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General => Ancestral Family Tree DNA Testing => Topic started by: Seesure on Tuesday 31 March 20 11:03 BST (UK)
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It amazes me how many people take the test and that's it, they appear not to want to learn or reach out when they get matches...
Over on Myheritage I have 5 interesting matches...
226.9cm over 9 segments (UK based)
87.4cm over 4 segments (US based)
86.7cm over 3 segments (US based)
78.2cm over 4 segments (US based)
68.4cm over 6 segments (UK based)
I've messaged everyone of these people but nothing back at all... the first person above, I've even created a tree to try and work out the relationship but there is nothing obvious .... so I'm guessing there's another black sheep kicking around as it were... all I can find is that this person has 4 relations buried in the cemetery that was 5 minutes walk from the house I first remember as a child... Also I know which side of the family the link is as they also had a match with a first cousin of mine on my maternal side.
On Ancestry I had a match of 398cm over 20 segments and all that person did was confirm they'd seen the match and that he wasn't prepared to share any details of the family who we have just found... suffice to say I'd imagine there must be at least 50-60 cousins of various degrees based on our common ancestor's prolific child producing capability... enough for a football with subs !!!! Thankfully his tree was public but with relatives still alive their identities are masked.
It's just so frustrating trying to unlock the questions..... :-\
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There have been a number of threads on this subject over time. It is incredibly frustrating, but I guess each to their own :(
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Some people only want to find out what their nationality ancestry is, without realising that this function is pretty much useless because it differs between sites and even changes within a site as well. I think others get kits from family members or get badgered into it.
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Seesure,
I feel your frustration but would say stick with it as in time some of the matches do pay dividends. For example I had a match of 200+cm on Gedmatch a few years back. I tried drawing up potential trees for the match but got nowhere. Fast forward a couple of years and I uploaded to MyHeritage and lo and behold the owner of the 200+cm match contacted me and we worked out where the connection was. The reason why I had not previously been able to identify it was because of an unknown to me second marriage.
So I would say stick with it just don't expect quick results.
Good luck
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I've not had such high cM matches as that, but a couple of mine which are above 100cM should be traceable you'd think.
I am in touch with all of these - though only one or two are interested in FH research - but if it's any consolation to you, we STILL haven't found where the link is.
So the fact that people don't reply may not be the issue - it's the unexpected difficulty of finding the link. I'd never thought it'd be so hard ??? ::) :-\
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Also some people do tests to help a benefit a relative then don't bother to look .it helps if the relative manages their account then you can message that person
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Frustrating though it may be for those of us using DNA as a research tool we have to accept that nobody is under any obligation to respond to our approaches.
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I'd add to the 'never give up' brigade, except when I finally got a reply from someone I'd messaged over 18 months previously, it was only for him to say that he'd get back to me. So far, he hasn't!!
I was actually starting to wonder if Ancestry has gone into lockdown as well! I expected quite a few matches to come to the surface around end of Jan/ beginning of Feb after the supposed Christmas rush on testing kits. I think I got 3 new matches round about then - none had a tree. Since then, nothing.
Do you think the DNA bubble has burst and all the people who were interested have already done it?
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Perhaps situation with Coronavirus is slowing up test results. I manage 3 kits and usually get probably between 5-15 every day for each. However, the last 10 days or so we are down to a trickle-some days none and today 1 for each. I do know that over a week ago another person managing kits for themselves, mother & son have uploaded their DNA results but no sign of them yet (we know from another site all three have matches with one of my kits which may sort out where a lot of matches come from).
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When I first started work on my tree using Ancestry the hints I would often led my to trees that had errors in them, due I suspect to their owners just copying from others. I tried to contact the tree owners and offered proof so they could correct the errors and only heard back from three. I would periodically check to see if the others had been logged in and when I found they had I stopped telling people about the errors. There is a bright side though, I am still in touch with two of the owners who turned out to be 3rd cousins of mine, none of us knew the other existed.
