2 John Smith's Possibly to be Merged

Genealogy
1

I was wondering if anybody had a way dealing with following situation
I have 2 John Smith’s born in close proximity in terms of place and time (mid 1800’s) both have fathers name John. One marries Ann Jones but not sure which.
So I could create a link (dotted line) between the 2 John’s of a type “Potential for Merge” or I could have both John’s connected to the same marriage node until the situation is resolved.
Obviously if I was hand drawing this scenario on paper no problem but how would you show this in GRAMPS (as a work in progress) if at all.
The only solution I have so far is to create a 2nd marriage for Ann Jones to a John Smith which is messy.
phil

2

I am not much interested in graphing the possible relationships so this may not work for you.

I would create one record of John Smith married to Ann Jones.

In the John Smith record, I would give them the Name type “Could be”. I would create a note in the name with a note link to John Smith 1 in the database with the reasons why, and why not, this may be true.

I then create an Alternative name in John Smith married to Ann Jones and again make the Name type “Could be” and do the note link to John Smith 2 in the database with the reason this link may be true.

Hopefully, as more information becomes available, one of the name types can be set to “Is Not” and the married John Smith can be merged with the correct John Smith in the database.

I have three William Berry cousins born within 3 years of each other in the same town each marrying. Which William married which wife? It was at a time when the clerk in the town did not include “son of” information in the marriage records.

3

Hi

Apologies for delayed response but have been implementing a variation on your suggestion.

Basically the idea of creating the positives and negatives for an individual being correct in a note and the thought process associated has refreshed my thinking and hopefully on the way to sorting this anomaly, will try the same process on similar.

Thanks
phil

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