DNA Day is Thursday, April 25---Sales Galore

Almost, or maybe all, DNA kits are on sale for DNA Day.  And many sales end tomorrow on DNA Day.  I am not recommending anyone purchase a DNA kit but if you have been in the market for one, this is a good time to buy.  If you are not sure which test to buy, be sure to contact me quickly at ferndalegenies@gmail.com.

For info I will send you to DNA Bargains.  https://dnabargains.com/best-promo-codes-coupons-and-savings-on-dna-during-national-dna-day-sale/

At DNA Bargains genealogist Thomas MacEntee uses affiliate links.  This gives him a small payment for each link that is used and allows him to give us a lot of free information. 

The Ancestry test is $69, MyHeritage is $59, and a sample of Family Tree DNA tests are:

A Family Finder test (atDNA) is just $49 (normally $79)

An mtDNA test is $149 (normally $199)

A 37-marker Y-DNA test is $129 (normally $169)

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Another good sale is at DNA Central.  This is Blaine Bettinger’s subscription site and a terrific place for DNA education and questions. 

Blaine is offering a $30 discount to new subscribers, with a membership fee of only $69/year rather than $99/year. There's an incredible amount of fantastic information at DNA-Central (copied below), all for less than $6/month with this discounted link (code is DNADAY): https://thednaclub.memberful.com/checkout…

🔹 9 self-paced courses:
- I've Tested at AncestryDNA, Now What?
- I've Tested at MyHeritageDNA, Now What?
- I've Tested at 23andMeDNA, Now What?
- I've Tested at FamilyTreeDNA, Now What?
- I've Tested at LivingDNA, Now What?
- I've Tested my yDNA, Now What?
- I've Tested my mtDNA, Now What?
- Using the X Chromosome
- Essential Third-Party Tools

🔹 10 webinars:
- Mckell Anderson Keeney's "So You Want to Be A Search Angel"
- Blaine's MyHeritage Auto Cluster & Theory of Family Relativity
- Blaine's Ancestry ThruLines & DNA Matches
- Michael D Lacopo's "Using mtDNA for Genealogy Problem-Solving"
- Roberta Estes' "Get the Most Out of yDNA from FamilyTreeDNA"
- Angie Bush's "No Chromosome Browser? No Problem!"
- Diahan Southard's "Jack & Jill: Can DNA Reveal the True Story on The Hill?"
- Blaine's "Using DNA Painter"
- Blaine's "Introduction to Third-Party Tools"
- Blaine's Understanding Native American DNA"

🔹 18 archived newsletters (June 2018-present) sharing latest DNA news, articles, sales, and more

🔹 10 forums for asking/answering/learning more about:
- atDNA
- mtDNA
- yDNA
- 23andMe
- AncestryDNA
- FamilyTreeDNA
- LivingDNA
- MyHeritageDNA
- Other Testing Companies
- Third-Party Tools

🔹 Resources page/bibliography with 45+ links to blogs, articles, videos, podcasts, Facebook groups, and more

THEDNACLUB.MEMBERFUL.COM

DNA-Central.com!

Extraordinary Genie Events in May

The Ferndale Genies are inviting you to a new RootsMagic users group and a special DNA event  .  There is never a charge at the Ferndale Genies. Everyone is welcome.  For more info email ferndalegenies@gmail.com.

RootsMagic Group: By reservation

A small group will be meeting Sunday, May 5, 1:00-3:00 more or less in the Ferndale Library small conference room.

We are looking for people who are interested in a monthly Sunday group who will help each other learn to use RootsMagic software.  There is no expert leader.  At the May 5 meeting we can help with installing the software and setting up a RootsMagic data base using a Gedcom file.  In future months we expect that you will actively work on RootsMagic during the month, view videos, search for answers to problems, and share at the meetings.

Respond to ferndalegenies@gmail.com.

Special Event: Y and mitochondrial DNA; By Reservation

Judith Culver is offering a one-time discussion and demo of Y-DNA and Mitochondrial DNA on Saturday, May 11 from 1:00 until 3:30 at the Ferndale Library large meeting room.  That’s right.  One time only.

