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7/12/2026 Why You Should Research Your Ancestors' Descendants (And Not Just Your Direct Line)Read Now Why researching your ancestors' descendants can reveal new stories, solve genealogy brick walls, and enrich your family history. Why You Should Research Your Ancestors' Descendants (And Not Just Your Direct Line) in GenealogyHave you ever spent hours—or even years—researching your direct ancestors, only to find yourself staring at a brick wall? If so, you may be overlooking one of the most powerful research strategies in genealogy: descendancy research. When most people begin tracing their family history, they naturally focus on their direct ancestors—parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on. While that's an important part of genealogy, it's only one side of the story. What many genealogists don't realize is that researching an ancestor's descendants can usually reveal information that just isn't found by following your direct line alone. In fact, some of my biggest breakthroughs, both in my own family history and in client research, have come from looking forward instead of backward. What Is Descendancy Research? Descendancy research is exactly what it sounds like: instead of tracing your family tree backward through your direct ancestors, you start with an ancestor and research all of their descendants—their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and beyond. Rather than focusing on a single branch, you're building an entire family network. This approach may take more time, but the rewards can be tremendous. Why Research Descendants?There are many reasons to research the descendants of an ancestor, and each project may have a different goal. Here are just a few ways descendancy research can benefit your family history research. Break Through Brick Walls Sometimes the answers you're searching for aren't found in your direct ancestor's records—they're hidden in the records of a sibling, cousin, niece, nephew, or another descendant. Perhaps a descendant's obituary identifies family members that earlier records never mentioned. A probate record may name heirs that establish relationships. A newspaper article might explain why a family suddenly disappeared from one location and reappeared somewhere else. By researching the entire family, you can uncover clues that solve long-standing mysteries. Find Living Relatives One of the most common reasons I use descendancy research methods is to locate living relatives. Whether you're hoping to reconnect with distant cousins, interview family members, identify potential DNA testers, or just expand your family connections, researching descendants often leads to relatives you never knew existed. Locate Family Photographs and HeirloomsFamily treasures don't always stay with your direct line. Old photographs, family Bibles, letters, military memorabilia, journals, and other heirlooms often pass down through different branches of the family. A distant cousin may unknowingly have the very photograph you've spent years searching for. Preserve Family Stories Every branch of a family preserves different memories. One cousin may remember stories about a great-grandparent's military service, while another has childhood memories, photographs, or letters that have never been shared with the rest of the family. Researching descendants helps preserve these stories before they're lost to time. Support DNA Research Descendancy research and genetic genealogy work hand in hand. When trying to solve an unknown parentage case, identify the parents of an ancestor, or confirm a family connection, finding the right living descendants to test can make all the difference. Building accurate descendancy trees also helps identify how DNA matches may fit into your family. Understand the Family as a WholeOur ancestors didn't live in isolation. They lived within families, communities, and networks of relatives who usually migrated together, served together in the military, witnessed each other's records, inherited property from one another, and appeared together throughout the historical record. Researching descendants lets you to see the bigger picture rather than viewing each ancestor as a single individual. Estate, Probate, and Heir Research Descendancy research is also an important tool in legal genealogy. Professional genealogists are often asked to identify living heirs, locate beneficiaries named in wills, or reconstruct families for probate and estate matters. These projects require researching entire descendant lines to determine who is living today and how they relate to the deceased. Medical Genealogy Family health history can sometimes be better understood by researching descendants. Learning about inherited conditions that appear across multiple branches of a family may help identify patterns that aren't obvious when looking only at your direct line. When Should You Consider Descendancy Research?Descendancy research may be especially useful if you are:
Looking Beyond Your Direct Line It's easy to become so focused on tracing your family tree backward that we forget another equally important direction—forward. Every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild of an ancestor represents another branch of your family's story. Those branches usually hold records, photographs, memories, DNA connections, and clues that can help answer questions your direct line alone cannot. After years of researching descendants for my own family, clients, attorneys, and investigators, I've found that some of the greatest discoveries happen when we stop looking only at where our ancestors came from and start exploring where their families went. Sometimes, the key to understanding the past is found by researching those who came after. This series is based off of my 2017 "Finding Descendants in Your Family Tree" presentation More Genealogy Research Methods & TipsGet more genealogy research tips, under the Genealogy Research Tips and Genealogy Quick Tips categories.
