Getting the Most Value From Genealogy Subscriptions

Note: I do not receive any compensation (affiliate or otherwise) from any of these sites. This post is simply my observations on the value of various genealogy subscriptions and ways to save money accessing subscription resources.

Subscriptions come and subscriptions go. For several years, I maintained a lot of genealogy subscriptions. Truth be told, I still have more than I need. But I get really excited when one of the sites I subscribe to rolls in a new membership benefit providing access to another site I'd otherwise have to pay to access. Each site below offers many on-site features, but this post focuses on the additional website access provided with each subscription. Prices shown are regular price. Many sites have sales throughout the year to help make subscriptions more affordable. (All prices are shown in US dollars).

Let's start with the big sites:

Most everyone knows, Ancestry.com offers several membership levels. Personally, I stick with the All Access Family Plan ($269.00 every 6 months). Not only have I been able to share the subscription with 4 others (encouraging new family historians) but I also get full access to Fold3 military records and Newspapers.com including Publishers Extra. You can find out more about the All Access Family Plan here. The value of having Fold3 and Newspapers works out to about $30 every 6 months (based on the current pricing I've found). The biggest value in this plan is the ability to share it with 4 others (and they don't need to be related to you). You can ask the others to contribute to the cost if you need to bring your price down, but this is something you coordinate yourself. You cannot split the price between members directly on the Ancestry site. 

At MyHeritage, the Omni Plan comes with access to OldNews (newspaper archive). The cost is currently $399 per year. Additionally, you receive access to GeniPro and Legacy Family Tree Webinars. On the MyHeritage site, you'll also have access to some outstanding photo and AI features at your disposal. More information on all the benefits of the Omni Plan can be found here. If you subscribed separately to all the features it would cost over $600 per year!

FindMyPast offers an Everything subscription. This includes not only all their record collections, but all the newspapers you'd have access to with a British Newspaper Archive subscription (a value of $133 per year). They also offer a 15% discount on continued subscriptions (no playing games, cancelling and resubscribing necessary). The current price is $299 per year. The 15% discount works out to about $45 per year off the annual price (so $254 as of this post). For more information on their subscriptions please click here.

And now for a few of the lesser known sites offering a good value:

A few years ago, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) added access to Newspaperarchive.com and Storied. My $85 membership to NGS (already providing many nice benefits and access to their Family Papers Collection) was expanded to save me $95 on a separate NewspaperArchive and Storied membership (based on the current pricing shown on their website). It's worth noting, while Storied does have the option for a standalone membership at $99.99 per year (for Unlimited), all the features are included in a regular NewspaperArchive subscription. The subscription to NGS literally pays for itself! For the complete list of member benefits visit this page.

One super value is AmericanAncestors. A regular price Individual Membership is $99.95 per year. In addition to their databases, you also get access to an impressive list of partner databases. For a full price membership, you can also get discounts with partner sites, including a $10 discount on a GEDmatch Tier 1 membership. But let's circle back to the partner databases for a moment. While they don't disclose the full value of all the partner databases, NewspaperArchive is $95.00/year, a New York Times subscription can run in excess of $150 per year, Genealogical Publishing Company (GPC) eBook Collection (a subscription I used to maintain) is worth $135 per year. And there are many more partner databases. Even if you only use one, you've paid for your membership. You can find out more about a membership here. While the full membership is already a great value, I don't use any of the on-site benefits or discounts on services. Last year, I considered letting this membership lapse. I received a couple of discount emails (as most sites tend to offer) but was still on the fence —until I received an email for a truly amazing deal...digital access for just $49.95 per year! This still includes all the partner databases! While they don't seem to advertise this level on their site, here's a link to the digital membership page from the email I received. If it doesn't work for you, I'd suggest reaching out to them to inquire about this membership. 

And finally, there's the Conococheague Institute. This is a "hands on regional learning center" in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. A membership is only $25 per year for an individual. The added value is in the History Commons (formerly Accessible Archives) access they provide as a membership perk, a $90 value per year. From the website, "History Commons presents a curated universe of landmark primary-source collections presented on Coherent Digital’s award-winning, next-generation platform." This is not a one-size fits all site. I needed it for some specific Pennsylvania newspapers, so it was useful to me. But if you're considering it, I'd suggest checking the site out first. For more information on joining the Conococheague Institute, visit this page.

