Is a DNA test really worthwhile ?

[phil57]

I probably explained that poorly Phil. 

What I was trying to say is that my father has some dna matches which I do not have, so as you say, that segment of dna did not pass on to me.

It could be that the OP has a similar situation on his father’s side, which may explain the lack of matches. 

Hi Ruskie, I thought that was probably what you meant

I agree with the variances in matches across different ancestral lines. I have found matches on my maternal GM's line are consistently stronger to me for given relationships than on most of my other lines. Her mother was one of 6 wives of her husband (she died following complications in the birth of my GM) and I have tens of really quite strong matches to half cousins of varying degrees of separation in the UK, US and Australia. So I must have inherited relatively large amounts of DNA from her father. Matches on other family lines for similar degrees of separation are consistently shorter.

At the other extreme, on my paternal GGM's line, I have no matches at all to anyone on the direct line of her family name (her father's line) but I do have quite a few matches to descendants of her mother's ancestors and some to relatives of women who married into her father's ancestral line, which nevertheless support my research.

[Rosinish]

How many siblings did your g/father have?

If he was an only child then you're looking at lower cM matches from descendants of 1 or more generations further back.

Annie

[coombs]

People are quick to assume the worst and cry out "NPE. NPE." in absence of DNA, but I was told by an expert that it is often that no one else has tested yet, or that you may not have inherited that person's DNA. They added that DNA that is there that shouldn't be is indication of an NPE.

See my reply #8...

"My brother & I have both had our DNA done, he used 23&me, I used Ancestry & neither of us have any close matches with our maternal side.

This tells me my maternal side don't seem to be interested in their Genealogy or she wasn't our mother"

We have numerous matches who could be our maternal line but those matches have no other shared matches with us.

Can you please ask your 'expert' how we define whether those matches could be...
"DNA that is there that shouldn't be"?

Basically, ask your 'expert' to explain to us novices, how can we tell whether a DNA link shouldn't be there unless we were dealing with very recent family e.g. siblings/cousins/aunts/uncles which I'm sure we'd all be able to see wasn't right?

I'm sure we're all interested in how to tell if more distant matches are likely to be 'NPE'?

Annie

Perhaps speak to him if ever you come across him, I am simply relaying what he said.

[Maiden Stone]

       This man died when My father was 4 yr old and had never married my grandmother. It appears 'Grannie' was a prostitute in the late 1800's and had at least 4 children before living with 'Grandpa'.
       

How are you defining prostitute? Have you found written evidence ?
When "in the late 1800s" was she apparently a prostitute? When were the children born?
A woman could be unjustly/incorrectly labelled prostitute depending on laws in force at the time. A woman who had no husband around and who had more than 1 pregnancy outside marriage risked acquiring the label. Living near a military barracks increased the risk of a woman being arrested for the offence.
Some single women resorted to prostitution when they couldn't make a living doing other work or in times of unemployment. A widow or separated wife might, if she didn't have enough money to support herself & children.
There were many changes to family law throughout 19th & 20th centuries. Some, on marriage, separation, children, maintenance and divorce, led to improvements in women's lives.

[Zaphod99]

On the original subject,

Genealogical Proof Standard.  It has five elements:  one is 'reasonably exhaustive research' .

Surely you can't exclude DNA.

Zaph

[majm]

On the original subject,

Genealogical Proof Standard.  It has five elements:  one is 'reasonably exhaustive research' .

Surely you can't exclude DNA.

Zaph

The GPS is ONLY a guideline,  and none of those five elements makes mention of DNA. 

Please be aware that genealogical societies around the world can establish their own rules, guidelines, practices, by-laws and can amend, change, alter, delete, add, to their own standards as they progress their aims, objectives etc.

GPS is not the peak recognised authority and many 'genie  groups'  shrug it off because it is 'ARH-MERH-RICK-EN'.

😎😎😎😎🙄🙄🙄🤔🤔🤔

JM.

[PommieG]

On the original subject,

Genealogical Proof Standard.  It has five elements:  one is 'reasonably exhaustive research' .

Surely you can't exclude DNA.

Zaph

The GPS is ONLY a guideline,  and none of those five elements makes mention of DNA. 

Please be aware that genealogical societies around the world can establish their own rules, guidelines, practices, by-laws and can amend, change, alter, delete, add, to their own standards as they progress their aims, objectives etc.

GPS is not the peak recognised authority and many 'genie  groups'  shrug it off because it is 'ARH-MERH-RICK-EN'.

😎😎😎😎🙄🙄🙄🤔🤔🤔

JM.

I don't exclude DNA but it only connects to living relatives.

[Guy Etchells]

 I don't exclude DNA but it only connects to living relatives.

What makes you think that?
There are reservoirs of potential DNA samples of deceased relatives in many if not most homes.
These come in the form of the seals on envelopes etc. which an ancestor will/may have licked.
I have many letters my mum posted in the 1970s & 80s which will/may contain her DNA, such samples would be very handy to me as although I carry about half of her DNA I also carry half of my dad's. A sample from mum would help to distinguish which comes from my mum and which from my dad.

That in turn would/may help when future matches occur where the ancestry of the person is unknown.
Another clue in unravelling family history.
Cheers
Guy

[PommieG]

 I don't exclude DNA but it only connects to living relatives.

What makes you think that?
There are reservoirs of potential DNA samples of deceased relatives in many if not most homes.
These come in the form of the seals on envelopes etc. which an ancestor will/may have licked.
I have many letters my mum posted in the 1970s & 80s which will/may contain her DNA, such samples would be very handy to me as although I carry about half of her DNA I also carry half of my dad's. A sample from mum would help to distinguish which comes from my mum and which from my dad.

That in turn would/may help when future matches occur where the ancestry of the person is unknown.
Another clue in unravelling family history.
Cheers
Guy

Not in my home