Nicole Elder Dyer

About Nicole Elder Dyer

Nicole Dyer is a professional genealogist specializing in Southern United States research and genetic genealogy. She is the creator of FamilyLocket.com and the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast. She co-authored Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide and Research Like a Pro with DNA and is an instructor for the study groups of the same name. She lectures at conferences and institutes and previously served as the secretary and publicity chair of the Pima County Genealogy Society. Nicole holds a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in History Teaching. At Family Locket Genealogists, Nicole is a project manager, editor, and researcher.

RLP 209: Pennsylvania Germans Part 3 – Land Records

Jul 11, 2022

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about acquiring land in Colonial Pennsylvania and subsequent land transactions. Alice Childs, Accredited Genealogist Professional, shares how colonists received the first title to land in a five-step process. We review the steps to finding your ancestor’s land and an example from Alice’s family. We talk about deeds and using various types of deed indexes. Transcript Nicole (1s): This is Research Like a Pro episode 209 Pennsylvania Germans...

Unrehearsed Research for Clement Darnold’s Mother

Jul 6, 2022

Last month I had the opportunity to join Richard Miller, the developer of the Goldie May app, in three episodes of his Unrehearsed Genealogy Research show. I chose an objective for the show to find evidence of a parent-child link for a DNA proof argument I’m working on. The proof argument has to do with my husband’s 3rd-great-grandmother, Barsheba (Tharp) Dyer. In the last Research Like a Pro with DNA study group, I wrote a...

RLP 208: Pennsylvania Germans Part 2 – Emigration and Guiding Principles

Jul 4, 2022

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about the emigration of Pennsylvania Germans from their homeland. We talk with Alice Childs, Accredited Genealogist Professional, about the steps required for a German emigrant to leave Germany. We also talk about the voyage and ship records. This episode also includes a discussion of the guiding principles to follow when researching Pennsylvania Germans, like employing FAN methodology and identifying the proper jurisdiction. Transcript Nicole (1s): This is...

RLP 207: Pennsylvania Germans Part 1 with Heidi: History

Jun 27, 2022

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about the history of Pennsylvania Germans. They came in the colonial American period and have millions of Americans as their descendants. Join us as we talk with Heidi Mathis about important factors for finding records about Pennsylvania Germans and factors for Germans leaving Europe and coming to Pennsylvania colony. Transcript Nicole (2s): This is Research Like a Pro episode, 207 Pennsylvania Germans part one with Heidi...

RLP 206: Proving a Parent-Child Link Using Ancestry Thrulines Part 3

Jun 20, 2022

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about Diana’s research log and report from the Shults project. She discusses her Family History Library research trip, how she logged her results, and her findings. We also discuss how she selected DNA matches to help verify the connection between Hickman Monroe Shults and his proposed father, Martin Shults. Transcript Nicole (1s): This is Research Like a Pro episode 206, proving a parent child’s link using ancestry...

Find More Ancestors with Autosomal DNA by Increasing Coverage

Jun 17, 2022

When using DNA test results to find evidence for a research subject’s parent, the typical method is to find DNA matches who are descendants of the hypothesized parent. You will only be able to find these matches if you actually inherited DNA from that ancestor. The more distant the ancestor, the less likely that you inherited very much DNA from that person. You are expected to inherit about: 1/4 of a grandparent’s DNA (25%) 1/8...

RLP 205: Proving a Parent-Child Link Using Ancestry Thrulines Part 2

Jun 13, 2022

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about Diana’s Shults research project to determine if the parent-child link between Hickman Monroe Shults and Martin Shults is accurate. Today is part two of this series and we talk about her research plan to incorporate DNA evidence and documentary evidence into the report. We discuss Thrulines, locality research in Alabama, AncestryDNA communities, exploring DNA tools, and creating a research plan. Transcript Nicole Dyer (0s): This is...

RLP 204: Recruiting Test Takers for an Autosomal DNA Project

Jun 6, 2022

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about setting up a web page to share with potential DNA test takers. Nicole talks about the Daniel Arnold project to find Daniel’s parents. Daniel was born 6 August 1806 and married Lydia Willey. We discuss autosomal DNA coverage, making living people in reports anonymous, and targeted testing of people from independent child lines. We also review the current research and clues pointing to Daniel’s parents. Transcript...

RLP 203: Proving a Parent-Child Link Using Ancestry Thrulines – Part 1

May 30, 2022

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about Diana’s RLP with DNA 4 Study Group project to prove the parentage of Hickman Monroe Shults, her 3rd-great-grandfather. Long standing documentary research has shown that Hickman was the son of Martin Shults, but Diana shares how she wanted to test this research with DNA evidence. She shares the first four steps of the research like a pro with DNA process and her progress. Transcript Nicole (1s):...

RLP 202: Researching Scandinavian Immigrants with Jenny Hansen

May 23, 2022

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is an answer to a listener’s question about an immigrant ancestor who came from Norway to North Dakota in the 1880s. We invited Jenny Hansen, AG, who is an expert in Scandinavian research to come help us answer this question. We discuss name changes, sources to consult in the U.S., what to expect when looking at immigration records, and records to consult in Scandinavia. Transcript Nicole (1s): This...