One other resource worth noting is libraries! If you don't often access the brick and mortar building for your local library, you may be able to register for a digital card. Many libraries offer in-branch access to library editions of the big genealogy sites for free. They may also offer digital access to a wide variety of various databases and newspaper resources. And it's worth noting, if the resources at a given library outside your local area are valuable enough, you may even be able to obtain access even if you aren't a resident of the area. The cost and availability vary considerably, but depending on the materials you need, it could be an option. (If you can't find the information for out of state residents online, I'd suggest emailing or calling for more information.) Many libraries now offer some genealogy resources free on their websites. And several offer amazing on-site research areas with collections, manuscripts and other resources not available elsewhere. You can't go wrong checking out library websites for areas you're researching. Family Tree Magazine has a wonderful list of the best libraries for genealogy research. 

I've added all the links in this post to my Genealogy Toolbox (including a new section for both Books and Libraries, and expanding Articles, Tips/Tricks, Guides, to include Webinars and Videos). The cost of doing genealogy can vary greatly. If you're willing to put in the time, many records can be found for free. But sometimes we need a subscription. Finding the ones with the most bang for your buck is always a great feeling.  If you've discovered any other genealogy subscriptions with great bundled perks and membership benefits please share them!

Image by Foundry Co from Pixabay

Disclosure: I used ChatGPT to assist in titling this post, and for the search description. All content is my own.

My Complicated Relationship With AI Creations in Genealogy

Linda Stufflebean, (Empty Branches on the Family Tree) recently posted MyHeritage Introduces Family Infographics and Tribute Reels. Family Infographics uses your family tree and photos to create an AI generated piece of artwork. Tribute reels use photos to create a visual story of the subject. It was really interesting to see these new features in action! Her post got me thinking...

MyHeritage has been at the forefront when it comes to engaging users with AI features. They provide many AI-assisted tools including:

• Colorizing and enhancing photos
• Estimating dates of old photos (PhotoDater™)
• Animating photos (Deep Nostalgia™)
• Creating animated video clips from a photo (LiveMemory™)
• Transcribing and analyzing an uploaded document (Scribe AI)
• Turning a series of photos into a visual story (Tribute Reels)
• Using tree information and photos to create shareable artwork (Family Infographics)

I readily embrace using AI for many tasks:

• Formatting data just the way I like
• Newspaper or document transcriptions
• Helping me come up with a catchy title or SEO description for my posts. 
• Searching for public information on an ancestor, and providing me with research suggestions
• Double checking my blog post for grammar and punctuation

Just to be clear, I do not ask AI to create my blog content for me. While it's certainly capable of generating a post in just seconds, I prefer to do my own writing. And I never use AI as a source for facts in my tree. It's just not reliable enough yet. When it comes to genealogy, AI is no substitute for actual research. As I sit here looking over this list, I realize, most of my uses for AI are data-driven.

When it comes to photos, artwork and animations (the creative side of AI), I've steered clear of using it. I truly prefer photos as close to the originals as possible. For me, even the hue of a photo tells a story. The faded colors, speckles, spots and creases all add character. I don't really care for colorized photos (though I do understand the appeal). I've dabbled with minimal photo enhancement, but I generally stay as true to the original as I can.

When it comes to animated photos (or worse, talking animations)...well...truth be told, they creep me out more than a little. I enjoy studying the subject(s) of old photos, dissecting the minute details and shadows like a fine piece of art. But I don't enjoy those same subjects turning their heads, moving or talking to me. I'd rather let my imagination bring photos to life, much as the subjects and recipients of the originals would have done. 

For ages, family historians have shared GEDCOMs, hand typed remembrances, or even summaries created by the software and websites we choose to use. Family histories may be passed out at reunions, or even published in a tidy little book and distributed to family members. But in most cases, information provided in this manner is merely a distillation of facts (perhaps with a few photos thrown in for good measure). It does little to bring our ancestors to life. While genealogists certainly appreciate any and all details we can get our hands on, the vast majority of our family probably finds these same details boring. Younger generations, with far more exposure to AI-assisted creations, might well find these new AI creations far more captivating than traditional presentations of family facts. I could easily see how they might even inspire a new generation of family historians! 