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 Testing ChatGPT Images 2.0’s “Research Visual” option for genealogy education Testing ChatGPT Images 2.0 “Research Visual” for Genealogy InfographicsOkay, so what do you do when you’re sick and playing hooky from client work? Apparently… you test AI image tools on genealogy topics. 😄 A few weeks ago, I noticed a new option inside ChatGPT Images 2.0 called “Research Visual” (complex topic infographic). Naturally, I had to try it. For my tests, I used genealogy topics and materials I already knew very well, especially my brick wall research content, so I could easily spot what worked, what didn’t, and how accurate the results actually were. I tested many examples over the last few weeks, but for this blog, I’m only showing the two brick wall examples because they showed the progression and improvements especially well, and of course I can't show them all. Test #1: Brick Wall Problem-Solving as a SystemFor the first test, I used my brick wall troubleshooting blog article as the source material, as well as my other notes. My first reaction? Very, very cool. The infographic looked polished, educational, and visually appealing. It took the structure of my article and turned it into something that felt much bigger and more layered than a normal infographic. The main sections stayed very close to my original article and were largely on point. But then ChatGPT started doing something interesting… It began adding its own extra educational sections and mini add-ons to make the infographic feel more complete and visually useful. Some of those additions were actually excellent:
Honestly? Some of the add-ons improved the infographic quite a bit. But… not everything was correct. A few sections were close, but not quite there:
The infographic kept generating resources and reading lists that looked legitimate, but several were incorrect, blended together, incomplete, or simply made up. That became a repeating pattern in the early “Research Visual” tests I tried.  ChatGPT Images 2.0 “Research Visual” for Genealogy Infographics- Example 1, Early Test Test #2: Brick Wall Problem-Solving with Practical StrategiesFast forward just a couple of weeks later, and the results were noticeably different. This time:
ChatGPT simply left it out this time. And honestly? That seemed to fix the biggest problem from the earlier tests. The earlier “Research Visual” infographics kept struggling with the resources and references sections. Once those disappeared, the overall accuracy improved dramatically. The second version also felt less like a “complex topic research visual”, that it should have been, and more like a traditional infographic. So while it may have been less visually ambitious than the first test, it was far more reliable overall. And for genealogy? Accuracy matters more than fancy visuals.  ChatGPT Images 2.0 “Research Visual” for Genealogy Infographics- Example 2, Improved My Biggest Takeaways A few things really stood out to me from these tests: 1. The improvement in just a couple weeks was huge The difference between May 4 and May 23 was honestly impressive. 2. AI is getting very good at visually organizing complex genealogy concepts Especially workflows, systems, checklists, and educational-style breakdowns. 3. It still absolutely requires expert review Some of the incorrect information looked very convincing at first glance. That’s important. 4. The potential here is enormous I could easily see tools like this being useful for:
Final Thoughts Even with the flaws in the early tests, I came away really impressed with this new option. Watching the improvement happen in real time over only a couple weeks was fascinating. And honestly? I think this is just the beginning of where tools like this are heading for genealogy education and visual learning. More AI and GenealogyLearn about more AI in Genealogy updates, tips, and resources (including photo tools), along with other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Brick wall troubleshooting checklist to help guide your next steps when genealogy research stalls Brick Wall Troubleshooting Checklist: A Quick Reference Guide for Stuck Genealogy ResearchEvery genealogist eventually hits that point where the trail goes cold. A missing parent. A sudden disappearance. A surname that shifts without explanation. A record gap that destroys an entire timeline. Brick walls are frustrating, but most of them fall with a structured, methodical review of what you already have and what you may have overlooked. This checklist gives you a practical way to re-examine your research, identify weak points, and uncover new paths forward, perfect for those moments when you feel like you’ve tried everything… but know there must be more. Genealogy Brick Wall Troubleshooting Checklist1. Reconstruct the Known Facts
2. Review All Records with Fresh Eyes
3. Identify Weak Links in the Chain
4. Expand Beyond the Direct Line
5. Deep Dive into Locality Research
6. Search for Name Variants
7. Redirect Your Approach to Different Record Types
8. Reevaluate Geographic Assumptions
9. Take Advantage of DNA
10. Form New Research Questions
Putting It All Together Brick walls rarely fall with just one discovery; they fall when the research is rebuilt from the ground up. By reviewing assumptions, widening your circle of people and records, focusing on locality, and using both traditional and DNA evidence, you give yourself multiple paths forward. This checklist works best when used periodically, especially during long-term or difficult projects. The goal is not to force an answer, but to create the strongest possible foundation so the right record, or the right connection, becomes visible. More Genealogy Research TipsGet more genealogy research tips, under the Genealogy Research Tips and Genealogy Quick Tips categories.
