HAVE YOU USED THE GENOGRAPHIC PROJECT?

ME

[WHATNEXT?]

Thinking of getting the kit for a Christmas gift.

[CT]

If you are really into geneology, then this kit is for you. It follows either paternal or maternal lines. It gives you an idea “who you are” going back to as recently as 10,000 years ago. They also have a service that can tell you names of others that match you genetically to within a very high percentage. Even if it is not a known blood relative. I was surprised to have more than a few Scottsmen in my father’s bloodline, despite that side being 100% Prussian. So there must be something to the Saxon tales of raiders coming from Germany. Worth it? Yes. But only if one is willing to make it a serious pursuit for more than just a day or so.

[truth_seeker]

OJ Simpson jury say:

“DNA...so what everybody gots DNA.”

[wildbill]

“If you already know the village or district where your ancestors lived, do you learn anything useful from getting this DNA information?”

Maybe which conquering army marched through back in the day.

[concentric circles]

"I often dwell on just how different our lives have become and wonder what happened to the strength of those early people."

I recently read the following thoughts regarding our early ancestors:

"The struggles of these early ages were characterized by courage, bravery, and even heroism. And we all regret that so many of those sterling and rugged traits of your early ancestors have been lost to the later-day races. While we appreciate the value of many of the refinements of advancing civilization, we miss the magnificent persistency and superb devotion of your early ancestors, which oftentimes bordered on grandeur and sublimity."

[Verginius Rufus]

There were a lot of mercenary soldiers in earlier centuries (the Hessians sent to America by George III were nothing new--and some of them were from other places than Hesse). Perhaps some men from Scotland signed on as mercenaries in the Thirty Years' War (which England and Scotland stayed out of) and spent time in Germany.

I read something a few years back about a man in England who discovered his paternal ancestry came from a place in Croatia where the same surname is still found--evidently he had an ancestor from there who became a mercenary in one of the wars and eventually settled in England.

[Verginius Rufus]

As one of my professors once remarked in class:

"We all have ancestors--we can be proud of that."

[Hawthorn]

>> this kit is for you. It follows either paternal or maternal lines. <<

No, no, no. You’re describing the Genographic 1.0 kit ($99.00). That test indeed is confined to your straight paternal or your straight maternal line. It’s especially good for males who want to trace their surname back for hundreds of years.

On the other hand, the new Genographic 2.0 kit ($199.00) uses “autosomal” DNA — that is, DNA from ALL of your ancestors, not just the unbroken male-to-male and female-to-female lines. In this respect, this new test is similar (although not identical) to FTNDA’s Family Finder test.

There are some very good features of the G 2.0 test, but also some drawbacks. If you’ve got the money, you may as well go for it, especially if you’ve already had Family Finder or the similar autosomal tests from 23andMe or Ancestry.

But if you’re completely new to autosomal testing, you need first to study up on the pros and cons of FTDNA’s Family Finder. It’s on sale until December 31 for $199, and it can beat G 2.0 for some applications.

[BenLurkin]

Dutch wood pile.

[BenLurkin]

Judging by surnames...I’m related to a lot of defensive backs in college and pro ball.

[Jewbacca]

The others posters pretty much told the story, but, long story short most of the males who share the name “Cohen” or a version thereof -— and would, at least according to tradition and the Torah -— be ancestors of Aaron of the Tribe of Levi -— do, indeed, have a common middle eastern male ancestor during the time in question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y-chromosomal_Aaron

Obviously, it’s not proof that the common ancestor was, indeed, Aaron, but is certainly very consistent with family histories.

[gleeaikin]

My father, when we lived in NJ told me about a group of people living in the NJ, NY, PA border area (the hills) who were called “Jackson’s Whites”. He said they were a mixture of run away Negros, Indians, and deserting Hessians from during the American Revolution.

[SunkenCiv]

The wonderful thing about these DNA studies, when offered by Surname Associations (groups of genealogists with the same surname in their tree, and often the same descent) is that, what shows up in the paper trail, turns out to have been concealing various promiscuities, undocumented adoptions, backdoor men, Neandertals-in-the-woodpile, and that kind of thing. IOW, what’s written ain’t necessary so. :’)

[Little Bill]

One of the things that I learned is that it is a hell of easier to trace your ancestry if your family lived on Kings land and paid rent to the crown, even small holders.

Another plus is that my family was in the Staple in the Cotswold's and were Business men and Trades men. Oppressors of the poor in modern language.

The main problem was that my last name was very common in Glostershire and East Anglia, once I got all this stuff sorted out it wasn't to bad.

[marsh2]

Isn’t it pretty worthless if you are a female? I could have my Dad tested, but that is only half the story and all the direct males on my Mom’s side are deceased.