Gedmatch - not sure what use it is!

[Nanna52]

Dave, just to clarify, I tested on Ancestry and downloaded my results and uploaded them to Gedmatch.  They are now on both sites.  It's not too hard to do and they give clear instructions.

[Old Bristolian]

I, too have been disappointed by the lack of contact from Gedmatch users. I will say that I've had better response from the people I have contacted myself than with any other source - all but two have replied to me, whereas I've had no response from FT DNA, My Heritage users and 50/50 from Ancestry (I've no matches at all on Livingdna!). I assumed that those who bothered to upload to Gedmatch, presumably interested family history researchers, would without fail, upload a Gedcom as well, otherwise what is the point? I cannot understand the vast list of "matches" I have with no tree at all - there is nothing to filter all the thousands on my match list. Having said all that, I do suffer from a paucity of matches - only one better than a possible 4th cousin - and he is adopted, so another barrier!

Steve

[strayer]

Thanks for your help, Martin, Ruskie & Nana.
I will be definitely uploading to Gedmatch.

Dave

[DavidG02]

I used the gedmatch site to gather those Ancestry testers

I have had some matches and sent emails off confirming links and paper trails. Thats been a boon. And yes some dont respond. But thats also ok

I dont expect miracles so I dont look for them. Just an opportunity to get MY kits out to as many people as possible . If they wish to contact then thats great. If I see somebody I think is a close match then I contact them seeking confirmation

Like most the smaller more distant matches I leave be unless again there is a name match

[Salty]

I can empathise with a few on here. I come from a long line of No Dads in all of my families. Which does cause problems.

I also have long lists of people who share my DNA without putting a family tree on. I really do not understand someone who would do that.

The main one for me was with a family connection that proved where my fathers family came from in Essex when his g grandfather had lived in Kent for most of his life. Just one of my No Dad lines. Because of the DNA I have now proved what took an awful long time and a lot of work..

Of the few who have put trees on, very, very few have any matching names, but the most frequent one is Smith. lol

I have only had contact with about six people, most have been helpful. I have tried contacting others who I can see a possible connection to, but have not had any replies.

Very frustrating.

[Nanna52]

I find that there are many with three people on the tree.  Private, private and, you guessed it, private.  Many come from my most recent 'no dad' line (from shared matches) and often they are from a no dad line too or know a name but nothing else.   Grrrr