Genealogical Complaint for the Day: Erroneous Middle Names
Ancestor born in rural Appalachia in the 1750s? Sure he has a middle name! Why wouldn't he? Of course it also happens to be his brothers name, but ignore that.
Ancestor born in 1805 with no evidence of any middle name to be found? Well of course they had one! See right here on their FindAGrave profile where it says they did! The headstone just has a First & Last name? But you can trust FindAGrave! Let me just copy that down onto my tree.
You can't find any document that includes so much as a middle initial for this ancestor born in the 1700s? Well my great-grandmother's research says that he definitely had a middle name so it must be true.
You say I've combined two different men? No no no! You have it all wrong! Clearly there is only one man named John James and all these records refer to him! Yes, all of them! No, I know that he is only referred to as John or James, never both, but everyone knows that there can only be one man of that surname in a single place! And my grandpa always said he was descended from a Revolutionary War Veteran and only James has the evidence so there must be only one guy. You aren't calling my grandpa a liar are you?
Anyone else have a Genealogical Complaint they would like to air? Because this one currently has me tearing my hair out (and the FindAGrave managers aren't helping in the slightest)