The Internet has lots of clues and gems for researchers.
But there comes a time when genealogists have to leave their computers and visit repositories to verify the information they have gathered online.
If you find a family tree online that may be your line, do not add this information to your own family tree without verifying its accuracy. What is the source of the information? Where did the information come from?
If the sources are given, check the original documents to make sure the information is correct. If the sources are not listed, you need to do additional research to learn the accuracy of the data.
Everything online is not accurate. Be careful. Don't believe "I found it on the Internet so it must be true." People make mistakes and sometimes they are careless and post wrong information.
Once something is posted on the Internet, the information is always there. You can't get the information back. Misinformation is perpetuated when someone else adds this misinformation to their family tree and then posts their tree. Let's be good genealogical researchers and family historians.
Before we share family trees with others, we must verify everything is accurate. We must take the extra step to document sources so future generations know where we obtained our data. They, in turn, can verity the accuracy of our records.
Save the date: The Central New York Genealogical Society will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a conference Oct. 14 and 15 called "Good as Gold." Barry J. Ewell, from Salt Lake City, is the featured lecturer.