King cousin in U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 database at Ancestry

Working with some of my Thrulines™ suggestions at Ancestry and found an entry in the U.S. Passport Applications collection for my 2nd Cousin 3 times removed, Arthur Dale King.   I share DNA with several of his descendants.

This database is one that contains actual images of the applications.  Here were a few of the things listed on Arthur's application.

• Names, Place of Birth, & Date of Birth for Arthur, his wife, & daughter
• His Father's name, Place of Birth and place of residence.
• The # of a former Passport Application
• Arthur was on a pleasure trip in Europe in 1921
• List of Countries he intends to visit
• Port he will be leaving thru
• When he is expected to return.
• Oath of Allegiance
• Description of Applicant(see image below)
• Mailing address where the passport could be sent
• A photo of Arthur, his wife & daughter.

Snippet from Back side of Application for Arthur Dale King  Application #235030

Judging from the information on the application as well as the other Suggested  Records(shown to the right when viewing the record) this family traveled outside of the US several times.   You can find a lot of additional info in the Suggested Records but you need to evaluate them as you would any other hint.  They may not be the person in the original record.  What a great resource.  I'm thinking I might search for others persons with ties to Bedford County, TN or other key areas where my family lived.

Source List:

"U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/uspassports/ : 2007), Imaged from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll # 2143.

A DNA match who shares 3 different kinship paths

Comparing Grandparent--Mom--Child
I have a new match from Ancestry who has uploaded to GEDmatch.  She has been on my Ancestry match list for a while.  She is kin on my Mom's side thru 3 different lines.
The closest is thru my Maternal Grandfather's Luna & Pittman line.
The other 2 lines are my Maternal Grandmother's Hale/Elzie & Hitchcock/Fleming lines.
While we have the Hale Hitchcock connection in one union the match has separate lines that go back to our common ancestors.  This means we have the potential for sharing segments from both my MGF and my MGM.  Fortunately, I have a sister and a brother who have both taken autosomal tests and I hope visual phasing will help to identify the ancestors responsible for these segments.

Let's look at how they were passed down from my Mom to me and from me to my daughter.

[image edited ch 13 info was inadvertenly placed in the ch 18 row in the Daughter table in my initial post and I've corrected the image so that it is now showing in the correct row.]

Comparing Matching segments passed to 3 children
We can also add my siblings to the mix and observe how Mom passed the segments to
3 of her children.  I have 2 brothers who haven't tested and neither of them has children so whatever they have inherited will not be passed.

Looking at the Amount of shared DNA for each of the 3 siblings and the match
Looking at amounts she is my 2C1R, 4C & 4C1R.
It's not as easy as adding up the avg amounts for all of those relationships and getting a guesstimate on what she should share because 10% of cousins do not match once you get to the 3rd Cousin range.  When you get to 4th cousin level it is about 50%.  Let's see how they compare 2C1R, 4C & 4C1R average amounts added together are 123+35+28 = 186 cMs.  With me and my siblings, she matches highest with my brother at 161.5 cMs...with me at 150.1 cMs and my sister at 91.7 cMs.  There probably won't be many if any Hitchcock/Fleming segments and only a little more likely are the Hale/Elzie segments.  The majority of the segments are likely Luna/Pittman segments.  I feel that since 2 of the relationships were a 4th cousin and beyond, that the multiple relationships really didn't play that big of a part in inflating the amount of shared DNA.

Looking at these comparisons it's easy to see how over a few generations the segments from those ancestors can dwindle away.   I see something odd on Chromosome 18 where my brother's segment is 36.8 cMs which is considerably more than my Mom's 21.8 cMs.  Maybe an identical by chance portion.

Ancestry doesn't include the X in any of its results.  You can, however, download your raw data and upload to GEDmatch.  Let's take a look at how my Mom, siblings, daughter and myself compare to this match on the X chromosome.  Remember the inheritance pattern of the X Chromosome.(<---see additional="" at="" bettinger="" blaine="" blog="" info="" p="" s="">This inheritance pattern only applies to segment matches on the X and not on the other 22 chromosomes which can come from ANY of the ancestors who you have in common.

Notice the 3.07 cM segment that my sister shares on the X that Mom doesn't share with this match.   Also, there is a 5.57 cM segment that my sister and I both share.which isn't shared with Mom.  Likely false positive segments.

