Thomas Graham, Graham orphanage London? Illegitimate son of Colin Campbell? 1897

[gtoal]

You say you 100s of DNA matches to sort thru
But there are ways of narrowing down search parameters using the filters
For example  use location search + colour code all matches with London connection
You can also have a colour code for particular surnames found on trees
The option of tree owners surname can be useful
But I prefer surname found on tree
Look at tree of highest match + try the filter search with surnames of each of their great grandparents
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=862688.0

I'm often finding new features at Ancestry.com that I wasn't aware of, so I'm not going to say that doing the above is impossible, but I have no idea how to do it yet.  There's 10,000+ DNA matches, but less than 200 show up on the map.  I don't see any way to search by location of people in the tree of those matches.  The only search by name is a blanket search of a given surname against anyone in the tree of a DNA match or against the surname of a DNA match themselves.

Something complex like finding a DNA match to someone who has a great-anything grandparent who lived or was born/died in a specific town seems impossible.  I think Ancestry would have to allow direct access to SQL queries to do that, but as far as I can see there's no API for the public.  (I programmed SQL databases for about 3 years.  I'ld be able to use direct access if it were available.)

And repeatedly the most interesting possible links turn out to be behind private trees, and our success rate at asking for access has been dismal. We've made ours open but people seem unwilling to reciprocate.

I'ld love to try the things you're suggesting but either you're used to a different DNA service with more useful search options, or more likely, my difficulties are because I still have a long way to go to learn the tricks to use Ancestry's one because they're not obvious to me -  for instance, I did just in the last 10 minutes discover the "Shared Matches" tool and that has opened up the possibility of a whole lot of new insights.  So I'm getting there slowly...

G

[brigidmac]

I added a link after posting my reply
I hope you find it useful

Have you looked at your ethnicity breakdown on both parents side
+ Compared with DNA matches .

For example if you have a significant amount of Welsh or if you have a small percentage of an unexpected ethnicity
Norwegian Swedish are common finds

[brigidmac]

When you look at your DNA matches choose the middle option view matches

(Not the location option )
Then choose the parental side you wish to view parent 1 or parent 2 which you need to label yourself as fathers side or mother side

After choosing parent you have to choose view matches again

In the top right press the magnifying 🔎
It will give you 3 choices

Surname of matches

Surnames in matches tree

Birth Location


Only fill one section in for each search

Don't use the alternative spelling option

Look at your highest match first
If they have a closed tree you could try putting their surname in the middle section and see if you have other matches with that surname

When you click on a shared matches profile you have 3 options
To look at their tree
Compare your ethnicity
Look at your  mutual matches

So you could add a colour dot to all the people who match your top match.

There are images on the link I sent about colour coding

Good luck let me know if you work it out or if you can't

Tips : *

Only fill in one section at a time

After selecting your search name or place Press the blue search bottom underneath
+ NOT  the 🔍 again ( which will clear your s reen for a new search ).
That's a mistake I often make 😆 😂

[heywood]

This is useful too
https://www.yourdnaguide.com/leeds-method

[brigidmac]

Ethnicity comparison is often neglected but in your case could be very useful

How does your ethnicity divide between parent 1+ 2

Are you half Scottish like me ? My late aunt was over 90percent Scottish
If I find  a DNA match to her with less than 25percent Scottish I can see if I can identify any  Scottish line on their tree via great grandparents + look into their shared matches

[gtoal]

Thanks all. 4 am here. Will try your suggestions tomorrow.  Goodnight all.

[heywood]

Stick to ‘4th cousins or closer’ and then shared matches. Try a chart as advised.
Sweet dreams 

[gtoal]

Back again, we've been busy for a couple of days.  Here's the big news: we found and got a copy of the official birth registration, and it pretty much confirms that we're on the right track.  We have the definitive birth date of 2 Feb 1891 in (St) Pancras workhouse, and the new information of the mother, Louisa Harris, being "a domestic servant of 111 Kings Cross Rd, (St) Pancras."  My grandfather name is given as "Thomas" with no father's name being present.  I realise that the probability of an unmarried mother being a domestic servant is relatively high but I don't think it's a Type I error to see the listed occupation as evidence contributing to confirmation of the oral family history.
 
Unfortunately no D.O.B. given for Louisa Harris but we'll get there eventually, perhaps with the DNA help.

The birth date suggests a conception date late April/early May 1890.

[jonwarrn]

Re the St. Pancras workhouse birth
Louisa's approximate age - given as a year of birth - is in the creed register

There are a few other births in St. Pancras workhouse to a Louisa Harris or more than one Louisa Harris (Harris is a common name)

I think a problem might still be the February birth date
Could Thomas Graham have been in Scotland in the 1911 census? Possibly not so easy to work that out from the very limited info available in the only index (on SP)