MyHeritage has a FREE, new feature, announced at RootsTech, the cM Explainer DNA Tool! This newest genetic genealogy tool uses both centimorgans and ages to give better relationship probability predictions to your DNA matches! I was given a heads up about it and early access to test it out before it’s RootsTech unveiling and had posted it in social media right away, but I wanted to wait until I had time to fully check it out before I did a blog on it. About MyHeritage cM Explainer DNA Tool:This newest genetic genealogy tool uses both centimorgans and ages to give better relationship probability predictions to your DNA matches! You can use it with your MyHeritage DNA matches or as a stand-alone DNA tool from any of your DNA matches at other companies! The DNA match tool gives a detailed prediction of the possible relationships with a DNA match, along with the probabilities of those relationships. It also determines your probable most recent common ancestor and gives a diagram breakdown of the relationships. The tool also puts your relationship into simple terms that everyone can understand, such as parent’s first cousin or first cousin’s child, instead of 1c or 1c1r. You can also filter the predictions by full or 1/2 relationships. This genetic genealogy feature is available for free to anyone who has their DNA results on MyHeritage and as a stand-alone DNA tool for anyone with a MyHeritage account, including their FREE basic account! How to Access MyHeritage DNA Explainer Tool:
MyHeritage cM Explainer DNA TOOL Results and Comparisons:I tested out the MyHeritage cm Explainer DNA Tool with all my mom’s close category DNA matches, with and without ages, while also plugging them into the DNA Painter Shared cM Tool and using AncestryDNA’s built in Possible DNA Relationships tool, to compare results. Example 1:Below is an example of the shared centimorgans between my mom and one her 1/2 first cousins plugged into AncestryDNA's built-in Possible DNA Relationships tool, DNA Painter's Shared cM Project tool, and the new MyHeritage's cM Explainer DNA Tool for comparison. Here AncestryDNA's built-in Possible DNA Relationships tool puts my mom's 1/2 first cousin at a possible DNA relationship of 48%, along with many other possible relationships. Here DNA Painter's shared cM Project Tool puts my mom's 1/2 first cousin at a probable DNA relationship of 63%, along with many other probable relationships. Here MyHeritage's cM Explainer DNA Tool puts my mom's 1/2 first cousin at a probable DNA relationship of 1st cousin's child or Parent's 1st cousin, a little off on the probable relationship on this one, but half first cousin is included as the 4th possible relationship in the possible relationships breakdown at 8.5%, along with a lot less possible relationships than the other 2. They also have the most recent common ancestor next to each relationship, to simplify it for you. Here is MyHeritage's cM Explainer DNA Tool Diagram breakdown of those possible relationships, to help those who visualize information better. Here MyHeritage's cM Explainer DNA Tool, with the optional added ages, now puts my mom's 1/2 first cousin at a probable DNA relationship of 1st cousin's child or 1st cousin, still a little off on the probable relationship on this one, but half first cousin is now included in the more fine-tuned possible relationships at 22.8%, along with a lot less possible relationships than the other 2, an overall very good prediction. Here is MyHeritage's cM Explainer DNA Tool Diagram breakdown of those now possible relationships, with the optional ages included, to help those who visualize information better. Example 2:Below is an example of the shared centimorgans between my mom and her 1/2 niece plugged into AncestryDNA's built-in Possible DNA Relationships tool, DNA Painter's Shared cM Project tool, and the new MyHeritage's cM Explainer DNA Tool for comparison. Here AncestryDNA's built-in Possible DNA Relationships tool puts my mom's 1/2 niece at a possible DNA relationship of 99%, along with many other possible relationships. Here DNA Painter's shared cM Project Tool puts my mom's 1/2 niece at a probable DNA relationship of 98%, along with many other probable relationships. Here MyHeritage's cM Explainer DNA Tool puts my mom's 1/2 niece at a probable DNA relationship of 1st cousin, a little off on the probable relationship on this one, but half niece is included as the second possible relationship in the possible relationships breakdown at 11.2%, along with a lot less possible relationships than the other 2. They also have the most recent common ancestor next to each relationship, to simplify it for you. Here MyHeritage's cM Explainer DNA Tool, with the optional added ages, now puts my mom's 1/2 niece at only one probable DNA relationship of 1/2 niece, right on target with the exact relationship probability! This was so fine-tuned that it narrowed it down to only four possible relationships at all for the shared centimorgans, along with the possible ages, making this a suberb prediction! Here is MyHeritage's cM Explainer DNA Tool Diagram breakdown of those now possible relationships, with the optional ages included, to help those who visualize information better. Conclusion:These are just 2 examples of all of the close matches I tested out. It is a hit or miss with the probable relationship, but ALL the relationships did show up in the possible relationships section, as being one of the possible relationships. Most of the probable relationships were off due to endogamy, pedigree collapse, and very unusual age ranges between some generations, so of course that makes the prediction very difficult, but it is an overall great predictor of DNA match relationships that puts everything in simple terms that anyone can understand, while narrowing down those match relationships significantly.