Eventually, maybe I will be able to "assign" the segments to specific ancestors or ancestor couples at least.  I have a feeling this is going to take a good while.

If you are looking for tools to use for DNA analysis, I have a listing of my favorite tools, blogs and educational sites on my DNA Tools and Reference page.

DNA Randomness: Siblings

If you have been researching genetic genealogy for any length of time and I guess more so if you have also taken courses or attended webinars,  you have heard about the randomness of DNA as it pertains to autosomal DNA inheritance.  While we each get 50% of our DNA from our father and 50% from our mother,  the 50% that we get from each parent is not the same 50% when comparing to other siblings(unless you are comparing Identical Twins).  I have 4 full siblings, only one of which has tested.   Even with just one having tested I can see that is true in comparing our matches and the amounts she and I match them.  Our Mother has tested also, so I have phased kits created at GEDmatch using her results in comparison with mine and also phased kits comparing her results to my sister's results.  These are very useful.

Ancestry has a phase filter which you can use if one or both parents have also tested at AncestryDNA.  Since I only have one parent that was able to test, that tool lets me see a listing of matches who are also a match to my Mother.  Keep in mind the match range is similar to Shared Matches tool in that it only includes 4th cousin and closer matches---not Distant Cousins.  It would be nice if they could do a list of 4C or closer who DO NOT MATCH when there is only one parent who has tested.

The chart below compares my match list with that of my full sister.  I did not include our Mother's results for our maternal matches nor the matches of my daughter.  I may do that in a future post  Those covered are matches who Ancestry DNA estimated were in 3rd cousin range for at least me OR my sister.

The RED border is around those who were in my list at 3rd Cousin or above.
The VIOLET border is around those who were in my sister's list at 3rd Cousin level.who were ranked as 4th cousins by Ancestry in my list.

Average Difference 65 cM
Total-M(Marie)
Total-B(Becca)

Notes:  Both of our parents have Colonial American Ancestry.  Pretty much all of our ancestors were in the US before 1800.
Our Distant Cousin matches Start on:
Page 41 of 876 (Becca)---- 30 matches which are 3rd Cousin or closer
Page 38 of 908 (Marie)-----26 matches which are 3rd Cousin or closer
Marie:  1873 4th cousin or closer matches
Becca:  2007 4th cousin or closer matches

GEDmatch comparison:  Marie and Becca
Largest segment = 145.6 cM

Total of segments > 7 cM = 2,507.6 cM
51 matching segments
Estimated number of generations to MRCA = 1.3
Six of my matches that were estimated 3rd cousin were in the 4th cousin range for my sister.  Eight of my sister's matches that were estimated 3rd cousin were in the 4th cousin range for me. There was one match who was on the low end of a 3rd cousin match for my sister who was in my Distant Cousin match.



Ancestry's Cousin Categories
From the Hyperlinked "What does this mean?" in the Amount of Shared DNA info box





A bit confusing I guess as there is a gap between categories. I did check for ours that fell
in the gap(195 cM) and it was noted as a 3rd cousin.

And AncestryDNA's estimated Amount of Shared DNA is.....

In last Wednesday's blog post I asked if anyone wanted to take a guess at how many shared cMs a cousin match at AncestryDNA was estimated by Ancestry to have.  The match is kin to me 5 different ways. On reevaluating I found yet another shared Double line.  The only person who posted a guess via the comments was Randy Seaver,  so regardless,  he is the closest.  :-)  Perhaps the question was intimidating--DNA research can be like that sometimes.  Randomness.  It doesn't always follow logic or mathematical principles inheritance-wise.

The match shared the following connections with me

5C1R(2x)------Nathan Frizzell & Margaret Deason(my 4Gr his 5Gr) (*)
4C---------------James Morrow & Margaret Sutton(both 3rd Grs)
4C---------------James Jakes & Nancy Harger(both 3rd Grs)
4C1R-----------James Jakes & Nancy Harger(my 3rd Gr= his 4th Gr)

Additional discoveries of
6C---------------James Knox & Elizabeth Craig(Eoff line goes back to them)
6C1R-----------James Knox & Elizabeth Craig(see above)

I used the BLUE for the relationships that were thru my PGM's Dad and the PINK
for the ones that were thru my PGM's Mom.

