Ancestral links reliability from DNA test

[Stewart R]

I know that the "Potential" parent link on Ancestry can be somewhat unreliable due to it tending to rely on other contributors accuracy. However i was wondering how reliable DNA links that are given on ancestry really are. Having recently had my results i have received a few links including one apparently tracing a family line back to a Lord in the 1500's.
Just wondering what peoples thoughts where on this.

[David Nicoll]

Hi,

   The matches are likely to be accurate if they ore in the 4th to 5th cousin range and possibly beyond.
   However the trees people build which Ancestry generate may not be, it is up to you to prove those trees correct.
   If you are talking about Thrulines, it can provide useful pointers but again needs proving. Ancestry’s “AI” makes some amazing jumps and tries to force things.
   I have some matches I am happy are real, but must be one or two generations earlier if you actually build a tree.

[Stewart R]

thankyou for your insight David,....interesting

[Zaphod99]

Just remember that one illicit relationship producing a child makes a mockery of your family tree research.

Zaph

[Stewart R]

....... indeed, Zaph. and i reckon even more likely the closer you get to so called nobility.

Stewart

[Biggles50]

DNA does not lie, the caveat being as long as ones DNA Match shares a reasonable amount of cM with you.

The lower the shared cM the more thorough has to be ones research approach, and anything shared at 10 cM and below can be very dubious as to the accuracy.

Personally I rarely research a DNA Match where we share less than 20cM, unless there is other supporting information such as mutually shared DNA Matches which share a higher level cM with me.

Thrulines, if that is was you are actually referring to can be very accurate or extremely inaccurate and every position in between.

What you also get in the lines of the nobility is Pedigree Collapse, this is well beyond the scope of DNA related Genealogy but in my Wife’s tree one line splits and each of the three split lines goes back to three Brothers in the Stanley family (Knowsley Hall near Liverpool is their ancestral hone) so each of the three Brothers is her xGGF and xGU.

As Zaphod states ….one illicit relationship etc

Yep, that is me, 20 years of Paternal research and the line is not my Biological Family.

[Stewart R]

Thankyou for your informative reply, "Biggles50" I've only just got my DNA results back so still feeling my way around them. I think it all boils down to good old fashioned research, but DNA results at least give an informative nudge in what particular direction to head in.

Your last comment was interesting as i had a similar scenario as a result of an "illicit encounter" happily for me it was resolved favourably.

Stewart

[coombs]

I believe my uncle born Sep 1944 is an NPE, my nan married grandad in April 1944 but he was away in the army in the Royal Armoured Corps, but he had known nan since about 1940. Uncle was always taller, and had a darker complexion than the younger 3 and rumours have spread in the family since uncle was born.

[Norfolk Nan]

I've got a 10cM match that has no shared matches so normally I'd ignore it. Butt came up on Thrulines so I took a look and checked all the generations and validated everything! I have other, slightly smaller matches in well populated and matched family lines but this one is unique as it 'proves' a connection to a branch that has absolutely no other matches.  One day someone else will come forward, I hope, to reinforce the connection.

As far as those trees with thousands of illustrious ancestors (I have one with Alfred the Great!), call me a sceptic...