 DNA and historical records—two essential tools working together in genealogy research DNA and the Paper Trail: Why Both Are Essential in Genealogy Genealogy often feels like putting together a giant puzzle with missing, faded, or mismatched pieces. For decades, genealogists relied entirely on the “paper trail”—records such as census schedules, deeds, wills, church registers, and immigration documents—to reconstruct family stories. These records remain at the heart of family history research. But in recent years, DNA testing has become another powerful tool, offering clues and connections that records alone can’t always provide. The fact is: DNA and the paper trail go hand in hand. When used together, they can break through brick walls, confirm long-standing theories, and reveal hidden branches of the family tree. Especially in difficult cases, neither DNA nor documents alone usually give the full answer—they work best in conjunction with one another. The Paper Trail: Foundation of Research Historical records provide the structure of genealogical research. They give names, dates, places, and relationships, painting a timeline of our ancestors’ lives. Birth and marriage records, for example, can connect parents and children. Census schedules show household structures and migration patterns. Probate files and land deeds can tie families to specific communities over generations. But records aren’t perfect. They can be missing, incomplete, or totally misleading. Clerks made errors, families used nicknames, and sometimes people intentionally hid or altered information. For African American, Indigenous, immigrant, or poor ancestors, records may be especially sparse. This is where DNA steps in. DNA: Evidence Written in Our Cells DNA testing gives us genetic connections that no courthouse fire or missing parish register can erase. It allows us to:
When DNA and Records Work Together Case Example 1: Unknown Parentage Someone searching for a biological parent may have many close DNA matches, but without records those relationships are a tangled web. A genealogist uses documents—marriage records, obituaries, census schedules—to map out the families of each DNA match. This combined approach narrows the possibilities until the parent is identified. Case Example 2: The Disappearing Ancestor An ancestor seems to vanish after the 1880 census. A cluster of DNA matches points to a family living in another state. By following probate and land records for that family, a genealogist uncovers that the missing ancestor remarried, changed locations, and lived under a slightly altered name. DNA provided the direction, records confirmed the story. Case Example 3: Deep Ancestry For those researching immigrant ancestors from countries with poor record survival, DNA matches often cluster in a specific region. Combined with church and civil records that still exist, DNA leads the genealogist to the correct village or townland, providing context and confirmation. Best Practices for Combining DNA and the Paper Trail
The Power of Both Neither DNA nor a paper trail is enough on its own for solving the most difficult genealogical problems. But together, they form a powerful alliance. Records give us structure; DNA gives us proof. Records give us names; DNA gives us connections. And when combined, they let us reconstruct not only family trees, but also the full, complex stories of the people who came before us. For genealogists facing brick walls, it's pretty plain to see: don’t choose between DNA and the paper trail. Use both—and watch as the puzzle pieces finally come together. #GenealogyResearch, #DNAGenealogy, #BrickWallBusting More Genetic Genealogy/DNA in GenealogyFind more DNA genealogy resources, tips, and other info under the Genetic Genealogy and DNA category. More Genealogy Research Tips4/6/2025 Exploring Ancestry’s New “Networks” Feature: A Powerful Tool for Connections Beyond the Family TreeRead Now  Visualizing connections beyond the family tree with Ancestry’s Networks feature Ancestry recently unveiled a new tool that has the potential to reshape how we document, visualize, and analyze the relationships surrounding our ancestors. Simply called Networks, this new Pro Tools feature allows researchers to build out dynamic relationship webs that go far beyond traditional family lines. Announced at RootsTech and currently in BETA, Networks is already proving to be a valuable resource for exploring the people who interacted with, lived near, or were otherwise involved in our ancestors’ lives—even if they weren’t blood relatives. In genealogy, we often say that it takes a village—not only to raise a child but also to build out a meaningful, contextual family history. Networks offers a new way to capture that village. What Is the Networks Feature? Networks is designed to:
A Real-World Example: Using Networks for Census Boarders I first encountered the Networks feature while working on a client case, and I decided to give it a try right then and there. In the 1910 census, I found a family living together—husband, wife, children—and several other individuals listed in the household. Among them were three men marked as the husband’s “brothers,” and two boarders. Oddly, I had found no additional records linking the three supposed brothers to the family.  Ancestry Networks Example 1- Boarders and Possible Brothers That’s where Networks came in.  Ancestry Networks Example 2- Creating a Network Using the new tool, I added all of these individuals to a network linked to the head of household. I treated it like a research workspace: I tagged each person, added census data as media, and even began building out mini-profiles for the three “brothers” and the boarders. Whether the census taker made an error or the relationships are genuine but obscured, this feature gave me the freedom to explore those possibilities without needing to force these individuals directly into the family tree structure.  Ancestry Networks Example 3- Adding People, Media, Sources, Tags, and Stickies to Your Network  Ancestry Networks Example 4- Creating Stickies (Notes) for Your Network Key Features That Make Networks Useful
How to Access the Networks Feature As of now, Networks is available only to those with an active Pro Tools membership on Ancestry and can only be accessed through the Ancestry website—not the mobile app. There are multiple ways to get to it:
Why This Matters Genealogy is as much about social context as it is about names, dates, and places. Networks fills an important gap in our research process by giving us a structured, visual way to explore the people who encircled our ancestors’ lives—those who may have had deep personal, social, or economic significance but don't appear in a traditional family tree structure. The tool may especially prove useful for:
Final Thoughts While still in BETA, Ancestry’s Networks feature is a useful addition for genealogists at every level. It encourages critical thinking, offers flexibility, and considers the complexity of human relationships—something every family historian grapples with at some point. Whether you’re piecing together a mystery in the census, mapping out an immigrant cluster, or just trying to figure out who that “mystery boarder” might have been, Networks gives you a new lens to view your research through. And sometimes, that fresh perspective is just what we need to break through a long-standing brick wall. Have you tried the Networks feature yet? Share your experiences—I’d love to hear how others are using it in their research! 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.
 DNA Mystery Match: Mapping DNA connections to uncover an unexpected match on Ancestry 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.  Ancestry’s “Frequency of relationships”- Partial  DNA Painter’s Shared cM Project Tool's "Relationship probabilities"  MyHeritage’s cM Explainer "Possible relationships" 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.
 Ancestry's New Community Groups Feature Exciting news for genealogists and family historians! Ancestry.com has introduced a new BETA feature, Community Groups, set to transform how we connect, share, and collaborate in our genealogical journeys. While still in its testing phase and available to select users, this feature promises to be a valuable addition to Ancestry's toolkit. What Are Community Groups? Currently, the Community Groups feature showcases three public groups:
First Impressions and Potential Though still in BETA and not fully accessible, the feature appears to be aimed at fostering community engagement and collaboration. Users can join groups, but full functionality—including viewing and participating in discussions—is not yet available. The placeholder message reads: "Coming soon: Community groups. We’re building a space for you to connect with others, celebrate your milestones, ask for help, and uncover more about your family history. Check back soon for updates." Why This Matters As a professional genealogist, the prospect of these community groups is incredibly promising. Here’s why:
Final Thoughts While we await the full rollout, the anticipation surrounding Ancestry’s Community Groups is Real. This feature has the potential to enhance our research by providing a supportive community where we can share knowledge, seek assistance, and celebrate our genealogical achievements together. Stay tuned for further updates as Ancestry.com continues to develop and refine this exciting new feature. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogist or just starting your journey, Community Groups could soon become an invaluable part of your research toolkit. 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.