You can try out this new DNA tool by signing up for a MyHeritage FREE 14-day trial, their FREE Basic Site, one of their Premium Family Site plans, a Data plan, or a Complete plan here: MyHeritage More Genealogy Resources: Learn about more MyHeritage features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
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The Best Month to Purchase Your Ancestral DNA Test Kit Is Finally Here!Are you aware of all the holiday ancestral DNA sales that happen in November each year? If you didn’t, then you do now! November is always the best month to purchase a DNA testing kit! See what each of the fab five genealogy DNA testing sites has to offer and tips on how to choose which sale to go for! AncestryDNA Holiday DNA Sale:Want the largest database of DNA matches and the best starting point for your DNA (you can upload your AncestryDNA to MyHeritage and LivingDNA for free later or FamilyTreeDNA for only $19)? AncestryDNA is having a holiday sale on their DNA kits for only $59! Hurry, these offers are short lived! MyHeritageDNA Holiday DNA Sale:Want to dig deeper into your European ancestry, along with getting to use some fantastic DNA tools? MyHeritage is offering their MyHeritageDNA + MyHeritage 30 day COMPLETE trial (access to their family tree database, historical/genealogy records, and ALL their specialized photo tools + Deep Nostalgia) for only $39, along with FREE shipping on 2 or more kits until November 8th! They also wrap it up beautifully for you! Give a one-of-a-kind gift of incredible discoveries this holiday season! 23andMe Holiday DNA Sale: Want to look deeper into your health & traits and see your DNA results in a fun way? 23andMe is having a sale for 50% off their DNA Kits until November 23rd! FamilyTreeDNA Holiday DNA Sale: Want to dig deep into your ancestry and heritage? FamilyTree DNA is the only company that offers Y-DNA (paternal ancestry) and mtDNA testing (maternal ancestry) way back, and they have an early bird sale going on right now for up to $70 off their autosomal DNA, Y-DNA, and mtDNA tests! LivingDNA Holiday DNA Sale:Specializing in African Ancestry, British Ancestry, and European Ancestry, along with sub-regional breakdowns, LivingDNA is having a sale for $69 (+ Free shipping on 3 or more kits) for their ancestral DNA kits! DNA Testing Kit Purchase Tips:
Related DNA Content:More DNA:More Genealogy Resources:Learn about more resources you can use in your genealogy research and to preserve your family history under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page!
After posting a couple of blogs this month on family heritage (Celebrating Your German Ancestry during German-American Heritage Month! and Celebrating Filipino Heritage and Ancestry during Filipino American History Month!) for German-American Heritage Month and Filipino History Month during Family History Month, I decided to look into heritage a little more, which took me more into biographical ancestry and DNA ethnicity results. DNA tests for your ethnicity can be quite fun, but did you know that ethnicity can’t really be detected from your DNA? It can overlap with your biogeographical ancestry though. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of ethnicity is a particular ethnic affiliation or group. Not only does ethnicity look at common geographical locations, but religious affiliations, and cultural heritage as well. Don’t get too hung up on your ethnicity results from DNA testing companies then get off track with your research by going down a rabbit hole. DNA Sample Populations: Keep in mind, that most of the sites sample pools are not very large and the samples are taken from people living now; this is what forms the panels for the reference populations. They do try to collect from people with deep roots in a particular area though. You also need to keep in mind that political boundaries have changed greatly over time and that the regions used in DNA tests are of modern day. You get your DNA “ethnicity” percentages based on your closest matching populations to the reference panel. YOU ALSO CAN ONLY MATCH TO THE GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS THAT ARE IN THE COMPANY'S DATABASE, so keep that in mind as well; although, they will try to match you to the next closest region that they have available in their database. Calculating Your DNA “Ethnicity”: You have a better chance of understanding your biogeographical ancestry if you use your results from each site in conjunction with one another, along with your research of where your family immigrated from, your family surnames, and the trees and names of your distant matches (with hope that their research is correct 😉). Results vary from company to company because they each use a different algorithm and, of course, they have different reference populations to compare your DNA to. DNA Results Constantly Changing: Keep in mind that each company tries to improve on results, so your results may change over time. They may have more regions included in their reference population, they may have come up with a better algorithm, etc. Your DNA “Ethnicity” Percentage Reliablility:
My DNA “Ethnicity” Results from AncestryDNA:
My DNA “Ethnicity” Results from 23 and Me:
My DNA “Ethnicity” Results from MyHeritage:
My DNA “Ethnicity” Results from Family Tree DNA:
*These are my newest/updated results at the time of this post; remember, they are constantly updating and improving. These results have changed quite a bit overtime.
