Family Locket

DNA Tools Bell Curve

Many people want to incorporate their DNA test results in their family history research, and there is so much to learn with new tools continually developing. I think a lot about how to simplify the explanations about DNA and the process of using DNA results to find and confirm ancestors. My goal is to help people navigate the process and find success in their research. I created this DNA Tools Bell Curve graphic to briefly illustrate a process or methodology to incorporate DNA into your family history research, moving from the simplest tools on the left to the most complex...

By Robin Wirthlin February 25, 2021 DNA, Organizing, Research Tips No Comments

RLP 137: Irish Research Part 2

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about researching in Irish records. Jessica Morgan, AG, joins us again and shares her extensive experience researching Irish ancestors. We discuss the importance of historical context, the record scarcity in Ireland, and what is possible to find in the records that do remain. She also teaches us about Irish jurisdictions and the power of local history. Join us as we go over Irish record types and what can be found in them. Links Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Part 4: Records in Ireland https://familylocket.com/tracing-your-irish-ancestors-part-4-records-in-ireland/ Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Part 5: Irish Jurisdictions...

By Nicole Dyer February 22, 2021 Podcast 2 Comments

RootsTechConnect 2021: February 24 – 27

Have you always wanted to attend RootsTech, but couldn’t travel to Salt Lake City? The silver lining in the worldwide pandemic has been the ability to attend conferences, institutes, and classes virtually. RootsTech is no exception, and to top it off, the conference is free! Typical of RootsTech, this conference will be groundbreaking in its scope. The map below shows the numbers of total registrants – over 300,000 and still growing. Those registrants live in over 200 countries worldwide. A large percentage of those registrants are attending RootsTech for the first time. What makes this conference unique? RootsTechConnect 2021 is...

By Diana Elder February 20, 2021 Creating and Sharing Family History 2 Comments

How to Add DNA Matches to Your Ancestry Tree

Using a family tree program to organize your DNA matches is useful for several reasons. You can: – add DNA matches to your tree and link them back to your common ancestor – include DNA matches from various testing databases in one central location – check the evidence for each parent-child relationship and add documentation – build quick trees for DNA matches who haven’t shared a full tree – do descendancy research to find potential test takers – build out a match’s tree checking for more than one common ancestor Many of your DNA matches may have small trees that...

By Nicole Dyer February 18, 2021 DNA, Research Tips 4 Comments

RLP 136: Irish Research Part 1

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about the essential questions to ask before you start researching your Irish immigrant ancestor in Ireland. The first questions have to do with learning about an Irish ancestor’s birth year range, year of immigration, friends and family, and county of origin. Finding these details will help you know where to focus once you begin researching in Ireland. Join our Irish research expert, Jessica Morgan, AG, as she teaches us about this important step in Irish research. Links Tracing your Irish Ancestors Part 1: Ask the Right Questions https://familylocket.com/tracing-your-irish-ancestors-part-1/ Tracing Your Irish Ancestors...

By Nicole Dyer February 15, 2021 Podcast No Comments

How to Use mtDNA Haplogroup Information in Your Family History Research

Have you wondered how you can use mitochondrial DNA in your family history research? In my last post, “Mitochondrial DNA – a Blast From the Past,” I wrote about mitochondrial DNA inheritance. This post will build on that foundation and explain how you can use mtDNA haplogroup information to discern between two possible women ancestors. You’ll remember that both men and women inherit Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from their matrilineal ancestors. In other words, mtDNA passes from your mother’s, mother’s, mother’s, etc., line down to you. mtDNA is genealogically significant because of its unique inheritance pattern, and it is most effective...

By Robin Wirthlin February 14, 2021 DNA, Records, Research Tips No Comments

RLP 135: BYU Record Linking Lab and the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about the Record Linking Lab (RLL) at Brigham Young University. Professor Joseph P. Price talks with us about how his background in economics and interest in his personal family history led to the creation of the RLL. By using machine learning and making connections across data, the RLL hopes to provide better family history experiences for others whether they are using FamilySearch’s Family Tree or visiting a museum. We discuss several of the RLL’s projects, including the Census Tree, African-American Families, Automated Indexing, and Families of the 1918 Pandemic. Links Joseph P....

By Nicole Dyer February 8, 2021 Podcast 5 Comments

They Had Names: Researching the Southern Claims Commission Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, we learned how two volunteers are making a difference for anyone researching their African American ancestors in Liberty County, Georgia. Together they have documented almost 30,000 names of enslaved people using all available records. By transcribing the Southern Claims Commission Case (SCC) files, additional connections are coming to light. In part 2 of this series, Stacy Cole shares her methodology for researching the SCC records and provides examples for us to learn from. – Diana Stacy’s story After the recent “Research Like A Pro” podcast episode (#124) on the Southern Claims Commission, I contacted...

By Diana Elder February 5, 2021 Records, Research Tips No Comments

Mitochondrial DNA – A Blast From the Past

This week, I learned about genealogical and historical records created before England created the civil registration system in 1837.[1] I’ve learned a wealth of knowledge that I look forward to using to confirm known ancestors and discover new ones through documentary research. The lessons made me think about confirming and discovering ancestors who lived before 1837 using DNA. Autosomal DNA can be used to research ancestors about 6-8 generations back in time. For me, ancestors that lived 6-8 generations were born in the late 1700s and early 1800s. What if I want to use DNA to research ancestors even further...

By Robin Wirthlin February 1, 2021 DNA, Research Tips No Comments

Load More Posts

DNA Tools Bell Curve

RLP 137: Irish Research Part 2

RootsTechConnect 2021: February 24 – 27

How to Add DNA Matches to Your Ancestry Tree

RLP 136: Irish Research Part 1

How to Use mtDNA Haplogroup Information in Your Family History Research

RLP 135: BYU Record Linking Lab and the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

They Had Names: Researching the Southern Claims Commission Part 2

Mitochondrial DNA – A Blast From the Past

Search

Sign Up for Newsletter and receive free gift

Categories

DNA Kits