diff --git a/gramps/gen/db/base.py b/gramps/gen/db/base.py
index cca152769..2c69d5912 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/db/base.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/db/base.py
@@ -688,18 +688,6 @@ class DbReadBase:
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def get_reference_map_primary_cursor(self):
-        """
-        Returns a reference to a cursor over the reference map primary map
-        """
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
-    def get_reference_map_referenced_cursor(self):
-        """
-        Returns a reference to a cursor over the reference map referenced map
-        """
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
     def get_repo_bookmarks(self):
         """
         Return the list of Repository handles in the bookmarks.
@@ -1588,15 +1576,6 @@ class DbWriteBase(DbReadBase):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def delete_primary_from_reference_map(self, handle, transaction):
-        """
-        Called each time an object is removed from the database.
-
-        This can be used by subclasses to update any additional index tables
-        that might need to be changed.
-        """
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
     def get_undodb(self):
         """
         Return the database that keeps track of Undo/Redo operations.
@@ -1758,15 +1737,6 @@ class DbWriteBase(DbReadBase):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def update_reference_map(self, obj, transaction):
-        """
-        Called each time an object is writen to the database.
-
-        This can be used by subclasses to update any additional index tables
-        that might need to be changed.
-        """
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
     def write_version(self, name):
         """
         Write version number for a newly created DB.
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/test/db_test.py b/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/test/db_test.py
index 33a49a1fd..ddd3262a7 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/test/db_test.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/test/db_test.py
@@ -102,8 +102,6 @@ class DbTest(unittest.TestCase):
         "get_raw_repository_data",
         "get_raw_source_data",
         "get_raw_tag_data",
-        "get_reference_map_primary_cursor",
-        "get_reference_map_referenced_cursor",
         "get_repo_bookmarks",
         "get_repository_cursor",
         "get_repository_from_gramps_id",
@@ -196,7 +194,6 @@ class DbTest(unittest.TestCase):
         "commit_repository",
         "commit_source",
         "commit_tag",
-        "delete_primary_from_reference_map",
         "need_schema_upgrade",
         "rebuild_secondary",
         "reindex_reference_map",
@@ -214,7 +211,6 @@ class DbTest(unittest.TestCase):
         "set_name_group_mapping",
         "transaction_begin",
         "transaction_commit",
-        "update_reference_map",
         "write_version",
         ]
 
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/test/reference_map_test.py b/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/test/reference_map_test.py
index b869fe189..e009a987e 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/test/reference_map_test.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/test/reference_map_test.py
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ class ReferenceMapTest(GrampsDbBaseTest):
 
         # unhook the reference_map update function so that we
         # can insert some records without the reference_map being updated.
-        update_method = self._db.update_reference_map
-        self._db.update_reference_map = lambda x,y,z: 1
+        update_method = self._db._update_reference_map
+        self._db._update_reference_map = lambda x,y,z: 1
 
         # Insert a person/source pair.
         citation = self._add_source()
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class ReferenceMapTest(GrampsDbBaseTest):
                          "len(references) == %s " % str(len(references)))
 
         # Reinstate the reference_map method and reindex the database
-        self._db.update_reference_map = update_method
+        self._db._update_reference_map = update_method
         self._db.reindex_reference_map(cb)
 
         # Check that the reference now appears in the reference_map
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/write.py b/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/write.py
index 1cfd5311b..3fd84b959 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/write.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/write.py
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
     # the main index is unique, the others allow duplicate entries.
 
     @catch_db_error
-    def get_reference_map_primary_cursor(self):
+    def _get_reference_map_primary_cursor(self):
         """
         Returns a reference to a cursor over the reference map primary map
         """
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
                                         self.txn)
 
     @catch_db_error
-    def get_reference_map_referenced_cursor(self):
+    def _get_reference_map_referenced_cursor(self):
         """
         Returns a reference to a cursor over the reference map referenced map
         """
@@ -1188,7 +1188,7 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
             handle = handle.encode('utf-8')
         # Use the secondary index to locate all the reference_map entries
         # that include a reference to the object we are looking for.
-        referenced_cur = self.get_reference_map_referenced_cursor()
+        referenced_cur = self._get_reference_map_referenced_cursor()
 
         try:
             ret = referenced_cur.set(handle)
@@ -1224,12 +1224,12 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
 
         referenced_cur.close()
 
