Family Locket

Using DNA Source Citations in a Research Report

How do you give credibility to your research that includes DNA evidence? The same way that you give credibility to research using evidence from traditional genealogy sources such as census and probate - with a source citation. Creating a source citation for the DNA matches, ethnicity reports, chromosome browsers, cluster reports, etc. that you use in your research project will back up the conclusions that you've drawn from your DNA analysis. Traditional Genealogy Source Citations When I wrote my report on Benjamin Cox, I used both traditional research and DNA analysis in discussing his hypothesized father-daughter relationship to my confirmed...

By Diana Elder September 20, 2019 DNA, Research Tips No Comments

Finding Jeanie’s Father with DNA Part 5: Using Multiple Databases

This series is about how I found my grandmother's father with DNA. To read the other posts in the series, click below: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Did you know that you can upload your Ancestry DNA test results to other select databases for free? A lot of people take a DNA test with only one company, so you can increase your chances of finding genetic matches by entering multiple databases. You never know where you'll find your genetic matches; maybe the closest one is in a database different from you! In my previous posts, I discussed...

By Hazel Scullin September 18, 2019 DNA No Comments

RLP 62: Separating Men of the Same Name

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about determining which of the many people of the same name and same place is your subject. How do you make sense of a complicated situation such as two individuals with very similar identities? It takes thorough research of all family members, analyzing the data, and then understanding the locality. Diana tells about the Edward Sullivan project, and how she solved it. Links Will the Real Edward Please Stand Up? Separating Men of the Same Name Research Like a Pro eCourse Study Group - more information and email list Research Like a...

By Nicole Dyer September 16, 2019 Podcast No Comments

DNA Source Citations

Are you ever frustrated while writing citations? Many people are! Learning about a simplified formula for citations can lift the frustration and bring calm to an important part of genealogical research. In a previous blog post, DNA Sources, Information, and Evidence: Sorting it All Out, I wrote that you are a source—you share your DNA with a testing company. The DNA testing company extracts DNA from the saliva, or the cheek swab you sent back to the testing company by mail. Your DNA goes through the process of genotyping, which identifies the genetic variants you have. Next the company compares...

By Robin Wirthlin September 14, 2019 DNA, Research Like a Pro, Research Tips 1 Comment

RLP 61- Analyzing Your Sources in a DNA Research Project

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to incorporate DNA information into the timeline and analysis part of a research project. The timeline and analysis portion of the Research Like a Pro process is at the beginning. It helps you determine your starting point, because you look at all the sources you already have. After you test your DNA, you have an additional source that will help you in your family history research, that can be included in this phase. In the context of using DNA in genealogical research, you are a source that gives information –...

By Nicole Dyer September 9, 2019 Podcast 2 Comments

Creating a Research Plan for a DNA Research Project

Do you create a plan for your DNA genealogical research? What steps can you take to focus and guide the research? I'm using the Research Like a Pro process to test my hypothesis that Benjamin Cox is the biological father of my ancestor, Rachel Cox. Because the paper trail points to Benjamin as the likely father, I'm now working with the DNA evidence to put a rubber stamp on that hypothesis. Previously I created an objective, analyzed my sources, then researched the locality. The next step in the RLP process is to form a research plan based on those previous...

By Diana Elder September 7, 2019 Research Tips No Comments

Genealogy Research Planning with DNA

What should your research plan look like if you want to test a hypothesis with DNA evidence? Each project is unique, but all can follow the same guiding principles. In the Research Like a Pro with DNA process, we have already discussed the following steps: Step 1 Take a DNA Test: Which DNA Test Should I Take? and DNA-Recommended Testing Strategy Step 2 Assess: Understanding and Using Your DNA Results – 4 Simple Steps Step 3 Organize: Seeing the Big Picture: 3 Ways to Chart Your DNA Matches Step 4 Research Objective: What Do You Want to Know? 3 Steps...

By Nicole Dyer September 4, 2019 DNA, Research Tips No Comments

RLP 60 – Who Was Anne Carter? Interview with Kimball Carter CG

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is an interview with Certified Genealogist® Kimball Carter. We discuss Kimballs' fourth great grandmother, Anne Carter, and the challenging research he undertook to determine her identity and relationships. Anne died in 1789 in Westmoreland County, Virginia and appears in numerous family trees and authored works as the wife of Thomas Carter. Her maiden name was given variously as Neale, Hunter, or Claytor. Kimball noticed some discrepancies in the research about Anne and spent years researching colonial Virginia records to discover the truth about her spouse and origin, finally determining that she was not...

By Nicole Dyer September 2, 2019 Podcast 2 Comments

DNA Gedcom – A 3rd Party Tool That Can Help Shorten Your Search

What if you could find an automated program that would help you... - Look through your DNA matches trees to find shared ancestors - Identify triangulated groups, and - See DNA segments that you share in common with your matches Would you be interested? DNA Gedcom tools can do all of that! Rob Warthen, who founded DNAGedcom in 2013, was looking for a faster, better, more understandable way to interpret DNA test results. He and a team of super smart generous volunteers created the tools in DNAGedcom that can help all of us work with our DNA results and find...

By Robin Wirthlin August 29, 2019 DNA, Research Tips No Comments

RLP 59 – Writing As You Research

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro is about the most efficient way to write reports. We discuss the pros and cons of writing as you research and writing at the end of your research. We discuss the process of analyzing the source and information in the records you find in your research notes and report, and when to correlate the information that you find. Listen in to find out what conclusion we came to - is it better to write as you research or write your report at the end of your research? Links RLP 9: Report Writing- Episode...