the same person, move to step two and use the green arrow to transfer informaton over that is more correct, give a reason why you feel the merge is right, they hit merge. Remember, not everything has to match exactly to be correct. If studying the information brings up more questions, search for answers before you merge. If studying the information helps you determine there is no possible match, hit not a match. Before merging individuals from other countries, understand the naming patterns of that country! Ask for help at a family history center, someone specializing in that country’s research, or from the help options on family search to guarantee an accurate merge.
Match quality very high Step 1 Step 2 Step 3