 Top 5 Genealogy Brick Wall Busters We’ve all been there; there always seems to be that one ancestor (or many) whose records run dry and that just seem to fall off the face of the earth in one’s family tree. What do you do when you come across the dreaded genealogy brick wall? Do you get frustrated? Do you spend tons of money on possible records and professional research help? Do you start searching aimlessly? Do your brick walls seem to last for years on end? Your brick walls may not really be brick walls at all; it may be HOW you search, that you’re missing key clues, and that you’re not using ALL your resources. I have quite a few “brick wall" busters, but these are my top 5 tried and true ways of breaking through them. 1. Descendancy Research
2. Collateral Research
3. No Name Search
4. DNA
5. Think Outside the Box
More Genealogy Tips: Find more brick wall tips under the Genealogy Brick Wall Cases category, research tips under the Genealogy Research Tips category, and quick tips under the Genealogy Quick Tips category! *Best of the Genea-Blogs  Continued from Part 6 Continue with me in part 7, my final part, of my genetic genealogy journey of a temporary brick wall for yet another new DNA mystery match that had just showed up, when I already know all the descendants in that line! I left off last, in Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 6, with it being narrowed down even further. I had ended up with my match having a higher possibility of being my grandfather’s great grandchild or my great uncle’s great grandchild. Let’s check my uncle’s cMs matched to the mystery match for another perspective.  My uncle's relationship possibilities in the DNA Painter Shared cM Tool  My uncle's relationship possibilities in the DNA Painter Shared cM Tool Relationship Chart If I use the same method I used on my own cMs to narrow down the possible relations that I used in Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 5 and Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 6, by eliminating what is not practical against my Uncle’s centimorgans matched to him, the possibilities are: 1c2r, 1c1r, ½ great- nephew.  My uncle's relationship possibilities narrowed down in the DNA Painter Shared cM Tool Relationship Chart, with the same method The histogram findings in the DNA Painter Shared cM Tool are: 1c2r (highest on histograms) ...his uncle’s (aka my great uncle) great grandchild???
Even though this wasn’t necessary, this narrowed it down even more for me! It always helps by getting rid of another generation to deal with. 😉 I now have one possible relationship to work with! In summary, I am now confident that my match is my 2c1r and my uncle’s 1c2r (my great uncle’s/my uncle’s uncle’s great-great grandchild).
There are also no other unknown/mystery matches matched to my mystery match as of yet. Even though we would have the same shared matches of course, it is easier to see them from his shared matches with me, as opposed to my thousands of shared matches to that line, since he is only half related to that line. Oh my gosh, I finally got a working number for my matches mom, near the end of this second day on this! I’m going to call now and get back to you all! I called my match’s mom and spoke to her for a while. I made sure to ask pertinent questions to see which of my match’s 4 grandparents could be my great uncle’s child. I asked if she had tested, and she said she had. Since his mom said she had tested, and I know I am not a match to her, her 2 lines/my match’s 2 maternal grandparents are out. That now leaves me with 2 possible children for my great uncle, one of either of my match’s paternal grandparents. I asked if her husband looked more like his father or his mother, and she stated that he looked just like his father; my matches father does not really resemble my great uncle or our family. I was hoping to get a photo of her husband’s parents (my match’s paternal grandparents and one being the probable child of my great uncle), but she said she didn’t have access to any pictures right now, as she had just moved. Hmmmmmmmm, my match’s paternal grandmother’s mother was in Sedgwick County, KS at the time her daughter (my match’s paternal grandmother) was born in 1930. My great uncle was also in Sedgwick County, KS at that time. My match’s paternal grandmother’s mother was also married only a little less than 5 months before the birth of her daughter (my match’s paternal grandmother). My match’s paternal grandfather’s mother was in Cloud County, KS, just four counties over, at the time her son (my match’s paternal grandfather) was born. She had just married her husband within the year of her son’s birth; although, I have not gotten their marriage record yet. It’s very interesting that her son, my match’s paternal grandfather, is named Donald, the same name as my great uncle. I also finally got a working number for my match’s uncle, and I called. I was hoping for a photo of his parents, but he had asked how he was supposed to do that, more in a not willing sort of way. He seemed a little upset with the information presented to him, but I got the feeling that he wasn’t necessarily surprised. He then said he wanted to end the conversation and was not interested in it anymore. I am hoping that one day I can get a photo of my match’s paternal grandparents, along with his paternal grandfather’s mother’s marriage record, not that a child can’t come about while married to someone else. 