One of the challenging parts of using DNA evidence in genealogical research is that it involves discovering information about living people. These living people are the sources for the DNA information we would like to use as evidence. They take a DNA test, then we analyze the match information and use it as evidence to answer a genealogical research question. As we go about finding DNA evidence for our research questions, there are at least...
Have you ever felt like you’ve been working on a research question for years, and are not even sure what progress you’ve made? To combat this feeling, we recommend breaking up complex research projects into phases. For instance, researching the mother of a female ancestor born in the early 1800s is unlikely to be completed within 20 hours. It will likely require several phases, each with its own objective. As professional genealogists, this is how...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about using DNA evidence to confirm a hypothesis created with indirect documentary evidence. We discuss Diana’s research on Benjamin Cox, his proposed children, and his migration. We touch on helpful onomastic evidence, DNA evidence, and FAN club connections. Diana shares how she made a McGuire chart to show shared DNA from four Benjamin Cox descendants who shared their DNA results with other descendants of Benjamin. Transcript Nicole...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is the final in a series about the Alford/Johnson project. We talk with Michelle Mickelson, researcher on the project, who shares how Y-DNA and autosomal DNA were applied to test the case and see if the relationships found with documentary evidence and oral history were also biological. Join us as we discuss how Michelle incorporated DNA evidence into her report and what evidence was found. Transcript Nicole (0s):...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is an interview with James Wesley Johnson, author of A Horse, A Gunfight, And The Law: A Historical Account of Our Alfords in Texas, and a client of Family Locket Genealogists. He hired us to help verify his family research that uncovered a family secret kept for over 100 years. Join us for a discussion of southern roots, horse thieves, gunfights, the law, and how documentary evidence and...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about writing a research reports that incorporate DNA evidence. We talk about the elements of a research report, including tables and diagrams, the conclusion, and suggestions for future research. We also discuss tips for making your writing better and how to include document images. Transcript Nicole Elder Dyer (0s): This is Research Like a Pro, episode 249 RLP with DNA part 11 research reports. Welcome to Research...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about Diana’s Airtable template for tracking research on her own ancestors. She has added a DNA status field in order to show which level she has reached for incorporating DNA evidence into her ancestral research. We discuss the levels for documentary research, created by Yvette Hoitink, and the DNA levels that we came up with ourselves. RootsTech Giveaway To enter the giveaway, go the comments section of...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about Nicole’s research findings about Joanna West. This is a continuation of episode 216, where Nicole shared her preparatory steps for using DNA evidence to test the hypothesis that Barsheba Tharp was the daughter of Joanna West. She tells about the deeds and estate records she found for Humphrey Arnold linking him to his children and heirs. She also shares the DNA matches she found who...
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...
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):...