The discussion will be informative but the tests are only useful in limited situations.  You are welcome to come and stay as long as it is interesting to you.

The facts:

The most common DNA test is called autosomal and it is offered at five major companies including Ancestry.  Two lesser known tests are the YDNA and mtDNA tests that are only offered by Family Tree DNA.  

The YDNA tests match you with descendants of your Y DNA inheritance line:  your father’s father’s father’s line and so on.  Only male family members are tested.  Y DNA test has many different levels and your matches will keep asking you to spend more money in the hundreds of dollars.  😊

The mitochondrial line is your mother’s mother’s mother’s line and so on.  Both men and women inherit mtDNA from their mothers.  Both men and women can be tested.  For mtDNA there is basically only one useful test and it is called “mt Full Sequence’.  

To explain all this, I am offering a one-time conversation with demos.  I will start with basic information about genetics and the various tests.  I don’t think it will be particularly technical.

I will briefly demo the autosomal test offered by Family Tree DNA called Family Finder.  Then I will demo three of my family YDNA results and my own mitochondrial results.  Then we can look at tests from attendees.

If you don’t have results, you are welcome to come watch and listen.  If you have not tested anyone, don’t order any tests until after this meeting.  

If you are interested, please respond to ferndalegenies@gmail.com.  

Whatcom Geneaological Society Monthly Meeting:   2nd Mondays, 2:00-3:30 or so.  Bellingham Elks Lodge at 710 Samish Way. Park around back and enter the lower level. 

Next meeting:  May 13.  Program not announced yet.

Ferndale Genies Monthly Meeting:   3rd Monday, 1:00-3:30 at Ferndale Library.

Next meeting:  Monday, May 20.  Conversation about topics of interest to the members.

Spring Seminars Tacoma and Seattle  (Always a fee at full day seminars.)

Tacoma-Pierce County GS Saturday April 27, 9:00-4:00.  Featuring Michael Lacopo with topics: More Than the Census, German Genealogy on the Internet, Incorporating Social History, and A Case Study using female research and family analysis.  Registration:  http://www.tpcgs.org/seminar.html  Click on “Download a Brochure”.

Seattle Genealogical Society May 18-19 with “Your DNA Guide” Diahan Southard

Registration opens April 1.  http://seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/content/seminars

Don’t miss our 2019 Spring Seminar, “Next Steps for your DNA Test Results”, featuring Diahan Southard. From beginner to advanced genealogist, Diahan will help you understand and help you organize your results to find those lost relatives.

Topics for the 4 workshops are:

Let Your DNA Tell Your Story

Me and My 1,000+ DNA 4th Cousins

Making YDNA and mtDNA part of Your Family History

Three Next Steps for Your DNA Test Results

Also look for the Special Workshops on Sunday morning, May 19: “Organizing Your DNA Results”.

For more information and online registration: http://seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/

Special Event: Y and mitochondrial DNA; Respond if interested

The most common DNA test is called autosomal and it is offered at five major companies including Ancestry.  At our April meeting more information about the two lesser known tests was requested. 

YDNA and mtDNA tests are only offered by Family Tree DNA.  The YDNA tests match you with descendants of your Y DNA inheritance line:  your father’s father’s father’s line and so on.  Only male family members are tested.  Y DNA test has many different levels and your matches will keep asking you to spend more money in the hundreds of dollars.  😊

The mitochondrial line is your mother’s mother’s mother’s line and so on.  Both men and women inherit mtDNA from their mothers.  Both can test.  For mtDNA there is basically only one useful test and it is called “mt Full Sequence’.  

To explain all this I am offering a one-time conversation with demos.  I will start with basic information about genetics and the various tests.  I don’t think it will be particularly technical.

I will briefly demo the autosomal test offered by Family Tree DNA called Family Finder.  Then I will demo 3 of my family YDNA results and my own mitochondrial results.  Then we can look at tests from attendees.  I am not planning a lecture; it will mostly be conversational. 