😉 I am also hoping that my match will be willing to speak to me about his matches, and let me view them, as I would be able to confirm it by HIS shared matches. His mother said she would give him my number, not to mention I left him a message on Ancestry (that has been viewed) and Facebook, with no response. ☹ Well, here it is, after discovering my match 2 days ago: In summary, I find it very interesting that my match’s paternal grandfather was named Donald, the same name as that of my great uncle, but I strongly believe his paternal grandmother is my great uncle’s child. She was born in the exact area where my great uncle was at the time, and her mother didn’t marry until she was almost 5 months pregnant with her. I will not know for certain until I can compare pictures, and until my match is willing to respond to me and hopefully lets me view his matches. 😊 To follow this story from the beginning, you can find the links below: Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 1 Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 2 Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 3 Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 4 Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 5 Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 6 Find more research tips under the category Genealogy Research Tips, brick wall tips under the Genealogy Brick Wall Cases category, and DNA tips under the DNA Simplified category. I'd love to read your comments! My older site theme does not support the "Leave a Reply" field labels; if you'd like to leave a comment on a blog, the fields are: Name, Email, Site (if you'd like), and Comment, the standard fields 😉 ←Back to Genealogy Research Tips Page This post is a participant in the Genealogy Blog Party! Other related genealogy brick wall research cases that may be of interest:
 Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 6 Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 6Continued from Part 5 My genetic genealogy journey of a temporary genealogy brick wall for yet another new DNA mystery match relative that had just showed up, when I already know all the descendants in that line, continues with Part 6. While still trying to get working numbers for my match and his mom, I left off last in Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 5 by narrowing down my possible match relationships in DNA Painter, using deductive reasoning. I used the DNA Painter Shared cM Tool and their relationship histogram charts. Compare Relationships against Dates and Places, Again: Now it’s time to narrow down my deductions even more, by comparing the possible relationships left against dates and places!
I am going to eliminate his sisters, as it would have been obvious if they were pregnant. By building my own quick tree for my match's lines, where I only had his father and "Private" mother to go off of, which I talked about in Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 3 and Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 4, I had found the following:
This info is based off no one being adopted, etc. No matter what, he (my mystery match) is descended from my grandfather or his sibling, most likely his brother… More Centimorgan Relationship Elimination: Now I just need to work with the last possible centimorgan relationships that I had narrowed it down to, with my new findings. In Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 5, I had narrowed it down to 2c, ½ 1c1r, 2c1r (and a possible 1c2r from the histograms in the DNA Painter Shared cM Tool).  Where I last had narrowed down my relationship possibilities using the DNA Painter Shared cM Tool
 My relationship possibilities narrowed down further using the DNA Painter Shared cM Tool So, in short, I am now left with my match having a higher possibly of being my grandfather’s great grandchild, or my great uncle’s great grandchild. Stay tuned for more in Part 7 where I wrap things up, and see how my mystery match is related! 😊 Interactive Questions: Are you making sure to compare your DNA match relationships against dates and places to help break down brick walls? Are you weeding out as many of those centimorgan relationships that you can? Let me know in the comments below! Update, December 25, 2021: Part 7, the final part in this solving a DNA mystery match series, is now here!: Genealogy Brick wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 7 Follow This Story from the Beginning: Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 1 More DNA and Genealogy Research Tips and Resources: Find more research tips under the Genealogy Research Tips category, brick wall tips under the Genealogy Brick Wall Cases category, and DNA/genetic genealogy tips under the DNA Simplified category. You can also find some DNA research resources, to help you in your research, on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. Other related genealogy brick wall research cases that may be of interest:
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Welcome to the BlogWelcome to Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family! Here you'll find genealogy research tips, family history resources, DNA insights, technology and AI tools, genealogy news, and stories from my own research journey. Whether you're just starting your family tree, exploring your ancestry, or tackling a challenging brick wall, my goal is to help you discover, understand, and preserve your family's story. Categories
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