Wednesday, November 23, 2016

3 History/Genealogy books for which I'm thankful


3  History or Genealogy related books for which I'm thankful....



Morgan, Ted. Wilderness at Dawn: The Settling of the North American Continent. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993. Print.

Egan, E. W. Kings, Rulers, and Statesmen. New York: Sterling Publishing Company, 1976. Print. 

Wright, Louis B. The Atlantic Frontier: Colonial American Civilization. Ithaca, NY: Cornell UP, 1964. Print. 












Tuesday, November 22, 2016

We're Related....Maybe...


I've had the We're Related app installed on my phone and hooked to my tree at Ancestry and my Facebook account for a few weeks.  As of today, I've had about 42 suggestions.   Some of them I know up to the point of the Most Recent Common Ancestor.  My favorite suggestions are those who are Facebook friends.  I will actually look into their side of the tree up to the MRCA or have them check it out.  I think when you get to the 7th cousin point, if your family has been in the country(USA)  since the early 1700s, then you are going to be kin to almost every other famous person with colonial lines.

Are any of them correct....who knows. I am way more interested in the Facebook Friends because those are(for the most part) real people.  I did get a bit excited about Jimi Hendrix, Stephen King, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.  The Miley Cyrus connection...not so much.  I would say..take them with a grain of salt....or a block.  If they help you to make a break thru in your research, that's great.  However, I feel they are more for entertainment and a way of advertising.



PersonCousinSideMRCASurname ConnectionNotes
Zachary Taylor3C5RPGFWilliam Strother IIIElizabeth Putman
Rachel Reeves4C3RPGMReuban ManleyReuban ManleyFB Friend
Benjamin Franklin4C9RMGMSir Wm. JonesJames P Hitchcock
Abraham Lincoln5C4RPGFHancock LeeNancy Tyler
Henry David Thoreau5C5RPGMRichard ChurchJames Morrow
Ralph Waldo Emerson5C5RPGMGiles HopkinsJames Morrow
Blake Sheldon6CMGMCain AcuffJonathan Acuff
Theodore Roosevelt6C1RPGFThomas CarterNancy Tyler
Christinia Aguilera6C2RPGFJohn CarterElizabeth Putman
Jimmy Hendrix6C2RMGMElizabeth IngoJonathan Acuff
Helen Keller6C3RPGFThomas ToddElizabeth Putman
Mark Twain6C3RMGFOwen GriffithKeziah Rigsby
Bill Clinton7CMGFBeatrice SpierMary Pitman
Brad Pitt7C1RMGFElizabeth BlairFrances Bolling
Luke Bryan7C2RMGFJohn BollingFrances Bolling
Kate Upton7C2RPGMHannah HopkinsJames Morrow
Jessica Simpson7C2RMGFMary CrawfordKeziah Rigsby
Barack Obama7C2RMGFDavid LewisKeziah Rigsby
Jeannie S.7C2RPGFFrances ArmisteadNancy TylerFB Friend
Ann Coulter8CMGFRobert BollingFrances Bolling
Carol W.8CMGFJohn RedfordJohn RedfordFB Friend
Whitney Houston8CMGFPatience CottonMary Pittman
Kristen Stewart8CMGMThomas NelsonMason Combs
Carrie Fisher8C1RPGFWilliam StrotherElizabeth Putman
Miley Cyrus8C1RPGFThomas CarterElizabeth Putman
Marilyn Monroe8C1RMGFAnne StithFrances Bolling
Melinda B.8C1RMGFElizabeth Smith CrawfordKeziah RigsbyFB Friend
Kurt Cobain8C1RMGFJohn LewisKeziah Rigsby
W.C. Fields8C1RMGFJane CrawfordKeziah Rigsby
Britney Spears8C1RMGFJohn LewisKeziah Rigsby
Winston Churchill8C1RMGFKathrine KennedyMargaret Lauderdale
Lady Gaga8C1RPGMEdward RichardsNancy Harger
Eminem8C1RPGMJohn MerrymanNancy Harger
Stephen King8C1RPGMElizabeth SpringNathan Frizzell
Matt Damon8C1RPGMJohn GaleNathan Frizzell
Blake Lively8C2RMGFRobert BollingFrances Bolling
Demi Lovato8C2RMGFAnne BetteFrances Bowles
Walt Disney8C2RMGFJohn CrawfordKeziah Rigsby
Megan Z9CPGFThomas ToddElizabeth PutmanFB Friend
Johnny Depp9CMGFWilliam RandolphFrances Bolling
John F. Kennedy9CMGFJohn RandolphFrances Bolling
Sharlene Woodley9CMGFJulian JarrellMary Pittman Luna