Interested?

If you are interested, you will need to respond by this Sunday, April 21.  Respond to ferndalegenies@gmail.com.  If you have results from either of these tests, describe the tests and any actions you have taken to try to use them. 

If you don’t have results, you are welcome to come watch and listen.  If you have not tested anyone, don’t order any tests until after this meeting.  Some brick walls can benefit from these tests but this event will mostly broaden your knowledge.

Also tell me if you have special scheduling requirements.  Like vacations or weekends.  I want to schedule it when interested folks can come, hopefully during May. 

This will be an “up-leveling” experience for people of all levels of genealogy or DNA experience.

Take the plunge!

Many Directions for Monday's Meeting

Don't miss it Monday, April 15 at 1:00 at the Ferndale Library.

What’s been happening?  You know I listen to podcasts, read blogs, watch webinars, and go to society meetings; all bring good topics for our Genies discussions. 

This week I watched a most interesting webinar called “Leveling Up in the Game of Genealogy”.  The presenters were Crista Cowan, the Ancestry Corporate Genealogist, and Janet Hovorka, the owner of FamilyChartMasters.com and genealogy.coach.  They compared the study of genealogy to moving up the levels in a video game.  They stressed that you don’t know what you don’t know.  Often you don’t know until someone shows you a tip.  They talked about education, mentors, peer review, seeking feedback and, in general, how to “up-level” your skills. 

In 2010 Crista Cowan published a Genealogical Maturity Model.  It’s a self-assessment tool published here:  http://www.ancestryinsider.org/2010/10/genealogical-maturity-model.html.  It points you to areas where you may want to work on up-leveling.

Another interesting speaker was Janet Camarata at the Whatcom Genealogical Society this week.  Her talk “What To Do with What We Have” followed a six-step process similar to the Research Like a Pro process we have been talking about.  Organize, Create a Timeline, Extract and Transcribe Records, Analyze the Results, and Cite Sources.  This gets you ready to Identity new Research Questions, Develop Research Plans, and start the cycle over.  She’s a techy lady and often strayed into the latest Windows 10 release, transcription software, using her scanner app for her cell phone, using the book History for Genealogists when creating a timeline, and so on.

Janet Camarata used the Census as an example and mentioned the use of the Census headings. I will be bringing printed Census headings to the meeting.  Also there is a booklet about the Census called Measuring America which gives headings and enumeration instructions.  Census Booklet

There have been many new tools at the family tree/DNA websites, especially Ancestry and MyHeritage.  At the last Genies meeting we walked through some of the changes at Ancestry DNA.  This month we can walkthrough the Theories of Family Relativity tool at MyHeritage and hit Ancestry again (depending on interest). 

Now this might be from the Department of Useless, but Interesting.  Multiple companies are working on retrieving old DNA from artifacts.  Scientists have been doing this for a long time but the first commercial offering seems to be totheletterDNA.com from Brisbane, Australia.  They are also on FaceBook and Instagram.  They are extracting DNA from envelopes and postcards.  Last fall in the first batch of 48 samples, they found DNA on every sample.  The oldest was from 1930. They can upload the raw DNA to GedMatch Genesis. 

They continue to process but are not accepting new orders until they get caught up.  Here’s the let down:  It costs around $800 for each sample.  Blaine Bettinger says it will never be as inexpensive as autosomal DNA testing because it is very labor intensive.   They are also working on hair, teeth and bones so stay tuned.

There are many ways to go for our meeting on Monday so jot down some questions or a few things that interest you and we’ll have a go at it. 

I love our meetings and look forward to seeing you Monday.

More Than You Ever Wanted to Know about DNA

At our last Genies meeting we scratched the surface on DNA Inheritance.  When there is not much time, it is easy to explain it all away by saying “it’s random!”  But there is much more to it.  You have to go back to the basics.  The question we are answering today is:  Why do siblings have different DNA?  

If you find this to be intimidating, just come to our Genies meeting next Monday the 15^th and we’ll go over it all.

