Progress Tracker for DNA Study

This is a checklist I originally prepared for the Dec 2016 WCGS presentation - Enhance your Genealogy Research with DNA Testing. Time flies and so much in the genetic genealogy world has changed so quickly, but I think this stands the test of time as a good basic checklist for beginners. - CD

 

Enhance your Genealogy Research with DNA Testing

Progress Tracker for DNA Study

 

Getting Started:

 

_ Identify your need, question, or line of descent that needs proving.
 

_ Identify your subject or subjects.
 

_ Choose the appropriate tests and company.
 

_ Order, complete, return, wait.

 

While you wait:

 

_ Build your tree back at least 4 generation - 5 or 6 if possible. Also, build it "wide" at the level of your grandparents and great grandparents. Include all siblings, spouses, and descendants that you can. It really helps when you are looking at lines that may descend from one of those female ancestors whose name gets lost in time.
 

_ Watch the 5 part Bettinger webinar series, Foundations in DNA, at Legacy Family Tree (subscription service, a $9.95 investment - bonus you can watch unlimited webinars  - all you find interesting during your month subscription). https://familytreewebinars.com/blainebettinger 
 

_ Locate and work through your testing site tutorials. (see DNA Links Handout)
 

_ Create a Gedmatch.com account for additional tools to study your results.

 

When your results return:

 

_ Spend some time studying your top matches, their trees, and surname lists, to determine your common ancestors.
 

_ Upoad your raw data to Gedmatch for study and comparison. Gedmatch is free and offers some powerful tools for comparison. It is a much larger match pool too.
 

_ Keep good notes about matches and matches in common. You will be looking at so much data that you will need to capture it while it is fresh in your mind. One Note and Excel will help with this.
 

_ Have fun while you learn!

 

 

Prepared by Cyndi Deal, 2016

Return to the WCGS Website

 

DNA Links and Reading List

This is a handout that I originally prepared for the Dec 2016 WCGS presentation - Enhance your Genealogy Research with DNA Testing. Time flies and so much in the genetic genealogy world has changed so quickly, I have updated some links and added a few others but this list will get you started up the learning curve that is Genetic Genealogy. - CD

DNA Links and Reading List

Testing site tutorials

AncestryDNA Tutorials @ Ancestry Support

Family Tree DNA Learning Center

23&Me Tutorials

My Heritage

DNA Wikis

International Society of Genetic Genealogy - isogg.org/wiki

Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogical_DNA_test

Videos and Webinars 

What is Inheritance from Learn.Genetics

Foundations in DNA, 5 Part series by Blaine T. Bettinger  ($)  -  Legacy Family Tree Webinars

Autosomal DNA: how to use it in practice, Maurice Gleeson -  Youtube Video

Using DNA to solve adoption cases, Maurice Gleeson - Youtube Video

3rd Party Tools

Gedmatch.com - a third party free website (operated by generous volunteers) for analysis and comparison of raw autosomal DNA data from other fee-based genetic genealogy testing companies. Gedmatch offers many tools for visualizing how you and your matches connect including a Chromosome browser, in common with and one to many matching. Tier one tools (small fee) include triangulation tools, lazarus tools to replicate dna of a parent or grandparent, evil twin tool which can provide you with the 50% of the DNA you did not receive from each parent.

Genome Mate Pro - an app to help manage the data collected from autosomal DNA research. It allows you to house and compare data from the different companies and keep detailed notes. It is a more advanced tool you should have on your radar if you get serious about genetic genealogy study.

Chrome extensions for working with DNA
AncestryDNA Helper (for Ancestry DNA)

Medbetterdna - various uses, but my favorite is the ability to make your AncestryDNA match note appear on the match list page. Saves you a lot of clicking through to see what you wrote.

Pedigree Thief  (for Ancestry DNA) - Tree clipper that allows you to convert a matches pedigree tree to a gedcom or insert in another program like Genome Mate Pro for study.

DNA Arboretum (for FTDNA) - Tree clipper that allows you to convert a matches pedigree tree to a gedcom or insert in another program like Genome Mate Pro for study.

Blogs

Segmentology.org - by Jim Bartlett

blog.kittycooper.com by Kitty Cooper

dna-explained.com by Roberta Estes 

thegeneticgenealogist.com by Blaine Bettinger

yourgeneticgenealogist.com by CeCe Moore 

thednageek.com by Lisa Larkin, Ph.D.

