Starting out

[Dave70]

I am new to the board, Hi all.
So I have finally decided I want to try and learn about my paternal side of the family I have joined AncesteryDNA and am currently waiting for the dna kit. My problem is I am struggling to find information from my family, I only know a rough (possibly correct) name of my father - although I do know that he/or his father was a landlord of a pub in Leeds UK, are there any historical records that I could search of pub landlords?
The pub itself is no longer standing.

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

Welcome to Rootschat
I wouldn't be too concerned about licence transfers and publicans initially and concentrate on the DNA results to narrow down and hopefully identify your paternal side. If you haven't really seen or used DNA results before it can be a bit daunting, getting to grips with the basic techniques (such as grouping matches), will be far more useful at the outset.
There's a lot of information in the dna board here and on other forums as well as options for search angels through the DNA Family Finders UK group on fb but a good general understanding of the techniques is always useful and allows you to work on your tree yourself whenever you wish.

[Jackiemh]

Welcome to Rootshcat.
Rootschatters are a helpful bunch and are willing to help with advice.
I hope that you are not relying on the dna kit to answer your questions. The paper trail is important as it gives you names and dates etc.
Good luck with your search.
Jackie
PS I took a dna test to see if it could help with some brickwalls - it didn't; so I got my children to do one, but the brickwalls are still standing.

[Biggles50]

Welcome.

If you read through this thread it will help.

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=863488.0

DNA is a mammoth subject in itself and often it can be a waiting game before brickwalls can be solved but alas not all can, that in itself is not a limitation of the DNA process it is the lack of applicable “relations” taking a DNA test themselves and posting useful information about themselves.

I took my DNA test in 2017 and had a closeish DNA match who shares 110cM with me and it was only in 2024 that another person who tested and was shared between the three of us that I could ID positively my 110cM match.

Additionally last year I met my Half Sister for the first time, DNA proved our relationship with each other.

Have patience and learn, it is fascinating.

[Dave70]

Welcome to Rootschat
I wouldn't be too concerned about licence transfers and publicans initially and concentrate on the DNA results to narrow down and hopefully identify your paternal side. If you haven't really seen or used DNA results before it can be a bit daunting, getting to grips with the basic techniques (such as grouping matches), will be far more useful at the outset.
There's a lot of information in the dna board here and on other forums as well as options for search angels through the DNA Family Finders UK group on fb but a good general understanding of the techniques is always useful and allows you to work on your tree yourself whenever you wish.

Still waiting for the actual DNA kit to arrive, I am reading up on it quite a bit to try and get some understanding of the process. Thanks for the FB group suggestion.

[Dave70]

Welcome to Rootshcat.
Rootschatters are a helpful bunch and are willing to help with advice.
I hope that you are not relying on the dna kit to answer your questions. The paper trail is important as it gives you names and dates etc.
Good luck with your search.
Jackie
PS I took a dna test to see if it could help with some brickwalls - it didn't; so I got my children to do one, but the brickwalls are still standing.

The problem I have is there is no paper trail, just a rough name, with a possible name of the dads father. So even starting out I am faced with a huge brickwall.

[Pheno]

Hi, Is your father named on your full birth certificate.  If so that could start you off and you might be able to find his birth details.

Pheno

[Dave70]

Hi, Is your father named on your full birth certificate.  If so that could start you off and you might be able to find his birth details.

Pheno

Sadly no he's not on the birth certificate, the only info I have on him (which possibly isnt even the truth) is that he was called Stewart/ Stuart Fry and his dad (Bill Fry) was a pub landlord in the 1970s.

[Biggles50]

Taking a DNA yourself is the only way that you can be sure of your Parentage.

As you have an idea of who your Father was then a logical way forward would be to trace his lineage and try to identify if you have a half sibling or half siblings, as I stated in my last post, this has worked for me.

If you find any half siblings do approach them and eventually ask if they would be willing to take a DNA test.  If successful they are likely to share about 1800 cM with you.

If you cannot find any offspring of his or if they refuse to take a DNA test then look at his siblings and their children, or cousins of his who share the same Grandfather as you are likely to share.

Build a separate tree for your likely Father.

Birth Certificates can be falsified, my own has a Father listed but he was not my Biological Father.