DNA Technology for Genealogy

One of our distant family connections found us and asked my brother to send a sample of his DNA, since he was the only direct male descendant to a James Arnold in the 1600's in Virginia. We have never heard back from them to my knowledge though, so perhaps things didn't work out the way they wanted it to.

When you say that females and males descended from females are the "keepers of the records", what does that mean? What good is it to be a keeper if it can't be used or eligible?

#3 - genea1 Thank you, I understand now. I'll have to see if my brother (who happens to be one of the "keepers of the records" (a somewhat mythical title, I like it) in our family knows the name of the organization.

genea1:

For those in the group not very familiar with the DNA-testing side of the search, can you give a little run down? Phrases like "non-eligible female", etc? Whatever info you think might be interesting or useful to group members? Thanks!

genea1 - I will let you know as soon as my brother tells me. He is painting his house right now, so may not be reading his emails. :)

Thank you for the above post, it explains things very well.

That's a terrific explanation! Thanks!

Has anyone found 20 years for a "generation" to be typical? In my various lines, the only ones who came close to that were the "English-English" ones. Even there, I think they needed parental consent to marry before age 21, and they were still producing children 20 years after marriage. In Ireland, regardless of religion or origin, the males in my lines were more likely to be 30-40 at first marriage. Here in the USA, I'm alive and kicking and not yet eligible for social security, with a set of grandparents who were born before/during the Civil War. (And in a contest held by LostCousins, an English web site, my grandmother born in 1859 wasn't close to having the earliest birth date.)

(Females can be tested for their direct, maternal line, which is an mtDNA test.)

How does that work out in practice? I find a woman who might also be descended from my mother's mother's mother's mother's mother's mother, and we both get tested? Must not be done too often without matching paper trails, as the females would have different surnames.

genea1,

Thanks. Interesting, though it wouldn't be useful (as far as I can see) with my line.

Did you find anything to substantiate or eliminate the Native American claim?

That's very interesting genea1. Supposedly on my mother's side we have Native American blood but have not proven it yet. I would love to see if that claim is true or not. My mother, her sister, and my grandfather certainly have characteristics. Darker skin tone (I'm pastely white English and German) and straight thick jet black hair.

Where do we get information regarding testing? How do we get the kits? I have no idea even where to look. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help!

#15,

My mother, her sister, and my grandfather certainly have characteristics.

But if your mother gets it from her father's side, that's off the female line, and the test wouldn't help.

Or do I have that wrong, genea1?

Thanks myshelves, I realized that too later on. I'm in early pregnancy-my brain cells aren't functioning well.

I was thinking I'd have to get my uncle or cousin to do it? However, rumor has it that one of our great grandmothers was an prostitute and she wasn't sure who fathered the child, just assumed it was a Native American-there are quite a few reservations around where I grew up. Would the test still work then on my uncle or male cousin?

Thanks for the info genea1! Unfortunately, my grandfather is deceased, no brothers for him and no living male cousins.

I'm going to look into more research on this topic. Its very interesting!

OK. That's it! Now you've done it! I've enrolled my husband in a project. So far only 16 people in it, but we've got hopes. We've got his family here from 1733; possible origins Switzerland or Germany. I'd love to do it, too, but no males available on my side. So now we're waiting for the test to arrive, and then a much longer wait for results. Perhaps you'll hear from me in about 6 weeks.

That's great Leel!! Keep us posted as to the results!

Well, my brother sent me his info today, but I don't understand much of it! There was another male who was a perfect match through 25 markers and emailed his willingness to share information. I'm afraid my brother has gone on to some other hobby and lost interest though. At this time, I don't have the time or the mental faculties to follow it up. I think he went through Family Tree DNA. Maybe when my sons are done with school.

genea1,

It is worse than that! The poor man e-mailed that he is ready to share info. He is probably dying of frustration. I would be. Nothing like finding such a match and then getting no response from the other party. Of course, it sounds as if there may not be much to share with him. That would be frustrating too.

Reminds me of the 2 new contacts I had who were holding out tantalizing prospects of solving a couple of my family mysteries, but always seemed to dodge my specific questions. Now they have gone silent. I'll give them a prod, but fear that it won't get me far.

Actually, there is a cousin from another branch who has all the information we have and she is on the ball and in contact with him. He isn't suffering, she will share with us when we are ready. She is Mormon and so it is a hot topic for her. Delightful and helpful person too.

Priorities are a must with me. Right now I am focusing on teaching my two boys their last couple of years of high school. Until that job is done, I cannot divert my attention. I am a very segmented person, so for now I collect. Later I will begin sorting.

Well, we've received the DNA package and done the scraping. It goes back on Monday, and then the long wait begins.

I am also interested in DNA genealogy and feel compelled to ask you to take the time to do the tests now.

I asked my brother, who quickly agreed to do the test. This was in August. Even though I was excited, I didn't send for the test right away. We had to many things going on. That same day he anounced that he was going to be a grandfather for the first time. He was the "baby" of the family.

My brother was the only son of an only son of an only son, of the only son with male descendents.

I have the line traced back to Germany in the 1600's. How great it would have been able to link other lines.

My brother died two months later in a traffic accident. A teriffic opportunity lost.

I am fortunate that he has a son that will do the test, but the thought of missing the opportunity to test my brother is truly a regret.

I urge you all to seize the opportunities to test as they present themselves.

I will get off the soapbox now.

Thanks.

Patrice

Myshelves #27 ...

At least you have interested co-descendants! I have made contact with exactly (1) on my father's side.

So here I am reporting back. Of the 16 members of the name group my husband joined, there is possibly one match who lives in Argentina. My husband's haplogroup is precisedly what we thought it was--Northern and Western Europe, so that was no surprise.

Of that one match--he did only the 12 locations, whereas my husband did the 37. If the Argentinean went for the additional, we might get a really hot match. Till then---