Books

The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy, by Blaine T. Bettinger, PhD, JD

Genetic Genealogy in Practice, by Blaine T. Bettinger, PhD, JD, and Debbie Parker Wayne, CG, CGL

Facebook Groups - Use the FB search to find and join.

DNA Newbie

Gedmatch User Group

AncestryDNA Matching

FTDNA User Group

Genetic Genealogy Tips & Tricks - run by Blaine Bettinger

DNA Detectives - run by Cece Moore

Testing site comparison guide

             ConsumerAffairs DNA Testing and Ancestry Guide

Prepared by Cyndi Deal, 2016

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Wake Treasures Journal - Volume 28, Number 2

Wake Treasures - Volume 28, Number 2 – Spring 2018 is now available for viewing and download at the website. This issue incorporates material covering more than 150 years of Wake history and family narrative.

Topics include:

Golf Membership List - Meadowbrook Country Club, Garner, NC. 1963

1802 Tax List - continuation

Eugene Narron Allen of New Light

Wake County General Assembly Session Records 1798 & 1806

Thoughts about Yates Mill

1893 Register of Births, city of Raleigh

Ad - Bostrom-Brady Manufacturing

Raleigh Grocery Ledger (1884-1886)

Playing among the Tombs (Historic Oberlin Cemetery)

Members may access this and all issues of the Journal online here.

If you have personal stories of people, places, and events connected to Wake County, please consider sharing them for inclusion into future editions! Contact the journal editor.

Need this content? Become a member here.  

Access to the Journal online is one of the best benefits for remote Wake County researchers. There are over 20 years of issues online with Wake specific primary source content. Search in your sweats and fluffy slippers!

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Learning Opportunity - Full and Half Day Small Group Sessions

Here is another great learning opportunity to check out before the New Year.

Edgecombe Community College, in Tarboro, offers a Weekend ContinuingEducation Series in Historic Preservation Trades. This program is run by Monika Fleming, Program Chair for the Historic Preservation curriculum at ECC. Monika presented the WCGS June program - Jewish Immigration in Eastern NC.

Classes meet Saturdays for full and half day instruction. The small group setting includes discussion and one-on-one interaction.

Early 2019 Topics:
Intro to Genealogy
Research Historic Property
Education & Ancestors
Local & State Records
Genealogy Websites
Military Records

Visit the schedule page for details and registration.

I have not taken one of these classes myself, but I know several people who have and they all come back raving about the experience due to the small class size.  They all say it is well worth the short trip to Tarboro on a Saturday morning!

Learning Opportunity - Senior TechEd Winter 2019 Schedule

Education is the gift that keep on giving. Take advantage of the winter listings from Senior TechEd for yourself or someone on your gift list.

View the Senior TechEd Schedule here.

Highlights this season include a series of lessons on working with Ancestry.com. The series is offered twice, in January and again in February.

Also MS Excel 1&2 - We use spreadsheets for everything from name disambiguation and timelines to DNA sorting and match correspondence. This time will be well spent.

Other topics of interest:

Windows Backup

File Explorer

Cloud Computing

Google Photos

Android Smartphone Apps

IOS, Ipad, and Iphone

Much more... Take a look.


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Wake Research Trip

Plan a Research Trip to Wake County

Reprinted from the Spring 2018 Issue of Wake Genealogy Watch - the newsletter of WCGS:

I was asked by someone living remotely for advice in planning a genealogy research trip to Wake county. I thought my resulting notes might be helpful to others. Please note that all blue text is a working hyperlink, valid as of  2-9-2018. Special thanks to Barb, Ann, and John for their suggestions. - CD

When planning a Wake County research trip, your top 3 must-visit destinations are:

 • Olivia Raney Local History Library

This is the repository for all things historic pertaining to Wake county. Contact the  research librarians via ORL email, for specific sources that would be useful for your research. Check out their online Collections page.  And the Local History Information Guide.
**Note: ORL is expected to open sometime mid 2021 post renovation and post covid. Access will be by appointment in the beginning.**

• The State Archives of North Carolina 
Next stop is a twofer! Visit 109 E. Jones St. in downtown Raleigh to visit both NC Archives and the Government and Heritage Library.  Before you travel, visit both websites to plan your research strategies.

Check the Researchers page at the Archives for records you might find useful.  You just never know what you will find - diaries, ledgers, photos, family papers.

Visit the G&H Library page for a whole host of services and research guides that can help you fine tune your goals.