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Perhaps situation with Coronavirus is slowing up test results. I manage 3 kits and usually get probably between 5-15 every day for each. However, the last 10 days or so we are down to a trickle-some days none and today 1 for each. I do know that over a week ago another person managing kits for themselves, mother & son have uploaded their DNA results but no sign of them yet (we know from another site all three have matches with one of my kits which may sort out where a lot of matches come from).
That's interesting, aghadowey. When you say you usually get 5-15 new matches every day, do you mean those over 20 cMs (4th-6th gen) or all told? If the former, please can I change ancestors with you? 8) I'm lucky if I get 15 a year.
It does seem as if things have slowed down at Ancestry HQ, doesn't it?
I also have half a dozen wills that have been on order from the Borthwick Institute for nearly 2 months now. I suppose they must be on shutdown too. Ditto with an order for a booklet of nonconformist baptisms from the Huddersfield FHS. Still...I've got plenty of chocolate in the cupboard, so nil desperandum! ;)
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jillruss The Borthwick Institute informed me on 18th Mar that they would be unable to fulfil any orders until further notice and offered me my money back having only accepted my order the day before. The said people could following their Twitter account for updates.
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I'm not on social media! I'll just wait until they're back up and running again.
Strange they never informed me though. They'd probably already banked my money as it would have been February when I ordered the wills.
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You don't need an account just go to https://twitter.com/UoYBorthwick?
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Perhaps situation with Coronavirus is slowing up test results. I manage 3 kits and usually get probably between 5-15 every day for each. However, the last 10 days or so we are down to a trickle-some days none and today 1 for each. I do know that over a week ago another person managing kits for themselves, mother & son have uploaded their DNA results but no sign of them yet (we know from another site all three have matches with one of my kits which may sort out where a lot of matches come from).
That's interesting, aghadowey. When you say you usually get 5-15 new matches every day, do you mean those over 20 cMs (4th-6th gen) or all told? If the former, please can I change ancestors with you? 8) I'm lucky if I get 15 a year.
I was going to ask the same question. I've got 153 new 4th or closer in two years.
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Goodness can I swap kits with both of you???
To give you an idea of what chaos I'm trying to sort out-
KIT #1 (father's day present 2019)- has 7764 matches. We can positively identify relationship with FIVE (yes 5) of these people (3 brothers on maternal side who are 5th cousins and 2 siblings on paternal side who are 5th cousins once removed). However, there are numerous other matches with people we know personally (none of us clear how related). Highest DNA match is 105 cm (no response).
KIT #2 (September birthday present)- has 8155 matches. Parents were 2nd cousins once removed so we haven't even been able to sort out paternal & maternal relations. Related to KIT #1 and many matches are shared but since #1 has two lines from same surname can't pinpoint exact relationship. Highest match is 90 cm (suspect comes in through illegitimate child a few generations ago)
KIT #3 (mother's day present 2019)- has 5544 matches. Though this would be easiest since each grandparent has distinct origins (Ireland, Canada, Germany, U.S.). Highest match 255 cm (2nd cousin) and only 17 confirmed relationships although can figure out where others might be related. Quite a few matches with KIT #3 and even with Kit #2.
Now are you sure you want to swap with me ;D
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My highest match is 2574cM :D my sister and than two nieces and two first cousins.
What I'm finding interesting is the difference in cMs of matches between my sister and me.
I have 262 4th or closer she has 245. On one match for example she has 113cM and I have 48cM.
On my mother's side matches are generally friendly and helpful, on my father's side the complete opposite.
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My highest match is my paternal first cousin 1st–2nd Cousin
Shared DNA: 1,009 cM across 40 segment
However my wife also had her DNA done and her highest match is her identical twins son as his mother did not have it done. DNa thinks my wife is his mother.
Parent/Child
Shared DNA: 3,417 cM across 81 segments
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Thanks all for taking the time to reply, I plan to carry on doing my own research as well as I've found some really great nuggets of information but it's so bloody frustrating at times ... ;D
Also I'm getting sick of hints on Ancestry to other peoples trees where they've got the information clearly wrong....
e.g. One 3rd great grandfather in my tree was born on 1819 and his wife in 1820 .... so many other people have them having a son in 1835...whilst biologically it's possible it's highly unlikely.... from my research this particular child was actually born in 1839 and the parents got married in 1841...