Friday, November 18, 2016

Dear Cousins: If you have taken an atDNA test, please consider uploading to GEDmatch

Downloading Your Raw DNA Data


AncestryDNA ---- FTDNA ---- MyHeritage ---- 23andMe



If you have taken an Autosomal DNA test PLEASE consider uploading to GEDmatch. Even if your only reason for taking the test was to find out your ethnicity.  When you test, your matches are restricted to those who have also tested at that same site.  By uploading to GEDmatch you are able to compare with others who have taken an autosomal DNA test at any of the other companies and uploaded to GEDmatch.  Below are instructions for downloading from AncestryDNA, FTDNA, MyHeritage and 23&me. Follow the instructions for the download and then scroll further down the page where you will find the instructions for uploading to GEDmatch.

If you tested at AncestryDNA
From your DNA Insights page click on Settings in the upper right just below your DNA Page header.










On the settings page you will see the option to Download Raw Data.  Click on that and follow the instructions.  Also while you are at the page consider linking your DNA to  your Tree.





After you have downloaded your file from AncestryDNA you will want to upload to GEDmatch.  Use the file you downloaded and follow the instructions under the Uploading to GEDmatch.com section.

If you tested at FTDNA
From your myFTDNA Dashboard:



Or from the myFTDNA Menu on the Left




After clicking the Download Raw Data link you should see a screen like this.  You can download Builf 36 if you are uploading to regular GEDmatch and build 37 if you are uploading to GEDmatch Genesis.
;Save the file somewhere you can  Browse to and DO NOT open the file.  You will upload the zipped file to GEDmatch.




After you have downloaded your file from FTDNA you will want to upload to GEDmatch.  Use the file you downloaded and follow the instructions under the Uploading to GEDmatch.com section


If you tested at 23&me

The transfer of the raw data from 23&me to GEDmatch is easier than ever. You can now transfer straight from 23&me to GEDmatch see image below.  No need to deal with the upload section of this page if you are able to transfer a copy straight to GEDmatch.



****Please note if you received your results after Aug 9th you may not be able to upload to GEDmatch but should be able to upload under the GEDmatch Genesis section located at the bottom of the column on the right. ****





I've retained the old instructions for anyone who would rather download their data and then upload the file to GEDmatch.
From your 23&me page. Log in.  It should give you a warning that DNA can contain sensitive info.




Select the Tools Tab from your top and then you should see the Browse or Download tabs. Choose Download and scroll down the page. Click on the button to submit your request. You will be prompted to select what DNA you want to download.choose the autosomal test1-22 and X and follow their instructions.

Uploading to GEDmatch.com

Once you have downloaded your Raw Data.....it's time to upload to GEDmatch.  If you have not registered you will need to do so in order that you may access the site.



After registration, you should be able to log in with your email and password which you chose.




Upload your Raw Data and fill out the info for your kit.  Your kit is usually ready shortly after uploading for One To One comparison but it will normally take at least 24 hours for the batch it is in is completely processed so that you can run the  One To Many for your kit and begin trying to figure out how you match to all those folks.

A listing of the DNA kits you have uploaded will show in the "Your DNA Resources" section located in the left panel of your GEDmatch dashboard page.  You may have to scroll to see it.  See the example below.




While you are waiting for the batch process...you might consider uploading a GEDCOM and linking it to your test results.

Hope you have found this helpful.