Let me describe what happens.  Today we are only talking about autosomal DNA. The autosomal DNA test is the one provided by Ancestry, Family Tree DNA, 23andme, My Heritage and Living DNA.    Autosomal actually means not a sex chromosome.  There are 22 autosomes and 23^rd is the sex chromosome.  They are the genetic material that is found in the nucleus of every cell.  Here's a Wikipedia picture of all 23 of the wigglies.

 

Each chromosome is actually a pair of chromosomes.  Each parent sends one of their pair for each of their chromosomes.  Since the child receives one of each pair, he receives 50% of each parent’s chromosomes.  There is also a process of recombination in which some segments are optionally swapped between the pair in the child’s chromosome.

I clipped this picture from Wikipedia.  It shows how for a specific chromosome children numbered 1 and 4 may not match at all.

 

In general siblings match about 40% of their DNA.

Chromosomes are measured in centiMorgans (cM).  For each person, the total of their chromosomes’ lengths is somewhere between 6700 and 7040 cM.  A child inherits about 3500 from each parent.  Relationships can be determined from the total cM of matching DNA segments.

In each generation the child only gets half of the DNA of their parents.  Each person receives 50% from each parent, approximately 25% from a grandparent, 12.5% from a great-grandparent, 6.25% from a second great and so on. 

So that is the scientific theory.  A few years ago Blaine Bettinger and others thought they should find out what the actual amounts of shared DNA between known relatives are.  They started a study and by 2017 over 25,000 relationships had been submitted and they are still accepting data. 

Results are published on his website https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2017/08/26/august-2017-update-to-the-shared-cm-project/.  There are several charts there and I have copied one below.

Some expected amounts in the far-right column are siblings 2550, 1^st cousin 850, 2^nd cousin 213, 3^rd cousin 53.  There is a wide range of relationships for a given cM match. 

 

One more fact from this chart:  All known second cousins share DNA.  For more distant cousins you start to see the size of a shared segment become too small to be significant or disappear altogether. 

For more information and discussion:

Check out the Ferndale Genies blog at https://ferndalegenies.blogspot.com/.  In the left column are fixed pages.  Half way down you will see the pages entitled DNA.  Many of these are handouts from previous talks.  They will give you basic info about DNA and ideas of questions to ask. 

Also come to the Genies Meeting next Monday and this will be one of the topics.

See you there!

Sylvia's Last Installment, Part 4

Sylvia is on her way home.  Here's her last installment.

Photos can be enlarged by clicking on photo or enlarging

with fingers on a touchscreen.

The Rebecca Nurse farmstead in old Salem village (modern-day Danvers MA). The original 1690's house on what is left of the Nurse property. Family lore has it that Mary's body was secreted away at night after the execution and buried in the spot on the Nurse farm where this monument now stands. In the 1970's the remains of George Jacobs, also accused and executed, were rediscovered in a field on what had been his property when it was being developed into housing.

He was identified with forensics and brought to the Nurse farm. George's remains were buried here with full ceremonial honors by the Danvers Alarm Company, a local historical reenactment group that now owns the farm. 

The Saga Continues, Part 3

From Sylvia:

Candlemas was the precursor to Groundhog Day. In the Julian calendar, it would have occurred in January. It’s unlikely that the victims would have been named and I could find no graves to mark the individuals. They would have been burned and/or mutilated beyond recognition. Many of the graves are unreadable due to age and weather. I imagine the Historical Society across the street has records of who/where.

Those who escaped the massacre went south down to Salem and Boston area, those who were captured either remained in Canada where they were taken by the French and Indians, or returned. This old burying ground is in old York Village, Maine. Road trip anyone?

If you can't read the stone, try clicking on the photo to enlarge.

Witch's Hunt Part 2

Sylvia continues her travels:

"Couldn’t find the “witch’s” grave. She wasn’t accused anyway and it was much later.