My Known Family Geographical Regions of My Main Family Lines (Using the Lines of All My 2nd Great Grandparents):
My Known Family Geographical Regions Compared to My Ethnicity Results Used in Conjunction: If I use my ethnicity results in conjunction with my known family geographical locations, along with understanding present day locations and migration patterns, and if I keep a mental note of the percentage RANGES that each company offers and how each company defines their geographical regions, then my “estimates” are not too far off. 😉 The only unknown composition (that I have no idea where it came from) is African. I do have a 4th great grandparent on the Mexican line of my paternal side that shows as Mulatto on a Mexican baptismal record, but that doesn't show up in my DNA; although, it does for my paternal uncle. But, when I deep dove more into my results and my DNA matches (and now AncestryDNA has their new "SideView Ethnicity Inheritance" DNA feature and their new "Ethnicity Chromosome Painter" DNA feature to help confirm what I had already researched on), I had learned it is on my mother's side. I have ABSOLUTELY no idea where it comes from, and I'm still researching to figure that out. It shows up on ALL the sites I tested my DNA at (or uploaded my results to), along with many of my maternal matches showing the same; although, the percentages may be off, it is obviously still part of my biogeographical ancestry. Summary of Understanding Your DNA “Ethnicity Results”:
More Genealogy Resources: Learn about more resources you can use in your genealogy research and to preserve your family history under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page! More DNA Posts: Interested in genetic genealogy? Find more DNA posts under my DNA Simplified category! Other DNA Posts that May Be of Interest:
A few days ago, AncestryDNA came out with their much-anticipated DNA feature that splits your DNA matches up by each parent. This feature is an extension of their SideView feature that I wrote about in Ancestry’s New SideView Ethnicity Inheritance DNA Feature!, which groups your ethnicity by each parent and is another useful genealogy resource and DNA tool by Ancestry. If you have just recently taken a DNA test for the first time, are new to AncestryDNA, or just haven’t quite got the grouping your DNA matches technique down yet, this feature is a tremendous help! It can help sort out your matches, which in turn can help you break down brick walls, including for unknown parentage! “Maternal” and “Paternal” Matches vs. “Parent 1” and “Parent 2” Matches: If you’ve had a parent test, it will tell you which matches belong to which parent, labeled as “Maternal” and “Paternal”. If you have not had a parent test, then it will split up your DNA matches as “Parent 1” and “Parent 2”. Editing Parent Label: If you know which side of your family even one of your matches is on, then you can easily tell which side is “Parent 1” vs. “Parent 2”. You can then go in and edit the “Parent 1” and “Parent 2” fields to “Maternal” and “Paternal”. The editor is right next to the label. “Both sides” Matches: Any descendants from kids that both of your parents had together will show up under this label, as well as any relatives (usually distant, but sometimes closer than you may expect 😉) that come from both sides. “Unassigned” Matches: Some matches may be labeled “Unassigned” because your test is fairly new and was processed after their last update in April of 2022, or it may be because they don't have enough information to assign them either parent yet. Editing Individual Match Label: If you have a DNA match that is listed under “Unassigned” or is incorrectly labeled, you can also go in and change that as well, by assigning that DNA match to the proper label. There are 2 ways to do that, shown below. I prefer viewing my matches in the “All Matches” view, so I can view the way I’ve grouped them by color. If you know how to group them by color coding, then you most likely already have your lines split by each parent, and you may find no use for this. Keep in mind that it may still be helpful for those distant matches below 20 cMs, as shared matches are only seen by up to 20 cMs shared or higher.
