When documentary research has been exhausted, DNA can be employed to suggest new avenues for research. Network graphs create clusters of DNA matches to research and find new possibilities for ancestral origins.
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This was great! Thank you! Only one question…did you think about trying for Cynthia’s mtDNA? That may be give you a clue to her mother.
Catherine,
Thanks for the question. Yes, I’ve considered seeking a descendant for Cynthia’s mtDNA. She certainly had enough descendants that I should be able to find one. Since mtDNA is largely unchanged for hundreds of years, to be useful, I’d need a good candidate for a mother and siblings that I could also target test. I’m not quite there yet!
Thank you for the very interesting webinar, Diana! My brick walls are pre-1770, and beyond my 3rd great grandparents on my maternal grandfather’s side (German). So a bit more complicated than your case study. I’ve already created at least 4 mystery groups of DNA matches on Ancestry DNA, determine common surnames in those groups from family trees, but of course have no clue how they are related to the known ancestors on my matheral grandfather side The surnames of two of the 3rd great grandmothers are not known. I will give this a try. I already have a spreadsheet form the Auto Clusters app for Ancestry from 2021 before Ancestry blocked the app from downloading DNA match lists. I wonder if I can use this. Any way I’m going to give this a try, though I’m not really sure if it will be helpful in my case. Seems like ultimately I’m going to need records and documents which so far do not seem to exist.
Good luck, Robert. Hopefully, the network graph will point out some connections that you hadn’t found before that could give you clues. It’s certainly worth a try. Perhaps it will lead to additional documentary research you can do.
I have been a member for several years and have watched many presentations. I believe this has been the most informative, practical, and helpful presentation I have seen. Thank you so much for this well-organized, simple yet complicated and awesome presentation. This year’s subscription has already earned its keep. Thank you so much!
This was a truly outstanding webinar presented by a consummate teacher who somehow managed to break down a complex subject into manageable parts and then organize and present it in a logical, comprehensible progression. As a result, my knowledge base was expanded, leaving me both inspired and eager to apply this new knowledge to my own brick walls. I genuinely appreciate all of the talent, experience, thought, and labor that must have been required to make this happen.
Where did you say to go for your daughter’s tutorial? I looked in the syllabus but didn’t find it.
Joy,
Diana mentioned two blog posts by Nicole:
1) RootsFinder Network Graphs – https://familylocket.com/rootsfinder-network-graphs/
2) How to Make a RootsFinder Triangulation Network Graph with MyHeritage DNA Matches – https://familylocket.com/how-to-make-a-rootsfinder-triangulation-network-graph-with-myheritage-dna-matches/
Extremely worthwhile; well organized – clear, progression sensible; obviously Diana knows her topic; developed an excitement about working with my DNA data.
Very organized and informative
This was fabulous! The detailed process for constructing a DNA network graph was great and Ms. Elder’s delivery was superb. I highly recommend for someone who is trying to break down a brick wall.
Very well organized presentation. High quality visuals. Very good speaker. Very good documentation.