Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about organizing your DNA matches by adding them to your Ancestry tree. We talk about building trees for your matches within one master tree so you don’t have a long list of Ancestry trees. We also go over how to add a floating or disconnected branch to your Ancestry tree to allow you to build your matches’ trees and find the common ancestor. We review privacy settings...
Do you enjoy a good tromp around a cemetery – looking at the headstones and wondering about the lingering stories? As a family historian and genealogist, you know the value of cemetery research to mine names and dates, but have you explored the symbols often engraved on a headstone? Those can hint at stories to be uncovered. In this guest post, genealogist Lynn Blair shares her photos and passion for discovering the stories found in...
If you could name one goal for your family history research, what would it be? Would DNA help you achieve your goal? If so, there is an essential tool that will help you progress toward it. In your DNA match list, you’ll see an estimated relationship and the amount of DNA you share with each relative. If you build a family tree based on just the predicted relationships, it will be difficult, and possibly incorrect....
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about Chinese Ancestry. We talk with Linda Yip, author of the website Past Presence and the new book, Getting Started in Chinese Genealogy. Linda tells about how to research Chinese ancestors in Canada or the United States. She also teaches us about Jiapu, Chinese clan genealogies and how they can stretch back 24-36 generations. We review the laws and history for Chinese immigrants and how that affected...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...