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Family History Research and DNA Tests

ArchaeC

Having submitted a sample for genealogy DNA testing with 23andMe earlier this year, I have enjoyed exploring my genetic ancestral history and discovering more about my ancient Neanderthal and Denisovan progenitors. I took advantage of the free data upload to Living DNA which gave a more detailed breakdown of my British and Irish ancestry, and discovered some ancient relatives who had  interesting histories such as a late Roman period man who was buried at Crypta Balbi in Rome, a Ukrainian prince, and a victim of the St Brice’s Day Massacre in Dorset. I share DNA with Classical period Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, which is rather exciting as it contributes to understanding of how populations shifted around that time. I’m now ready to continue researching my more recent family history through Ancestry DNA, but unlike Living DNA, Ancestry DNA don’t accept DNA data uploads, so I’ve had to order a new test, but at least it’s less than half the usual price and it comes with a three month subscription to world wide membership for £1.

Has anybody researched their more recent family history using Ancestry UK or any other company and is it necessary or worth employing a professional genealogist? I am concerned that costs could escalate as I explore the various branches of recent family.


Copied from Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Public Library Online

Parents

  • I would be tempted to find out more seeing as I already have a mixed international ancestry, with quirks as some of that is known mixed too. But then it might end up too vague and nonsensical to be of use.

  • in reply to Cinnabar_wing

    That’s the thing. Living DNA very accurately reflected my known recent ancestry on one side of the family. I can’t say if it is accurate on the other side although I’m hoping my membership of Ancestry will help in my family tree search and will help confirm or eliminate some ancestral lines. 

    I am finding it difficult to grasp all the terminology and concepts that go along with testing. I am shortly going to be learning about finding matches in the DNA in results between different companies (I haven’t got the DNA terminology right yet). 

  • in reply to ArchaeC

    Yeah I was reading the info in the picture you posted and it sounds such a complex thing to get your head round, but probably fascinating when you do!

    I was wondering how cross continental it can manage, my maternal ancestry is in Sri Lanka, though I bear the hallmarks of colonial era (which is a known) there as I have blue eyes which match my Scottish paternal side but you need it from both. 

  • in reply to Cinnabar_wing
    Cinnabar_wing said:
    I should ask my parents

    I wish I had asked my parents and grandparents more about their lives and connections when they were still alive. I didn’t have an interest in that sort of thing years ago but I recall quite a bit of some things as they were repeated over and over again at Christmas dinners, weddings and other occasions. There used to be some people who stayed with us who were described as cousins of my granny, but I don’t know how exactly they were connected and they could have been distant cousins. I would love to find out more about them as they seemed very close to my granny, while the individuals in my direct family are not close. I’ve loads of old black and white photographs of people I never knew. 

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  • in reply to Cinnabar_wing
    Cinnabar_wing said:
    I should ask my parents

    I wish I had asked my parents and grandparents more about their lives and connections when they were still alive. I didn’t have an interest in that sort of thing years ago but I recall quite a bit of some things as they were repeated over and over again at Christmas dinners, weddings and other occasions. There used to be some people who stayed with us who were described as cousins of my granny, but I don’t know how exactly they were connected and they could have been distant cousins. I would love to find out more about them as they seemed very close to my granny, while the individuals in my direct family are not close. I’ve loads of old black and white photographs of people I never knew. 

Children
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