Sylvia"

Sylvia's Great Adventure

I am pleased to send you a guest post from Sylvia who is traveling in New England and exploring the Salem Witch Trials.  Hopefully she will be back for our Genies meeting on April 15.

From Sylvia:

I’ve just had the most chilling experience since I stood in the very well-equipped medieval torture chambers at Warwick Castle. What you see – and what I touched with my own hands (surprising, since the Houghton Library at Harvard makes you wear the white gloves for anything older than three months!!!) – is an original record of the examination and conviction of Mary Easty (Esty). Yes, the actual document of the trial transcript from 1692! Having just the day before had lunch with Mary’s 7th great-grandson, an old friend of mine, it was especially chilling to read the words that were penned over three hundred years ago on that very parchment and to realize how seriously they took it all then and that it led to the murder of Mary and numerous others. Frightening!

The records of the trials of all of the accused are extensive and held at the Peabody Essex Museum in a brand-new climate-controlled building in Rowley, Massachusetts. If you know of anyone who might be descended from anyone connected to the trials, there is a wealth of genealogical records, and they welcome people (in person like me or online) who are researching their family history. They were very helpful. All of the documents they have from the Oyer and Terminer trials are digitized and can be found at the Peabody Essex Museum Phillips Library website, along with other related documents.

It is definitely addicting digging up the past! Today I'm exploring the Candlemas Massacre in York, Maine that happened around the time of the witch trials, and then more info on the 'stone throwing devil of New Castle that happened a decade earlier. Both played a role in the Salem incident and like Salem involved local people. Those with family history in this area are lucky. Records are very detailed and go back over three centuries. New England preserves its past well!

Those who know they have family who were in Boston or the north shore at that time period might be surprised to find they are related to villagers in Salem or the area.

Happy hunting all! I’m having fun but also looking forward to getting back and picking up my own research!

Pot Pourri: a little of everything

First a word from our sponsor (just kidding).  24 HOURS ONLY!  Thomas MacEntee is promoting a 50% discount on MyHeritage with a 14-day trial for new subscribers here https://mailchi.mp/hidefgen.com/myheritage-freetrial-apr2019?e=cb7c45b1c4.  It’s only for 24 hours but if you are too late this time, he also gives a great explanation of why you might want to use MyHeritage, especially if you have European ancestors.

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At every Genies meeting there is a reason to warn everyone not to use other people’s trees as the gospel, just hints.  When I first started researching, I thought if ten trees showed a certain ancestor that must be the right one.  Then I figured out that they were just copying from each other and they didn’t have any sources.  That’s just one reason my tree is such a mess to this day. 

This warning is especially timely because of the proliferation of newbies at Ancestry.  I heard they have sold between 12 and 20 million DNA kits, mostly to folks who don’t know how to build an accurate tree.  After they finish with ethnicity estimates (which was the reason they tested in the first place), they might wander into their DNA matches.  Whoa, Nellie! 

The reason this is especially timely is that Ancestry is now using everyone’s tree to offer ThruLines and Possible Ancestors.  Even I am tempted to start adding my ThruLines ancestors to my tree.  But I am sitting on my hands to avoid this temptation.

Here is a recent post from Randy Seavers at GeneaMusings that’s right down this alley.  https://www.geneamusings.com/2019/03/dear-randy-newbies-need-to-be-warned.html  Whenever I see the term “newbies” or “beginners”, I say, that’s me too.

Randy says go to your local society, and I do too.  Next Monday, April 8, the speaker’s topic is Beginning Genealogy.  Janet Camarata is a gem and we are bound to learn from her.  Remember Whatcom Genealogical Society at the Elks on Samish Way at 2:00.  Doors open at 1:30.

Randy also adds:

There are quite a few "Beginner" videos online in the FamilySearch Learning Center.  You can search subjects like "beginner" or "sources" or "census" or "England" or "church records," etc.  You might recommend the video  "If I'd Only Known - Beginner Genealogy Mistakes."