Keep in mind that this feature is still in Beta mode and may have some kinks in it still, so don’t take is as absolute. 😉 If you’ve done your DNA with Ancestry, then go on Ancestry and check it out! What do you think of this of this awesome new DNA feature from Ancestry? Does yours seem pretty accurate? Let me know what you think about it after you’ve checked it out, in the comments below! More Genealogy Resources: Learn about more resources you can use in your genealogy research and to preserve your family history under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page! More DNA Posts: Interested in genetic genealogy? Find more DNA posts under my DNA Simplified category! Other Ancestry DNA Features and Tools that May Be of Interest: AncestryDNA’s Chromosome Painter Feature: A Closer Look into Your Ethnicity Inheritance! Ancestry’s New SideView Ethnicity Inheritance DNA Feature! Other Ancestry resources, features and tools that may be of interest: Ancestry’s New Deep Dive Census Record Feature! Genealogy Resources: Ancestry’s New Photo Editor and New Look Updates Get Ready for the 1950 Census with New Updates and FREE Cool Helps from Ancestry! 7/24/2022 AncestryDNA’s Chromosome Painter Feature: A Closer Look into Your Ethnicity Inheritance!Read NowAncestryDNA’s Chromosome Painter Feature: A Closer Look into Your Ethnicity Inheritance!Earlier this week, I noticed a new BETA feature in AncestryDNA, Inheritance Ethnicity Chromosome Painter! This new genetic genealogy tool, for your ethnicity inheritance, has just come out only after launching their Ethnicity Inheritance SideView feature just a few months ago! You can read more about their SideView DNA tool in, Ancestry’s New SideView Ethnicity Inheritance DNA Feature! Another fantastic genetic genealogy tool and resource, from AncestryDNA, that shows you where your DNA connection to a certain inherited ethnicity lies! Multiple Ways to View: You can view ALL your ethnicities from both parents at one time or from just one parent at a time. You can also choose to view a specific ethnicity in the same manner. At first, I didn’t see a lot of use for it, but when I used it in conjunction with a chromosome browser, it was very useful! How the DNA Ethnicity Inheritance Chromosome Painter Tool Is Helping Me with a Genealogy Brick Wall: One of my brick walls is to find where the African ancestry from my mom’s side comes from. The percentage of the ethnicity is small and has changed a bit over the years, with updates, but all 4 companies I had tested with in the past, show this ethnicity in my ancestral DNA. The percentage ranges from 1 percent on Ancestry to 6.3 percent on MyHeritage. Each company also has different regions of Africa in the ethnicity; this is expected, as they are only estimates. Ancestry shows Mali; 23andMe shows Ganaian, Liberian, & Sierra Leonean and Angolon & Congolese; MyHeritage shows North African and Nigerian; and FamilyTreeDNA shows shows West Africa. 23andMe's "Your Ancestry Timeline" feature had once said it most likely comes from a 5th great grandparent, but as we all know, not all of these features are accurate; they are only pulled from the population of matches in their database and are ALWAYS an estimate. 😉 I have researched our matches carefully, and have it narrowed down to one particular line, by taking any and all matches who also have that ancestral ethnicity. I then researched that line carefully but cannot find an ancestral connection. Except for one minor off branch way back in the line, none of our ancestors from that line were slave owners and were all poor farmers. I have been looking into the Melungeon’s as a possibility, as that could be an explanation. Also, if they were a 5th or so great grandparent, as 23andMe shows, that would have been before the slave trade as we know it. Using AncestryDNA Chromosome Painter in Conjunction With other Genetic Genealogy Tools: To get the most use out of any of these DNA tools and features, they must be used in conjunction with one another, along with other genealogical methods. For now, using MyHeritage’s Chromosome Browser — One-to-many, in conjunction with Ancestry’s new Inheritance Ethnicity Chromosome Painter, I am able to narrow it down more, by seeing what chromosomes the ethnicity is on and what matches triangulate on that particular segment of the chromosome! Four of these 6 tester matches from my mom's paternal side, the line that I had narrowed it down to a few years ago, triangulate on the same segment in chromosome 4 (one of the chromosomes that shows African ancestry in AncestryDNA's Chromosome Painter; this just helped to see it in another way and confirm it. 😉 You can also share or ask another of your Ancestry DNA Matches to share their Chromosome Painter results to compare findings, which could help in breaking down some of those brick walls, in conjunction with other genealogy research methods! I just played around with it a bit, but I’m sure I will find it even more useful as time goes by! If you’ve done your DNA with Ancestry, then go onto Ancestry and check it out, and have fun! How to get to Ancestry’s Ethnicity Inheritance Chromosome Painter:
