DNA

[Fern49]

It depends how far you've gone back on each line - if you've gone back (say) 7 generations on each of your 128 lines then you're not going to make any surprising discoveries. But if your great-great grandfather was out in India, and there's a rumour that his wife (your great-great grandmother) was partly Indian, then this might well show up.

I have gone back 7 generations in a few cases, interestingly you mention India. My g/g/grandfather served in the West Indies, where 2 of their family were born, Ann (wife) remarried in 1848 in England. I have sent away for the marriage certificate of the 2nd marriage from GRO hoping it will tell me whether she was a widow at the time of the marriage or ? that was a month ago, unfortunately GRO wouldn't email it, I have emailed them as to when it was posted, but no reply. Very frustrating.

 

[B C Chris]

I have finally figured out how to use the forum for writing about the newsletter. I read with interest the articles that you had links to about DNA testing. I had chosen to go to the one by National Geographic because I wanted to know more about ethnicity in case my research which all leads to UK was somehow wrong. As a female I am not likely to find a direct male line and I have no male cousins with my maiden name except a second cousin that I know about. Unfortunately DNA testing in different countries is sometimes restricted due to what you put in the mail. A friend has tried several different DNA tests with some members of her family but has yet to find anything significant.

 

[peter]

I wanted to know more about ethnicity

At the moment tests of ethnicity give questionable results, especially if your ancestors are European.

As a female I am not likely to find a direct male line and I have no male cousins with my maiden name except a second cousin

You only need one cousin to test.

Unfortunately DNA testing in different countries is sometimes restricted due to what you put in the mail

Just ignore the restrictions if you're sending a cheek swab or saliva sample. Every time you lick a stamp you're sending a sample of your saliva!

A friend has tried several different DNA tests with some members of her family but has yet to find anything significant.

It would be useful to know which tests they took, and why they took them. Sometimes people don't take the right tests, and sometimes they don't test the right people.