Another very real benefit may be for the older generations (meaning those who do not readily use computers or smartphones for much more than email). I realize this population is rapidly shrinking, and with them so do the memories they have tucked away. Animations or colorful artwork may very well spark something within them. Perhaps they'll say "Aunt Edna's nose isn't quite right" or "My grandpa's eyes were a more brilliant blue," and segue into stories we've never heard before. While they may be very interested in the facts, they may not have the computer skills, eyesight or knowledge to do research on their own. AI-generated content may be very intriguing to them (even if they don't understand how it's done). Grandparents often proudly point out pictures of their children and grandchildren, or drawings created by little ones and they might very well do the same with colorful artwork about an ancestor. 

While MyHeritage isn't the only site to integrate AI tools for users, it certainly is the leader of the pack in genealogy. FamilySearch.org is also ahead of the curve with their Full Text Search. Their AI integration was done with thought and purpose and has been beyond helpful for many family historians. In this arena, Ancestry and FindMyPast both offer photo colorization and restoration and a few other AI features, but they don't compare to MyHeritage in scope, or FamilySearch in usability. I'll probably continue to focus on data-driven uses for AI. But I'll watch quietly from the wings as others share their photo, artwork and video creations. It will be interesting to see how each of the big four companies move forward, maximizing and expanding the capabilities of AI functions for family historians.

Disclosure: I used ChatGPT to check grammar and punctuation, provide minor titling assistance, and creation of the brief description of this post. All content is entirely my own.

Image by Artapixel from Pixabay

Detailed Instructions for Using RootsMagic to Create a Minimal GEDCOM

 I like to have my tree on multiple sites. A few times a year, I've been creating a GEDCOM from either Ancestry or Family Tree Maker (FTM) and uploading it to MyHeritage and Findmypast. These are simply the sites I choose to use. If and where to upload GEDCOMs is a personal preference, depending on your specific needs.

There  are numerous other sites and software where GEDCOMS are accepted. Reasons one might want to upload could include:

• My #1 reason - having easy access to hinting from the sites I subscribe to
• Keeping multiple online backups
• Searching for more DNA matches
• Collaborating with relatives and family groups
• Utilizing specific research tools provided by software or websites

GEDCOM files generally contain a lot of information, most often including citations and facts, and potentially media depending on the program used to create the file. I've long wanted to be able to create a minimal GEDCOM, since all I'm interested in is hinting. I wanted a GEDCOM with only name, birth date/location, death date/location, marriage/location and divorce/location. I only want the basics...just enough to provide sufficient data to prompt the algorithms for hints. 

My preferred desktop software is FTM. I can absolutely export a GEDCOM, but the options for filtering the contents are slim. Ancestry provides a one-size-fits-all download solution, no editing options there. GEDCOMs can be manually edited, but it's simply not a viable option for trees with large amounts of people and data. At one point, I found a website where they used to offer a program with the ability create exactly the file I was after (called The Complete Genealogy Builder). Sadly, the software has been discontinued and is no longer available for purchase. I didn't want to have to buy (or learn) new software specifically for creating these GEDCOMs. With a little persistence, I found a way to do it reasonably easily with RootsMagic. While not my preferred software, I do have the most recent paid version (RM11). According to Google, you very may be able to do this process with the free version, RootsMagic Essentials, as well. It does take a few minutes of setup each time you want to create this type of GEDCOM, but it's by far the easiest way I've found to do it. Here's are the detailed steps.

First, export your GEDCOM from your preferred software, or download from your preferred site, such as Ancestry. (Note: If you're a RootsMagic user, I'd still recommend exporting and working with the GEDCOM separate from your main research tree. If anything goes wrong or you make an error, you don't want to risk messing up all your hard work!) Since the main sites I upload to already privatize living people, I don't worry about doing it in my GEDCOM. But it's important to double check how the uploaded file is handled on each site. As an example, GEDmatch requires you to privatize your own file. Be sure you check each site's requirements so you don't encounter any unexpected surprises or problems.

Once you have your initial GEDCOM, import it into RootsMagic by selecting File > Create a New RootsMagic File > Import > GEDCOM > and select the location of your GEDCOM file.

Then, open your newly created file and select Tools > Fact Tools > Add or Modify Fact Types. Then Run the Selected Tool. You should have a screen like this:

Next is the most time consuming part. You'll need to edit each fact you don't want in the GEDCOM. Select the Fact Type and click Edit. You'll want to UNCHECK Include When Exporting GEDCOM Files. Then click OK. (Facts have this box checked by default). 

