A gap in my knowledge, which I am currently trying to fill, lies in the subject of how DNA can help in the study of ancestry. A few years ago I spat into a little test tube (as directed in the DNA testing packet, I hasten to add) and sent off my own DNA for genetic analysis despite warnings from some that it could be used by the ‘authorities’ for sinister purposes. Personally I like to think the DNA thieves have my best interests at heart and will quickly arrive to locate me should I be kidnapped.
The results of my test were downloaded to the Ancestry DNA section of the site, and my tree linked to it. Then DNA matches with other people are shown along with a probable relationship, ie 2nd-3rd cousin. The results of matches can prove interesting especially where it’s possible to see exactly how one is related to another person but this is not always possible. The matches may not have the same people in their tree and a large number of people’s results are not linked to a tree so the information that I am a 4th cousin to someone is just genetic teasing as I cannot see where.
I’ve only ever contacted two people who showed a close match and I am not doing it again. The first was in the early days and I was excited that the match showed we could be second cousins, which to my mind is pretty close. The reply was astonishing…..
“Hi My name is C and I am the daughter in law of J (the DNA subject). I am afraid I will not be able to offer any help in working out how you could be related. J’s parents are unknown. She was left on a train at Wimbledon Park Station on 13th June 1943. They believe she was only hours old. We are hoping that one day someone will hold the missing link within their trees or a family story is discovered. Thanks”
Here is the other great success story of my reaching out to someone who appeared to be a very close match and replied…….
“What marriage records do you hold for W? What don’t you know about him? Regards” .
At this point I should mention my dear friend Mary who lives in the UK but is American by birth.
After many years of following wrong turns, due mainly to family myths, legends and lies, she had reached her sixties and given up hope of ever knowing who her father was. Then, due to DNA matches on her chosen site and a process of contact and elimination she recently found the identity of her late father. It is an amazing story and naturally a fair amount of luck that family members chose to have DNA analysis for their family history research. What a character Mary’s father appears to have been; a serial bridegroom and father to several other children.
Another part of having DNA analysed is the Ethnicity Estimate which charts for you the areas of the world that your DNA is most likely to have come from. My results were not very exciting, although I don’t know what I was hoping for. Twenty per cent Tongan perhaps? The DNA section is regularly updated on Ancestry and the latest feature compares family ‘traits’ with other members of your family with Ancestry DNA matches. This might be fun but is not essential knowledge. What it does help with though is learning more and understanding further how DNA works and as I said at the beginning, I have a lot of work to do in this area.
Whether my ancestors ‘traits’ were a fondness for gin, I really don’t know, but it brings me nicely to THAT section of this blog. The sloes are abundant this year and I have a large bag of them picked from a Suffolk hedgerow and placed in my freezer to simulate the first frost. Back in 2018 I wrote about sloe gin and included the recipe I was using.
https://ginandgenealogy.co.uk/2018/09/03/sloe-time/
These days I don’t bother measuring everything out. I fill a bottle about a third full of sloes, and a little bit of sugar and top up with the gin. I don’t like my gin to be too sweet and should it need more sugar when tested in a few months I can add some then or wait until it’s ready to strain into fresh bottles and add a little sugar syrup. It’s not an exact science but easier to understand than the chemistry of DNA, for me, anyway.
GIN and GENEALOGY 