Some people then for some reason seem to miss out another child in the family who is given the same name as my 3xggf, so as a result they all have him (3xggf) as living from 1819 to 1912.... which in fact 1912 was the death of jnr as evidenced by his death certificate !!
It looks very much like they've seen a hint and copied it blindly without thinking....or challenging the information.
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I may be missing out on possible links but I pretty much ignore any of Ancestry's 'suggestions' other than the 'common ancestors' one. As you say, the others seem to be full of other people's errors. Its quite soul destroying when you 'review' trees of others with a similar name as yours and notice that one of them has made an error and all the others have merely jumped on the bandwagon. Why do these people bother of they're not prepared to do things properly? I have picked up on info that I hadn't known, but I always try to check it out for myself before running with it.
Also, I do find searching for matches by surnames every few months often comes up with new info.
But, oh how I wish people would include a tree when they do a DNA test. I'm not asking for one of those with 10,000+ names - often just a few generations will do. Sometimes, you can work with one or two surnames and placenames.
I appreciate Ancestry can't strong-arm people into including a tree but surely they could require people, when registering, to say where they're from and what age range they fall into. At the moment this info is only requested and, most of the time, not completed. More than once, I've managed to find someone's link to me through their surname (assuming its not Brown or Smith!) and their location, mostly by using FreeBMD to start with.
Perhaps Ancestry would consider requiring people to fill out their personal data rather than just requesting? Its not as if its overly intrusive.
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The matches's trees that annoy me are the ones that indicate a tree and when you get there it has one member or just a few - all named as private. Surely, Ancestry could filter out such trees.
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It amazes me how many people take the test and that's it, they appear not to want to learn or reach out when they get matches...
Over on Myheritage I have 5 interesting matches...
226.9cm over 9 segments (UK based)
87.4cm over 4 segments (US based)
86.7cm over 3 segments (US based)
78.2cm over 4 segments (US based)
68.4cm over 6 segments (UK based)
A ~200 cM match is very interesting to people like us, but I get the impression a lot of people on the other side are totally non-fussed because it seems very distant to them and they're simply uninterested in helping work out the mutual connection. I also suspect there's an element of family protectivity at play and they're unwilling to investigate the possibility of any impropriety.
Another more mundane factor, imo, is just that sometimes messages don't get relayed to people properly. Email account spam filters, site bugs (Ancestry has stopped notifying me of messages via email, bizarrely), that kind of thing. Also, there is a trend with older internet users where they forget their login details and end up remaking email accounts etc, so it's possible sometimes their DNA site profiles are linked to email addresses they no longer have access to. Btw, on the latter point, I don't mean to suggest all older internet users are forgetful - but you've probably seen first hand on sites like Facebook where you see the same person with six different accounts because they remake their profile every time they log in! (Technological factors are as much at play there - added online security measures, internet browser suggested passwords, Apple keychains etc - they add to complications if you're not technically savvy). That applies in the same sort of way to other networks like Ancestry/MyHeritage.
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I have 5 2nd cousins suggested by Ancestry, but only one was known to me.
Two are connected to a cousin of my father who was adopted shortly after birth. (260 over 12 & 239 over 15) Surprise no.1
One is adopted and conected to my mothers paternal side. She had her DNA to find her father. She was successful and as her father is not in my matches then I must be connected to her mother. She wishes to remain her mothers little secret (354 over 20) . I have my ideas as to who it may be, but!
One has no tree and has not replied, but she is again on my mothers paternal side (222 over 17). I have a comprehensive tree and I cannot find her.
The fifth is also on my mothers paternal side and is known to me(2C and 7C, 245 over 17). She shares matches with my two unknowns
When my results came through 15 months ago, it was a surprise and a challenge which I am enjoying.
I have uploaded to MyHeritage. I have 2 unknowns out of my top 8. I an adopted (92 over 6) and one no reply (94 over 5). Only one of my grandparent lines has not produced a surprise.