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Last night I watched a webinar by Thomas MacEntee called “One Touch Genealogy Research: How to Handle a Record Just Once”.  Good for people who want to be more efficient researchers and you will learn some new tips about the 1940 Census.  It will be free through April 10.  Go to https://familytreewebinars.com/.  First you will see the Upcoming Webinars (all or mostly free) and below that the Webinar Library -New!   “One Touch” is first and the Free webinars are clearly marked.   Also you can use the Webinar Library tab at the top and select View All Free. 

Thomas announces the webinars and almost always has a discount for the annual membership, regular price less than $50.  With a membership you get the syllabi and have access to over 900 archived webinars. 

Thomas MacEntee is also one of the headliner speakers at the NW Genealogy Conference.  He’s a technical guy and he loves to talk to people individually. 

The Northwest Genealogy Conference sent this alert:

Don't miss out on the Northwest Genealogy Conference Early Bird discount. You must register by April 15th to receive the discount. The conference is August 14-17th in Arlington, WA.

There is another big event happening in Arlington at the same time - so you will want to book your hotel rooms ASAP.

See www.nwgc.org to find information on the conference, discounted hotel rooms and to register. You don't want to miss this great event!

Ferndale Genie Noreen passes this along to us from Grays Harbor Gen. Society, saying “Their museum was so well done and the research library was loaded with information and some super helpful volunteers.”

Dear Washington State Grays Harbor County Genealogy researcher of the past.....

On June 9th, 2018, the entire contents of our Grays Harbor County Genealogical Research Library were lost in a catastrophic fire that destroyed most of the Aberdeen Museum of History and its contents where we were housed.  We are devastated by this loss, but starting to rebuild our resources and holdings, including our Surname File which contained hundreds of family histories.  We are just now re-opening our library on scheduled days at the Hoquiam Timberland Library.   You can visit our website at www.graysharborgenealogy.com

Because files of all the genealogical researches done in the last 20 years were lost, we need your help. 

Would you please send us copies of the research results that were sent to you (obituaries, funeral records, cemetery records, etc. including the Summary of Research)? These files will go a long way in restoring our invaluable Surname File.  Copies can be sent electronically or hard copy.  

To send documents electronically:  ghgensoc@gmail.com

To post mail:   GHGS, P. O. Box 916, Aberdeen WA 98520

For more information or questions, please contact me at:   stanjo46@comcast.net.

We will be extremely grateful for your help in rebuilding our collections!

Bonnie Johannes

Research Chair

Grays Harbor Genealogical Society

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Skagit Valley Genealogical Society

Sat, April 13, 1pm – 3pm

Burlington Public Library, 820 E Washington Ave, Burlington, WA 98233, USA (map)

Evernote for Genealogists by Janet O'Connor Camarata
The software tool -- Evernote -- can be a very valuable note keeping, storage, file cabinet for genealogy researchers. Capture those records, files, photos all in one Evernote location and make your life/research easier.  Your research will be revolutionized and your record-keeping easier to access and sort through. Be there!

For more info: Margie Wilson 360-757-6224,

Note for Genies:  Evernote is commonly used by genealogists.  Many serious genealogists love Evernote for keeping notes and documents.  The free version is adequate for most.  You can access from desk and mobile devices.  If you are ready for new web-based software, this would be interesting.

In other news…

The most recent blogpost from Linda Q. Lambert is "Limericks, Pangrams & the Dazzling Ascent of Wordsmith.org".  https://lindaqlambert.com/2019/03/14/limericks-pangrams-the-dazzling-ascent-of-wordsmith-com/

Fold3 is offering free access to their Civil War Collection until April 15.  If you have ancestors who fought in the US civil war, you will want to check this record set.

There was one very famous DNA “switched at birth” story in which the birth was in 1922.  I didn’t think it would happen in 1942 too.  Enjoy this one:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Switch-at-birth-revealed-75-years-later-13693463.php

I’m still working on the DNA post I told you was coming.  You should see it by the end of the week.  It promises to have information you don’t know.

Hope to see you at the Whatcom Society meeting next Monday, especially if you have never been there.  I will greet you at the door.