Interactive Questions: What do you think of this awesome new DNA feature from Ancestry? Does yours seem pretty accurate? How do you find it beneficial? Are you using it in conjunction other DNA tools? Let me know what you think about it after you’ve checked it out, in the comments below! More Genealogy Resources: Learn about more Ancestry features, along with other family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page! More DNA + Genealogy Tips: Get more DNA + genealogy research tips under the DNA Simplified category! More Genealogy Brick Wall Tips: Find more tips for you brick wall research, under the Genealogy Brick Wall Cases category! Genealogy + DNA Coaching: Do you need help figuring out your DNA match’s or where to start, but want to research on your own? I offer private, one-on-one family history and genealogy coaching services! Genealogy + DNA Research Services: Do you need to hire a genealogist for you genetic genealogy braick walls? I offer my “Uncovered Roots Method” DNA Research Service for just that! Other Ancestry DNA Features and Tools that May Be of Interest: Other Ancestry Resources, Features and Tools that May Be of Interest: Adoptive Research Using Genealogy+DNA: Searching without Any Information Traditional Genealogy + DNA + Descendancy Research + Living People Search + a Whole Lot More
After 7 days of extensive research and DNA mapping on a new case, I was able to narrow my non-legally adopted client's biological father down to 2 brothers, and on day 8, I had found one child (out of many) of the 2 brothers willing to take a DNA test to confirm which of the 2 brothers it is. She excitedly agreed to test to see if she has a newly found brother or 1st cousin! There is a lead on his biological mother (narrowed down to one line) with a possible birth certificate number, but getting that certificate, when you can't show proof it's yours or how you're related, is a whole other story. This recent unknown parentage case, out of many, has brought me to share part of the methodology I use. These are just guidelines and some tips for adoptive research that combine DNA and traditional genealogy with my “Uncovered Roots Method” DNA Research; descendancy research; living people search; and a WHOLE lot more, but this is in no way the full process that I use. 😉 These tips can be used in adoptive research or anyone looking for an unknown biological parent or other relative. 😉 Sometimes you may find your parent or other relative with this method, and sometimes you may just get down to a particular family or family line. 😉 Steps to Adoptive or Unknown Parentage Research if No Information:
Other Tips: Have you tried a "no name search" in the areas where you suspect you were born, with just your birthdate? Interactive Questions: Are you adopted or did you grow up with just one known parent and are looking for a biological parent? Have you reached a genealogy brick wall for a particular ancestor or relative? Have you tried these tips to find a parent, ancestor, or any other relative? I’d love to hear your comments below in the comment section! More Genealogy Resources: Learn about more family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page! More Genealogy Research Tips: Get more family history and genealogy research tips under the Genealogy Research Tips category and on my dedicated Genealogy Research Tips page! More DNA + Genealogy Tips: Get more DNA + genealogy research tips under the DNA Simplified category! More Genealogy Brick Wall Tips: Get more genealogy Brick Wall research tips under the Genealogy Brick Wall Cases category! Genealogy + DNA Coaching: Are you adopted or have an unknown parent and need help figuring out your DNA match’s or where to start, but want to research on your own? I offer private, one-on-one family history and genealogy coaching services! Genealogy + DNA Research Services: Are you adopted or have an unknown parent and need to hire a genealogist to find a biological parent or birth family? I offer my “Uncovered Roots Method” DNA Research Service for just that! This post is a participant in The Genealogy Blog Party: November! The Best of the Genea-Blogs Ancestry’s New SideView Ethnicity Inheritance DNA Feature!Ancestry just came out with a new DNA feature that splits your ethnicity inheritance by each parent, upping the genealogy game! They also just updated ethnicity results. New DNA Ethnicity Inheritance Feature: They use their new SideView technology with your DNA matches, by assuming your matches are from one specific parent, which is not always the case. 😉 This new technology organizes the DNA you share with them. They can’t tell which parent is parent 1 or 2, but you can most likely figure that part out yourself. 😉 I checked it our right away today! I’m not so sure how accurate it is though. I also compared it against my mom’s and my uncle’s (my father’s brother). Keep in mind that we get half of our DNA from or mother and half from our father, and we don’t necessarily get half of all their ethnicities, which could explain the discrepancies in mine. For my uncle though, that fact doesn’t seem to explain why he has no Germanic Europe for our main paternal family line. It shows it on his maternal side. It should be from both sides. I don’t know how far back they are going, but I guess I must also keep in mind that it is believed that our main family line most likely originally came from Switzerland in the 1400’s. 