For facts you are keeping in the GEDCOM (especially if you use custom facts) be sure to check each one to determine if Use Description Field is included by default or not. You may wish to make adjustments to include or exclude them, depending on the purpose of your GEDCOM, and the information you're entering in the field. As an example, I have custom Marriage and Divorce fields to record timeline events for additional spouses I'm not researching or including in my tree. These facts are set up as individual person facts (not family or shared facts as the standard Marriage and Divorce facts are). In these cases, I include the name of the additional spouse in my description. Even on a minimal GEDCOM, I want to have the names visible when I upload to another site, so I must ensure those facts are using the Description.

You'll have to go thru every fact type one by one. When you're done excluding all the facts you don't want, and verifying the description use on the fields you do want, click OK on the bottom of the Fact Types screen. 

This is where I wish there was an option to save, but unfortunately, there is not. You'll have to repeat this process each time you want to create a minimal GEDCOM. CAUTION: Your fact changes will be lost after you exit the file you're working with, regardless of whether you save it or not.  It's critical you do the GEDCOM export prior to closing the file you're working with. The good news? Now, you're ready to export your modified GEDCOM! 

Click on File > Export Data > GEDCOM

From here, you can specify where you want the file exported. I recommend reimporting the file into RootsMagic (or your preferred software) to double check and make sure everything looks just as you want it. Once you've verified, you're ready to upload to the sites or software where you want to use this GEDCOM. 

Here are links on how to import GEDCOMs to the major websites:

• Ancestry - Uploading a Family Tree
• MyHeritage - How do I upload (import) a GEDCOM file to my family site on MyHeritage?
• Findmypast - How to import your family tree using a GEDCOM file
• FamilySearch - How do I upload my GEDCOM file?
• GEDmatch - Uploading a GEDCOM File on GEDmatch - Genetic Genealogy Research (VIDEO)

I've also updated my Genealogy Toolbox to include these links, under GEDCOMs, in case you'd like to reference them in the future.

There are any number of reasons you might want to create a minimal GEDCOM. The facts you wish to include may be completely different than those I use. But the creation process is the same! It only takes 1/2 hour or so to create a minimal GEDCOM using RootsMagic. Perhaps in the future more software or websites will offer easier ways to do this, but this process accomplishes the goal without the need for time consuming manual editing or purchasing additional software. If you've long wanted a way to do this, or if you've found other easier ways to do it, let me know! 

My Dominant Left Foot

Ancestry recently informed me I had a new trait. I tend to find these revelations slightly interesting, so I headed right over to check it out. I was a little perplexed to see it was about my dominant foot. Why it would be a useful trait to know is a bit of a headscratcher for me... but ok. 

In the traits screen it predicts I'm left foot dominant. Hmmm....I clicked to get more information. Apparently, dominant foot and hand tend to be on the same side because of how the brain controls fine motor skills. Given I'm right handed, it doesn't seem to be the case for me. 

I'll be honest, I usually look at the trait and move on. Clicking to read about it isn't my normal modus operandi. So when I read further and saw this information it actually troubled me a little.

"Dominant foot is at least 1% genetic
At most 99% environmental
We compared your DNA to the DNA of more than 860,000 people who answered the question “Which is your dominant foot?” We can attribute 1% of this trait to genetics"

Of course, I'm well aware genetics is only part of the equation. But 1% genetic?! 1% is barely worth the time it takes to mention the word trait. And really, I read this as "You're in our database and so are 860,000 other people who took the time to self-report their dominant foot. Based on this self-identified data, we think you might be left foot dominant." I'm sorry, but this seems no better than flipping a coin and picking left or right. 

If you want the broadest group for DNA matching, Ancestry is an absolutely fantastic choice! Push to shove, if I only had one DNA test to recommend, it would be Ancestry for the family historians. But in my opinion, Ancestry DNA traits are generally more for amusement than anything else. If you want more useful health information, 23andMe is probably a better choice (at least right now). Yes, they still offer up traits (and they're probably based on similar self-reporting), but they also provide so much more in terms of easy to understand potential health related results. And they release new reports fairly regularly.