 • The Wake County Justice Center 
at 301 McDowell St. houses land, marriage, and probate records. (Check the website before going for restrictions on what you can carry in.) Visit the Register of Deeds for marriage and land records.  Visit the Clerk of Superior Court for probate records.

If time and travel allow:
UNC Southern History Collection (located in Chapel Hill if travel permits)- Browse or search the collection in advance or contact for guidance.

Search online pre- and post-trip:

These sources are online and can be accessed as needed:

NC Land Grants - can be searched online. Searchable data plus 160,000 images for 216,000 land grants issued by the State of North Carolina from 1663 to 1960.

Wake Treasures Journal (WCGS publication) - over 20 years' worth of transcribed data available to WCGS members - While this requires a WCGS membership to access online, the sheer volume of local, original sources, not accessible elsewhere, makes your membership worthwhile. Here are examples of Wake County material which has been abstracted/transcribed and published in the journal.

- Bastardy Bonds (1772-1937) - Divorce Record (A-Z)

- Levy Dockets (1805-1815) - School Census (1897)

- Tax Records - Poor House Records

- Apprentice Records - Court Minutes

- Military Records - Newspaper Articles

- Deed Book R ... and much more! 

Free to view index is here.

Location based research - These may point you in some direction that I have not mentioned here.

· Family Search Wake County Wiki

· Cyndi’s List Wake County

I planned a similar trip two years ago to a family spot in Louisiana. The pre-planning was daunting, but the trip was so much fun and the findings so rewarding that it is worth all the effort. I wish you the best of luck in your family hunting.

Do you have other favorite places to visit for research locally? Share with us. Send them toNewsletter@wakecogen.org

Event: Dec 6, Granville County Gen Society - "America's First Thanksgiving"

Time sensitive - happens Dec. 6

We just received this event notice to the WCGS inbox:

Message from Granville County Genealogical Society 1746, Inc.

The program for the December 6, 2018 meeting of the Granville County Genealogical Society will be presented by Mrs. Velvet Woodlief, GCGS member.

Velvet will present a program on Capt. John Woodlief, and his landing at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia on December 4, 1619. "America's first Thanksgiving". Upon landing on the shores of the James River, Virginia, he carried out the first of his orders and instructions from Sir William Throckmorton, knight and baronet, Richard Bearkley, Esq, George Thorpe, Esq, and John Smyth, Gent., who commissioned the voyage. "Wee ordaine that the day of our ship's arrivall at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perputualy keept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almight God".

Edward Woodlief, one of our society's members, and other Woodliefs from Granville, Vance and Franklin Counties, along with the help of late Pearl Woodlief Blackley (Vance County) and from Woodliefs across the United States worked to get the recognition for the First Thanksgiving in America established. In 1956, a memorial was built on the shore of the James River at Berkeley Plantation honoring Capt. John Woodlief. On the plaque to Capt. John Woodlief, there are more Woodliefs from North Carolina than any other state. That same year and each year since, Woodlief descendants are sent a special invitation and a reception is held for them prior to the re-enactment of the landing of Capt. John Woodlief. Other spellings of the surname are Woodliffe, Woodliff, Woodlase and Woodlief. Edward Woodlief can trace his ancestry to this Capt. John Woodlief.

A celebration of this event is held the first Sunday in November of each year (moved from the first Sunday in December for more favorable weather). Next year will mark the 400th anniversary of the landing and the guest speakers will be Charles Berkeley, owner of Berkeley Castle in England and the former Virginia Gov. Gerald Baliles. The Godspeed sailing ship from Jamestown will be anchored offshore.

Please join members of the Granville County Genealogical Society in attending this meeting, to be held at 6:30 P.M. on December 6, 2018 in the conference room at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, N.C. All GCGS meetings are open to the public, and visitors and guests are always cordially invited to attend.

All GCGS meetings are open to the public and guests are cordially invited to attend.

Web site address:

http://www.gcgs.org

Mailing address:
GCGS 1746, Inc.
PO Box 1746
Oxford, NC 27565-1746

Volunteer Request - Seeking Narrative Stories for Wake Treasures

Request from Wake Treasures quarterly journal editor, Diane L. Richard: 

Going forward, we would love to include more narrative pieces in the pages of the Wake Treasures Journal – case studies, family stories, short memory pieces of life back when, etc. Stories don’t need to be long or involved. They can be stories about family, about communities, about activities (church, sports, service organizations, scouts, schools, businesses, and so on), buildings and landmarks that existed and no longer do so, and the list is endless. Any bit of Wake County history involves people … History is invaluable to our genealogical research and our search into family histories provides value and context to history. 

