Genealogy often feels like a puzzle, but sometimes it can resemble a mystery novel with unexpected twists and hidden characters. Recently, I encountered another “mystery match” on Ancestry—a previously unknown relative who shared a significant amount of DNA with my 1c2r, while working on organizing her paternal DNA matches (the side we share), yet didn’t quite fit into the known family tree. Here’s how I approached this genealogical mystery and pieced together the clues. 1. A Surprising Match: The First Clue The journey began with a surprising DNA match categorized as “Close Family” by Ancestry. They shared 426 cM of DNA and Ancestry predicted them as a 1st cousin 2x removed, which these centimorgans suggests a relationship in the range of a 1st cousin 1x removed (1c1r), a half grandnephew, a great-great nephew, or a half first cousin (1/2 1c), among others—each intriguing and requiring a closer look to confirm. 2. Tools for Relationship Estimation Using three key tools, Ancestry’s “Frequency of Relationships”, DNA Painter’s Shared cM Project Tool, and MyHeritage’s cM Explainer tool, I analyzed these possible relationships. Both former tools highly suggested the most likely possibilities were Great-Great-Nephew, Half Great-Nephew, 1C1R, Half 1C, Half Great- Uncle, or possibly a Great-Great-Uncle, and the later tool highly suggested 1C1R. But this was just the start—the tools help narrow the field, but genealogy is about testing hypotheses. 3. Shared Matches: Clues from Family Connections I began comparing their shared matches. By cross-referencing these shared matches, I found some links that connected our DNA mystery to known family members who are descendants of her grandparents’ children, thus her father and his siblings—in which two are known to have had extramarital affairs. This provided an important clue: this new match was likely another result of our family’s history of complex relationships. 4. Analyzing cM Comparisons and Mapping Relationships To further test my hypothesis, I reviewed the cM values of known family members who share connections with this mystery match, using not only the Shared Matches tool, but the Shared Matches Pro Tool as well. Comparing cM values from other relatives on this line, I found patterns that suggested a very close family link. Based on their age (if the match is the only associate of the test manager that I found in public records with a name that fits the screen name initials) and likely generation, the match seemed to fit best as a half great-nephew--but identifying exactly where they fit requires more direct evidence, thus more work needs to be done analyzing cM comparisons and mapping relationships for the other 3 possibilities—1C1R, Great-Great-Nephew, or Half 1C. 5. Reaching Out to Potential Relatives The next step was to contact the mystery match’s test manager, as his screen name was just initials. Although the account had been inactive for over a year, I tried reaching out via Ancestry messages and Facebook (after I checked through public records, so I knew who to look for based off age, location, and associates). This is often a waiting game, and not everyone responds, but sometimes, persistence pays off. Every piece of information can make a difference, and connecting with living relatives can clarify lingering questions. 6. Lessons Learned: Tips for Investigating Mystery Matches This mystery match investigation highlighted several useful techniques for anyone facing a similar DNA puzzle:
By following these steps, I’ve gotten closer to understanding how this mystery match fits into our family story. DNA testing is a powerful genealogical tool, but it’s detective work as well. Each match is another chapter in the family’s story—one just waiting to be told. © 2024 Diane Henriks @ Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family More Genetic Genealogy/DNA ResourcesFind more DNA genealogy resources, tips, and other info under the Genetic Genealogy and DNA category. More Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. More Genealogy Brick Walls and MysteriesFind more genealogy brick wall research, tips, and other info under the Genealogy Brick Wall Research category. More Genealogy Research TipsFind more genealogy research tips under the Genealogy Research Tips category.