MyHeritage is also offering more in depth whole genome sequencing (WGS) results in 2026. You'll be able to download considerably more detail on your DNA, but interpreting all the raw data is another story. Making use of the information may involve uploading to another 3rd party site, and potentially paying additional subscription fees to gain insights. Not to mention it's only going to be 3 passes (3x). For reference 1-2x are considered low-pass sequencing. So 3x is "better" relatively speaking, but if you want clinical grade, you'd need 30x. 3x is used in research, while 30x is clinical or medical standard. The accuracy difference between research and clinical grade is minimal, but for serious health concerns, or the potential to pass on a genetic mutation to an offspring, every percent can mean a lot. If research level results are right for you, MyHeritage is a very cost effective option for this type of WGS test.

I could fill a dozen posts on the nuances of the various providers and DNA tests, but I'm going to jump off the train now. Personally, since I've done both Ancestry and 23andMe, I'm going to pass on MyHeritage for now. Their kits are often on sale, and I'd like to wait and see the types of new data reports their WGS is going to provide to users. If all they do is provide a big file for download, I'm not inclined to spend a lot of time trying to decipher my DNA, or interested in paying another provider to deliver more insights to me. And if I ever have a health condition, where DNA results become vitally important, I'd likely fork out the money for a clinical grade test. If however, MyHeritage offers something more useful than 23andMe currently does, I'd definitely reconsider my choice. For now, the WGS is a wait and see for me.

Bottom line, Ancestry traits can be fun. You may get a little enjoyment out of whether they predict correctly, or they seem to miss the target entirely. But Ancestry isn't a go to for health related DNA information, and it sure isn't whole genome sequencing. DNA research is constantly evolving. A 30x pass may be clinical grade today, but may not be the gold standard of the future. Your goals with DNA testing are yours alone. You have more options than ever before when it comes to reasonably priced DNA tests - it's all about selecting the one (or two, or three!) you feel are right for you.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

AI Never Met Your Ancestor: Locating Non-Enhanced Images on Ancestry

I'm truly thankful for all those who upload photos of our shared family members. Sure, I like yearbook photos and newspaper images, but "real" photos are still the gold-standard for me. And I prefer them unedited (for the most part - cropping and straightening don't bother me at all). They may be black and white, sepia, or randomly discolored from age. And if the image was originally in color (be it vivid and clear or faded)? I'm quite OK with those as well. However, I don't care for AI enhanced photos in my tree. 

I freely admit, I've played with image colorizing tools (on both Ancestry and MyHeritage). It was an interesting and marginally fun experiment, but ultimately, these images are nothing more than AI interpretation - a guess.  And when it comes to restoring photos, AI can sometimes change little details, like mouth, eyes or ears. While these changes may not be noticeable to someone who's never seen any image of the person before, for some, they're glaring (and sometimes unacceptable) differences. Depending on the need for restoration, AI may still be the best option...but for me, I'd rather it be without any color enhancement. 

I don't save colorized images unless my back is to the wall, and no amount of searching has uncovered the "original". In fact, when I ignore these images, I take time to type in "I don't save colorized photos". I know the algorithm isn't programmed to read the notes we add, but maybe one day.... But a lot of these AI enhanced images are finding their way into user trees these days. In turn they show up as hints to others. If other users like them? It's great for them! I'm all for family historians building trees the way they prefer. Many users seem to like enhanced images. I just happen not to want them in my tree. To work around this, I try a couple different avenues to locate an "original" image.

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Image 4

Image 5

First, I'll look at the gallery on the person profile in the original poster's tree. This is really easy to do right from the photo hint. Simply open the image and click on the person's name below who originally shared it, as shown in Image 1. Sometimes, you'll find both the colorized and original images in the poster's gallery. Open the original image and choose "Save to my tree" as shown in Image 2. If you're lucky enough to find it on the first go, you're all set!

But, in some cases, the colorized image is the only available option. My next step is to go to a general search from the person profile in my tree, using the search option at the top right of the screen (the little magnifying glass, shown in Image 3). This will pre-populate details from the person profile in your tree, making the search super simple. 

When the results load, Scroll down to Filters, and select "Pictures" as shown in Image 4. Expanding this section reveals the option for "Public Member Photos & Scanned Documents" (shown in Image 5). This is the option you want! As you scroll thru the results, you have a reasonable chance of finding the original image. It very well may have been originally uploaded by someone completely different than the person who saved the enhanced image. Once you identify the image you want, you can use the same instructions to "Save to my tree".