-    def delete_primary_from_reference_map(self, handle, transaction, txn=None):
+    def _delete_primary_from_reference_map(self, handle, transaction, txn=None):
         """
         Remove all references to the primary object from the reference_map.
         handle should be utf-8
         """
-        primary_cur = self.get_reference_map_primary_cursor()
+        primary_cur = self._get_reference_map_primary_cursor()
 
         try:
             ret = primary_cur.set(handle)
@@ -1260,7 +1260,7 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
         for main_key in remove_list:
             self.__remove_reference(main_key, transaction, txn)
 
-    def update_reference_map(self, obj, transaction, txn=None):
+    def _update_reference_map(self, obj, transaction, txn=None):
         """
         If txn is given, then changes are written right away using txn.
         """
@@ -1269,7 +1269,7 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
         # from the primary object 'obj' or any of its secondary objects.
         handle = obj.handle
         existing_references = set()
-        primary_cur = self.get_reference_map_primary_cursor()
+        primary_cur = self._get_reference_map_primary_cursor()
         try:
             if isinstance(handle, str):
                 key = handle.encode('utf-8')
@@ -1424,7 +1424,8 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
                         obj = class_func()
                         obj.unserialize(val)
                         with BSDDBTxn(self.env) as txn:
-                            self.update_reference_map(obj, transaction, txn.txn)
+                            self._update_reference_map(obj,
+                                                       transaction, txn.txn)
 
             callback(5)
 
@@ -1711,12 +1712,12 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
             handle = handle.encode('utf-8')
         if transaction.batch:
             with BSDDBTxn(self.env, data_map) as txn:
-                self.delete_primary_from_reference_map(handle, transaction,
+                self._delete_primary_from_reference_map(handle, transaction,
                                                         txn=txn.txn)
                 txn.delete(handle)
         else:
-            self.delete_primary_from_reference_map(handle, transaction,
-                                                   txn=self.txn)
+            self._delete_primary_from_reference_map(handle, transaction,
+                                                    txn=self.txn)
             old_data = data_map.get(handle, txn=self.txn)
             data_map.delete(handle, txn=self.txn)
             transaction.add(key, TXNDEL, handle, old_data, None)
@@ -1736,12 +1737,12 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
             handle = handle.encode('utf-8')
         if transaction.batch:
             with BSDDBTxn(self.env, self.person_map) as txn:
-                self.delete_primary_from_reference_map(handle, transaction,
-                                                       txn=txn.txn)
+                self._delete_primary_from_reference_map(handle, transaction,
+                                                        txn=txn.txn)
                 txn.delete(handle)
         else:
-            self.delete_primary_from_reference_map(handle, transaction,
-                                                   txn=self.txn)
+            self._delete_primary_from_reference_map(handle, transaction,
+                                                    txn=self.txn)
             self.person_map.delete(handle, txn=self.txn)
             transaction.add(PERSON_KEY, TXNDEL, handle, person.serialize(), None)
 
@@ -1906,7 +1907,7 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
         if isinstance(handle, str):
             handle = handle.encode('utf-8')
 
-        self.update_reference_map(obj, transaction, self.txn)
+        self._update_reference_map(obj, transaction, self.txn)
 
         new_data = obj.serialize()
         old_data = None
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/database/dummydb.py b/gramps/plugins/database/dummydb.py
index 393a987f3..fd656b3cb 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/database/dummydb.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/database/dummydb.py
@@ -991,22 +991,6 @@ class DummyDb(M_A_M_B("NewBaseClass", (DbReadBase, Callback, object,), {})):
         LOG.warn("handle %s does not exist in the dummy database" % handle)
         raise HandleError('Handle %s not found' % handle.decode('utf-8'))
 
-    def get_reference_map_primary_cursor(self):
-        """
-        Returns a reference to a cursor over the reference map primary map
-        """
-        if not self.db_is_open:
-            LOG.warn("database is closed")
-        return []
-
-    def get_reference_map_referenced_cursor(self):
-        """
-        Returns a reference to a cursor over the reference map referenced map
-        """
-        if not self.db_is_open:
-            LOG.warn("database is closed")
-        return []
-
     def get_repo_bookmarks(self):
         """
         Return the list of Repository handles in the bookmarks.