Typically half of your 4th cousins won't even share DNA with you.
If I had guessed I would have taken the average for all the relationship amounts

4C=13.28  (times 2)
4C1R=6.64
5C1R=1.66 (times 2)
6C= .83
6C1R= .42
Estimated Total that way would have been 37.77 cMs
Which would put me in really close to Randy's guess.  In reality I share 114 cMs across 9 segments as shown below.  That is a typical amount for 2nd Cousins once removed.

I should also note that the 114 cMs made it thru the Ancestry "cut" so it doesn't include anything that is in what they consider to be a "pile-up" region.  Ancestry matches will not include X Segments so there may still be more in common along the X where it is in the x inheritance path.  In typically fashion my sister has done it again and matched them more. The match shares 132 cMs with her across 7 segments.

I really need to see this match at GEDmatch. I think this is a great exercise in how large segments are passed.  In my daughter's matches there are many of the Wildes/Wilkinson descendants who share a large segment of 50 cMs on one chromosome.  Randomness for sure!

Care to guess the AncestryDNA estimated shared amount of cMs?

The DNA match(at AncestryDNA) that is related to me 5 different ways(all on my Dad's side) responded after a 2 year wait.  Never lose hope.  People get busy and have other priorities outside of genealogy---shocking--isn't it?

Here are all 4 connections paths with the Frizzell / Deason line being double for me so in essence 5 ways. Want to hazard a guess at the Ancestry predicted shared amount of cMs? Hopefully I will be able to see the amounts at GEDmatch soon and see what, if any, segments were excluded from that Ancestry estimate.  Also even with the intermarriage between these families I think I may be able to identify the difference in the segments. There are several testers who have the Frizzell/Deason lines exclusively, two with Morrow/Frizzell.

5C1R(2x)------Nathan Frizzell & Margaret Deason(my 4Gr his 5Gr) (*)
4C---------------James Morrow & Margaret Sutton(both 3rd Grs)
4C---------------James Jakes & Nancy Harger(both 3rd Grs)
4C1R-----------James Jakes & Nancy Harger(my 3rd Gr= his 4th Gr)

* my 4th Greats thru two lines.

Post your guess in the comments.  I'll post the answer along with the closest guess on Monday, April 17th. (There is no prize other than being correct or as close as possible)


Helpful Links:

Cousin Chart

Blaine Bettinger's Shared cM Project post
(link to the PDF file with range of shared cM amounts for given relationships is at the bottom of the post)

International Society of Genetic Genealogy Wiki  --autosomal DNA stats

Another strategy for finding cousins who have atDNA tested at Ancestry.

For those that have taken the atDNA test at Ancestry.com and not gotten any Circles or maybe you have Circles but none for the ancestor you are wanting to research.  When you are viewing documents that are attached to your ancestor in others trees look at the right hand column when viewing the document or picture.  You will see the button that tells you who the doc or pic is linked to.  Other ancestors or persons in or mentioned in the picture may be linked.  Below that is a Saved By listing for other people who have saved that picture or document which should mean they are interested or related to the family in some way.

Click on any of the Users.  This should take you to their profile page.  From there you should be able to toggle thru any kits you admin and check against the profile.   You do this by clicking on the Hyperlinked word "your".   See the arrow pointing to it in the  image below(Edited for privacy).  This doesn't always work and I think it is due to settings for the other profile if they privacy settings pretty tight.

If any of the kits you admin match the main profile or any of the kit's for which that profile is the admin, those kits will show below the Main profile panel.  It is important to note that Absence of a match doesn't mean that they tested and do not match it.  It means there is no DNA available for that profile that matches yours. They may have tested and not match...or they may not have a test at all.  When you do find a match though you can then click on it to go the Match page and look at cM amounts,  projected relationship, tree, etc.

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.