Do you live in Wake County and like me don’t have family here? 

We all live and/or drive by places where history happened – let’s learn more about this history or share what we already do know! No Wake County ancestry is needed for these types of contributions. Please consider how you might help share our “collective” history, family lore and more via the journal. 

Thanks! - Diane, journal@wakecogen.org

Reciprocal Journals in the WCGS File at Olivia Raney Local History Library

Did you know that there is a selection of genealogical and historical journals from around the state available in the WCGS files at Olivia Raney Family History Library?

We previously featured our Reciprocal Journals program (shared from other counties and regions of NC) in the Fall 2018 issue of WGW. We wanted to bring this content out of the stacks so people could have an idea what was available (from your favorite comfy chair no less).

You can keep tabs on the latest additions to our collection by visiting our Journals photo album at the WCGS Facebook page. This is a great opportunity to keep up with your research in other parts of the state. If you see a journal topic you want to check out, visit Olivia Raney Library to view these issues and more that we have in our collection. Just ask at the front desk. Sign their visitor book while you are there. We like to help ORL for all they do to help us!

Special thanks to WCGS Corresponding Secretary, Linda Hames for keeping this journal project moving along. I can always count on her to send me the contents page from the journals as they arrive in our P. O. Box.

Here is a preview of what we have on file:

source

Visit Journals at WCGS Facebook page.

Return to WCGS website.

Online Learning Opportunities

Updated to add the Utah Genealogical Society DNA SIG. They have some great webinars up thru the end of 2019 including a virtual conference on Sept 24, 2019. Most are free with preregistration.

Stay educated and entertained with these great webinar offerings. Most are free. Visit individual sites for details! Thanks to Barbara McGeachy for curating this list for us!

   Legacy Family Tree Webinars - most are free for seven days after broadcast.

   Southern California Genealogical Society

   Florida State Genealogical Society

   Illinois State Genealogical Society  

   Georgia Genealogical Society

   North Carolina Genealogical Society

   Wisconsin Genealogical Society

   Utah Genealogical Society
   Utah Genealogical Society - DNA Special Interest Group

   Minnesota Genealogical Society

  Association of Professional Genealogists

  Ancestry on YouTube

  NC State Archives on YouTube

  US National Archive on YouTube

  Dear Myrtle’s Webinar Calendar

Return to WakeCoGen Website.

WW1 Research Opportunities

This is the weekend to research your WW1 ancestors! Free search opportunities: 

Family Search New WW1 records

Find My Past

WW1 Burial Cards @ NARA - new resource.

Happy Ancestor Hunting.

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See all WCGS blog posts here

WCGS Trifecta at NCGS

Wake County Genealogical Society is the proud recipient of three awards from the North Carolina Genealogical Society at its October 27, 2018  Conference and Meeting.

 

Awards are as follows (left to right in photo):

-Excellence in Periodical Publishing-Journal:  "Wake Treasures,"   editor Diane L. Richard.

-Excellence in Periodical Publishing-Newsletter: "Wake Genealogy Watch,"  editor Cyndi Deal.

-Excellence in Web Presence-WCGS website: webmaster Cynthia Gage.
 

Photo - Steve Deal

A full description of the categories and winners can be viewed on the NCGS website.

 

Congratulations to WCGS. Thanks and appreciation to the winners. We are indebted to them and their teams for the hours of hard work and dedication to produce a quality product on an consistent basis. This speaks well for our society as a whole.  

 

Way to go Team Wake!!

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Upchurch and Allied Families Update

Upchurch and Allied Families Newsletter for Fall 2018 is here for your viewing.

Message from WCGS member, Judy Rysdon:

Do you have roots or a strong interest in Wake County?

Allied Families are families who are from Wake and surrounding counties who have lived here, intermarried and interacted here for generations. Phil Upchurch has been collecting information on these families for 60 years or more.

He opened an office in Cary for the purpose of preserving this information on websites and on Ancestry Trees in 2016. We have been meeting there on Thursdays from 2-4, and beginning on October 6, 2018 we will also be meeting on Saturday afternoons from 2-4. In addition to digitizing Phil's collection, we will copy photos brought to us and we can't help sharing stories as we work. Drop by and see if this is your cup of tea. Or just share a cup and a story with us. Check us out at http://www.alliedfamilies.com/ and http://www.upchurchstory.com/

 

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