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As a professional genealogist, ongoing education is crucial to stay current with research methodologies, technological advancements, and the tons of records becoming more accessible each year. For many years, I’ve accumulated a massive amount of genealogy education through conferences, webinars, courses, and self-study. However, I recently realized I had been significantly underreporting my continuing education for my Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) membership requirements. The reason? Lack of organization. So, in the past few weeks, I took the plunge to fully organize my genealogical education history, and the results were definitely eye-opening. Here’s what I learned and how this process helped me not only stay on top of my education reporting but also manage my professional development more effectively. The Need for Organization: A Revelation Like many genealogists, my continuing education consists of various formats: live webinars, virtual conferences, in-person events, self-paced courses, and even independent study. I was doing what many of us tend to do—taking scratch notes, saving digital files here and there, and quickly logging attendance at conferences and workshops without creating a comprehensive record. This made tracking and reporting my education hours an overwhelming task at the end of each year. It wasn’t until I started going through old emails, registration confirmations, attendance certificates, title slide screenshots from webinars (that I take to help remember the presentation, date, and instructor) and even paper notes that I realized how much I had missed. Some educational experiences were completely undocumented in my official reports. I discovered a substantial gap between what I had reported and what I had actually accomplished. This discovery led me to dig through every possible source of educational material I had collected—paper notes, digital files, conference handouts, downloaded syllabi, and more, since the beginning of my educational journey. It wasn’t just about fulfilling my reporting requirements; it was about honoring the investment I had made in my professional growth. The Outcome: 684.75 Hours and Counting After combing through years’ worth of genealogical education, I tallied an impressive 684.75 hours from numerous organizations and institutions, including:
This extensive list includes conferences and webinars from 2014 onward (couldn’t find old handouts before then-must have thrown them away 😉), though my education truly accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. With so much online, I could attend a wide range of events, sometimes at no cost due to being a speaker, and I had the rare gift of time this past year and a half as I recovered from a work injury. Looking back, the pandemic period allowed my professional development to flourish in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Lessons Learned: The Importance of Tracking Genealogy Education The biggest takeaway from this experience is that organization is key to staying on top of continuing education, particularly when you’re juggling a variety of events, both in-person and virtual. My underreporting was simply a result of poor organization—not a lack of dedication. Here’s what I plan to do moving forward to ensure I stay on top of my genealogical education:
ExampleI have created spreadsheets for each year since 2014. Here are a couple of example pages, from 18 and counting, for 2024. A New Perspective on My Educational Journey One surprising realization during this process was how much I had grown as a genealogist since 2014. My education truly evolved, particularly when so much went online during the pandemic. The ability to participate in conferences and webinars from the comfort of home expanded my horizons significantly. I also saw how much I had learned through self-study, which often goes unrecognized but is equally valuable. Going forward, I’m committed to keeping my education organized, not only for reporting purposes but also to help me find handouts, syllabi, and materials more easily when I need them. This organization will also serve as a resource if anyone ever asks about my educational background or if I want to reflect on particular subjects. Final Thoughts: Get Organized Now, Not Later If you’re a professional genealogist—or even a dedicated hobbyist—it’s never too early to start organizing your genealogy education. You may be surprised by how much you’ve learned and accomplished when you start documenting it fully. Don’t let disorganization hold you back from accurately reporting or leveraging your hard-earned knowledge. Trust me, the process will make your life easier in the long run and allow you to continue growing as a genealogist. So, take a few hours to go through your old notes, emails, and certificates. Your future self will thank you! © 2024 Diane Henriks @ Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family More Organization and other Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more organization tips and other family history and genealogy resources under the Organization and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
AncestryDNA just launched its biggest update yet, adding a variety of new features and regions designed to help us get more out of our DNA results. This update includes a total redesign of the platform, offering improved accessibility, faster performance, and enhanced mobile support. With the launch of 24 new DNA regions and the introduction of 54 subregions in Europe, as well as 64 ethnic groups in Africa, this is Ancestry’s most significant update to date. Let's take a look at what's new and how these changes can impact your family history journey. 1. New Regions and Subregions: Precision at Its Finest AncestryDNA has expanded its geographic coverage significantly with the introduction of 24 new DNA regions. This includes:
2. African Ethnic Groups: A Cultural Deep Dive A standout feature of the update is the addition of ethnic groups in Africa, which reflect communities of people who share common cultural characteristics, such as language, religion, customs, and national origin. Ancestry has added 64 ethnic groups, providing a richer understanding of African heritage. This is a significant leap forward, especially for those researching African ancestry, where historical records can often be scarce or difficult to trace. With these ethnic groups, we can explore connections beyond just geography. The groups provide insight into cultural dynamics, migration patterns, and community history, offering a deeper perspective on their ancestral stories. 3. Refreshed Design and Feature Name Changes In addition to the new regions and features, AncestryDNA has undergone a total redesign. The new, more accessible design aims to enhance usability, whether you're accessing the site on a desktop or a mobile device. Several features have also been renamed for greater clarity:
4. Improved Performance and Accessibility AncestryDNA’s update isn’t just cosmetic—it's also designed to improve site performance. The updated platform supposedly gives faster load times, even on slower connections, to make it easier to explore our results without delay. Enhanced support for mobile devices will mean that you can seamlessly access your DNA insights on the go. 5. Enhancements and Future Plans Ancestry’s redesign also seems to lay the groundwork for future enhancements. While the update intends to improve user experience and understanding of the platform, it also sets the stage for more features and tools in the coming months and years. We can look forward to continued improvements that will further refine the accuracy and depth of our results. My Experience: New Insights and a Few Growing Pains Personally, my Ancestral Regions (formerly "Ethnicity Estimates") have remained fairly consistent and seem to align even more closely with my known family history. I’ve noticed the increased precision in the new subregions, which has given me a deeper understanding of my ancestral ties. However, there are still a few kinks in the system. For example, although my regions were marked as “Updated October 2024,” it now shows “Updated July 2024.” Additionally, some of the new subregions assigned to me were removed within days of the update. I’ve also encountered issues with managing my list of others DNA results that I manage, which is now disorganized and not in alphabetical order as it was before. Despite these minor bugs, the update is a significant improvement, offering a more immersive and accurate understanding of my DNA results. The potential for future enhancements makes me hopeful that AncestryDNA will continue to evolve and improve over time. User Experience Challenges: Not All Changes Are for the BetterWhile AncestryDNA's latest update has introduced exciting new features and a fresh design, there are some changes that make navigating the platform more difficult for users like myself.
Final Thoughts Ancestry’s biggest DNA update brings exciting new features and refinements that will help genealogists and family historians gain more insight into their ancestral roots. From expanded regions to enhanced design and performance, this update represents a major step forward in how we explore our family history. While there are still a few hiccups to iron out, and some important features that I found useful now missing or changed, the overall experience has been positive, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Ancestry will continue to build on these improvements. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to revisit your AncestryDNA results and see how these new updates could unlock more of your family story. © 2024 Diane Henriks @ Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
The Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS) has long been at the forefront of genealogy education with its flagship event, Jamboree. This conference has earned its reputation as the largest "single society" genealogy conference in the U.S., attracting family historians and professional genealogists from across the globe. Last year marked a significant milestone, as they celebrated the 53rd Jamboree conference and the 10th Genetic Genealogy conference, featuring renowned speakers and enriching sessions that inspired attendees. Traditionally held at the Burbank Marriott in Burbank, California, Jamboree adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic, by going virtual. In 2023, the event adopted a hybrid format, effectively separating the conferences into the Genetic Genealogy event in the spring and the Genealogy Jamboree in the fall. Introducing Genealogy Jam This year, I'm excited to announce a new evolution: Genealogy Jam! While the name may be new, the mission remains the same—offering a strong platform for genealogical learning and community building. Genealogy Jam will be a one-day event filled with targeted sessions, based off of a theme, designed to provide attendees with practical skills and insights. While we will miss the three full days of programming that everyone has come to love, I believe this focused format will deliver high-impact learning opportunities. Expect a thematic approach, which will guide the sessions and enhance your overall experience. This year's theme is "Discovering Our Southwest Heritage". Why Attend? If you’ve been longing for in-person connections, Genealogy Jam is the perfect opportunity to re-engage with the genealogical community. With many conferences shifting to virtual formats, this event offers a rare chance to participate in face-to-face learning. You will not only gain valuable knowledge but will also have the opportunity to meet fellow genealogists, share experiences, and build new friendships. Don’t miss out on:
Register Now! Be a part of this exciting day dedicated to genealogical education and community engagement. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or just starting your family history journey, Genealogy Jam promises to deliver valuable content and connections. Make sure to register soon to secure your spot for this hybrid event. Join a day that aims to inspire, educate, and celebrate our shared passion for genealogy! I can't wait!
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