Person	Cousin	Side	MRCA	Surname Connection	Notes
Zachary Taylor	3C5R	PGF	William Strother III	Elizabeth Putman
Rachel Reeves	4C3R	PGM	Reuban Manley	Reuban Manley	FB Friend
Benjamin Franklin	4C9R	MGM	Sir Wm. Jones	James P Hitchcock
Abraham Lincoln	5C4R	PGF	Hancock Lee	Nancy Tyler
Henry David Thoreau	5C5R	PGM	Richard Church	James Morrow
Ralph Waldo Emerson	5C5R	PGM	Giles Hopkins	James Morrow
Blake Sheldon	6C	MGM	Cain Acuff	Jonathan Acuff
Theodore Roosevelt	6C1R	PGF	Thomas Carter	Nancy Tyler
Christinia Aguilera	6C2R	PGF	John Carter	Elizabeth Putman
Jimmy Hendrix	6C2R	MGM	Elizabeth Ingo	Jonathan Acuff
Helen Keller	6C3R	PGF	Thomas Todd	Elizabeth Putman
Mark Twain	6C3R	MGF	Owen Griffith	Keziah Rigsby
Bill Clinton	7C	MGF	Beatrice Spier	Mary Pitman
Brad Pitt	7C1R	MGF	Elizabeth Blair	Frances Bolling
Luke Bryan	7C2R	MGF	John Bolling	Frances Bolling
Kate Upton	7C2R	PGM	Hannah Hopkins	James Morrow
Jessica Simpson	7C2R	MGF	Mary Crawford	Keziah Rigsby
Barack Obama	7C2R	MGF	David Lewis	Keziah Rigsby
Jeannie S.	7C2R	PGF	Frances Armistead	Nancy Tyler	FB Friend
Ann Coulter	8C	MGF	Robert Bolling	Frances Bolling
Carol W.	8C	MGF	John Redford	John Redford	FB Friend
Whitney Houston	8C	MGF	Patience Cotton	Mary Pittman
Kristen Stewart	8C	MGM	Thomas Nelson	Mason Combs
Carrie Fisher	8C1R	PGF	William Strother	Elizabeth Putman
Miley Cyrus	8C1R	PGF	Thomas Carter	Elizabeth Putman
Marilyn Monroe	8C1R	MGF	Anne Stith	Frances Bolling
Melinda B.	8C1R	MGF	Elizabeth Smith Crawford	Keziah Rigsby	FB Friend
Kurt Cobain	8C1R	MGF	John Lewis	Keziah Rigsby
W.C. Fields	8C1R	MGF	Jane Crawford	Keziah Rigsby
Britney Spears	8C1R	MGF	John Lewis	Keziah Rigsby
Winston Churchill	8C1R	MGF	Kathrine Kennedy	Margaret Lauderdale
Lady Gaga	8C1R	PGM	Edward Richards	Nancy Harger
Eminem	8C1R	PGM	John Merryman	Nancy Harger
Stephen King	8C1R	PGM	Elizabeth Spring	Nathan Frizzell
Matt Damon	8C1R	PGM	John Gale	Nathan Frizzell
Blake Lively	8C2R	MGF	Robert Bolling	Frances Bolling
Demi Lovato	8C2R	MGF	Anne Bette	Frances Bowles
Walt Disney	8C2R	MGF	John Crawford	Keziah Rigsby
Megan Z	9C	PGF	Thomas Todd	Elizabeth Putman	FB Friend
Johnny Depp	9C	MGF	William Randolph	Frances Bolling
John F. Kennedy	9C	MGF	John Randolph	Frances Bolling
Sharlene Woodley	9C	MGF	Julian Jarrell	Mary Pittman Luna

Nice DNA surprises...2nd cousin 1 removed uploads to GEDmatch

What a difference it makes to have a closer known cousin upload to GEDmatch.  I had asked one of my maternal cousins(a 2nd cousin once removed) if he would consider uploading and sent him a link to a how-to.  We both had our tests done at Ancestry.com.  Since I am not a subscriber outside of having my test done there I really don't get much use from the circles because you can't see who is in those circles with you.  I had actually been so caught up in things around here that I had not looked at my research for the last several days which is unusual for me.  Now that this cousin, has uploaded I am able to compare a known to unknowns.  So my plans for the day are to compare segments that he and I have in common to others who match along those segments.  We share DNA on 7 different chromosomes with two segments on one of those chromosomes.  Our largest segment match is 69.5cM and our total shared over all is 198.9 cM, which falls within the high range  of 2C1R using this chart.  Gedmatch estimated us to be 3.1 generations away from the MRCA.  The Most Recent Common Ancestors are my Gr Grandparents, David Enoch Luna & Nancy Pitman Luna.  They are his GG Grandparents.

Path to the  MRCA
Me----->Mom ----->Mom's Dad --------->MRCA Luna & Pitman
Him---->His Dad--> His Dad's Mom --->Her Mom--->MRCA Luna & Pitman