😊 For my mom, I know that for at least the last couple of hundred years or so she had no one from Scotland on her father’s side, only her mother’s. She did have Irish from one line on that side though, and I must also keep in mind that if they go further back, they could have originally come from Scotland, or it is just because they are so close. I am not a DNA or ethnicity specialist, other than using it to find your unknown relatives or biological family, but I did major in biochemistry. 😉 DNA Ethnicity Update: They also updated the ethnicities once again. My ethnic regions stayed pretty much the same, minus the Germanic Europe being taken off and the percentages changed a bit. 😉 They added 2 new regions for my mom, Germanic Europe and Norway. They also changed around her percentages quite a bit. They cut her Irish in half, but it reflects in her Scottish and England & North Western percentages, which makes sense. They added 2 new regions for my uncle, Portugal and another indigenous area, in which both make sense. His percentages only changed ever so slightly. If you’ve done your DNA with Ancestry, then go on Ancestry and check it out! Interactive Questions: What do you think of this of this awesome new DNA feature from Ancestry? Does yours seem pretty accurate? Let me know what you think about it after you’ve checked it out, in the comments below! More Genealogy Resources: Learn about more resources you can use in your genealogy research and to preserve your family history under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page! More DNA Posts: Interested in genetic genealogy? Find more DNA posts under my DNA Simplified category! Other Ancestry resources, features and tools that may be of interest: 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. 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. 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 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).
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: Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 5Continued from Part 4 Continue with me on 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, from Genealogy Brick Wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 4! I left off last by working a bit on his parents’ lines just to gather the info I needed to see which of the lines was the connection, while waiting on working numbers, then comparing yearbook photos of his parents and their siblings to my grandfather and his siblings, to no avail. I had worked a total of two hours on my case already and decided to stop and continue the next day. Good morning! Okay, time to get going on this and try to finish up. I’m going to need a pumpkin chai latte for this! Regular tea just won’t cut it this morning; I need something special to help me focus better and get this figured out! 😉 More Centimorgan Relationship Elimination: Back to the Centimorgan relationships: I’ve got to make sure I take out every possible matched centimorgan relationship in DNA Painter that is not directly descended from my grandfather or one of his siblings because my match has matches to my grandfather’s paternal and maternal lines; therefore, he has to be descended from my grandfather or one of his siblings. Anything above my grandfather’s generation is now out, otherwise my DNA match would only be matched with my grandfather’s paternal line matches, or my grandfather’s maternal line matches, not both. All the possible match relationships of my match being descended from a possible half sibling to my grandfather are also out, for same reason as above. After discovering my match’s and parents’ ages, anything above my generation is also out. I now just need to focus on my match being in my generation and one generation below, with a smaller possibility of being 2 generations below. I am now left with: ½ 1c, ½ 1c1r, ½ 1 c2r, 1c1r, 1c2r, 2c, 2c1r, and 2c2r (½ g niece/nephew not possible). If I also go with the higher probable percentages, then I only have 2c, ½ 1c1r, 1c2r, 2c1r, ½ 1c2r left to work with. If I focus on my generation and the generation below only (going off my match’s and his parents' ages), then I’m left only with 2c, ½ 1c1r, 2c1r. This narrows it down significantly. If I check those relationships with the histograms in the DNA Painter Shared cM Tool, there is more of a chance of my match being my 2c, ½ 1c1r (and 1c2r if I go as far as another generation below), but this is just a guide only. Now I need to work with these findings, along with dates and places of my grandfather and his siblings, compared against the same information needed from my match’s lines. Wow, who knew what a special pumpkin chai latte could accomplish! 😉 Stay tuned for more in Part 6 where I get down to the nitty gritty, and see what I deduce by these comparisons! 😊 Interactive Questions: Have you used DNA Painter Shared cM Tool in your DNA research to help break down brick walls? Let me know in the comments below! Update, December 12, 2021: Part 6 is now here!: Genealogy Brick wall: Another New DNA Mystery Match-Part 6 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. Below you'll find some other genealogy brick wall research cases that may be of interest: |
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