There is the possibility you won't be able to find the "original" photo no matter how hard you try. It could have been uploaded by a user who deleted their tree before anyone else saved the image, or perhaps the tree was made private at some point. Maybe they colorized and then immediately deleted the original. There are no guarantees. But if, like me, you prefer not to save AI enhanced images, it's really pretty painless to do a cursory search to try and find the original.

I will admit, if photos need restoration, AI can be far easier than some of the (often complicated) photo editing tools. It very well may be the best application for the task at hand. But it's wise to remember, AI never met your ancestor! It wasn't there when the image was captured. It can't know the color of Grandma's dress, or the color of Uncle John's suit. AI can guess, but it can't know for sure. This is why I prefer the original image. The details are left to the imagination of the viewer, just as they were when the images were originally captured and shared with the family.

Do you like AI enhanced images? Do you save them to your tree? Comment or connect with me on my socials and let me know your thoughts!

Image by ZeeShutterz • Framing beauty with creativity from Pixabay

Genealogy Assistant Browser Extension

I love time saving browser extensions. I have several I use daily. Earlier today, I saw a post on Fortify Your Family Tree about a browser extension by genea.ca called Genealogy Assistant. Based on the post, I was super excited to get home and try it out! 

The extension can be installed in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. It's quick and easy to install, and pretty much works right out of the box. There isn't a lot you need to do to get started with it. The developer offers a free trial, allowing ample time to decide if you find it useful and want to continue utilizing it. Should you decide you want to keep it, it's $2.95 per month, or a single payment of $29.95 for a lifetime license. 

I'm not going to go into all the various features. There are tons of them! Many have been created to enhance the experience on Ancestry. Some simply make current features on Ancestry a little more visible and quicker to access (see the images of profile headers below). Some are designed to minimize clutter to improve the tree viewing experience. There are many enhancements to make working with DNA matches easier (on multiple sites). Some tools make exporting data to CSV very simple. From the website:

"Genealogy Assistant adds over 100 custom features to popular genealogy websites like Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, FamilyTreeDNA and more!

Get access to all of our tools in an easy to use, one-click install. All features are automatically updated and new tools are added regularly."

One feature I'm really excited about is the advanced search capability. This little extension makes searching across various websites a breeze! The snip on the left shows the advanced search options. As you can see, most of the major sites are included. Personally, I find the search experience on MyHeritage less intuitive than on Ancestry, so I tend not to take the time to search there. No extension is going to make searching entirely painless. After all, the thrill of genealogy is searching for, and finding, the records we need! But it does make the experience faster and easier, and may motivate me to do more cross-site searching than I usually do.

I did notice with all the potential features enabled, the header on a person profile is expanded. 

I tend to keep my notes open on the right sidebar, and this changes the layout to look like this:

You'll notice the header is "taller" in this specific view, with notes open, but the advanced search features, while still there, are collapsed.

With the recent advent of the collapsing headers on Ancestry, and with notes open, as I scroll my header shrinks to look like this:

Aside from these visual changes, working in a person profile, accessing gallery and hints are all the same as usual. You can also access the advanced search by clicking "Ctrl + /" from any page on the website.

For those who spend a lot of time working with DNA matches and ThruLines® you'll find the extension plays well with some of the Pro Tools features. It also enhances working with DNA matches on GEDMatch, MyHeritage and FTDNA. I've long wanted to be able to easily hide and unhide matches already connected to my Ancestry tree - and now I can!

As a creature of habit, it takes me a few days to get accustomed to visual changes and enhancements. But I'm intrigued enough with just a few minutes of use, I've already purchased the lifetime license for $29.95. In my mind, it's a small price to pay for productivity and it supports the developer so he can continue to expand the features offered. While the lifetime price is equivalent to 10 months of monthly costs, there is always a possibility Ancestry (or any of the other sites) could find away to block the extension with no notice. I certainly hope this never happens, but I'm willing to take the chance and go all in with this extension. If Ancestry is smart, debatable at times, they might do well to consider acquiring this extension and integrating it as a part of their offering in the future. 

The developer also has a free extension called Genealogy Blurring Tool. For blogging or presenting, it's a hassle free way to blur sensitive data automatically, for cleaner looking screenshots or presentations. In fact, you can see it in action in the headers above, where my tree name has been automatically blurred. (I don't mind my tree name being public, I was just testing out the tool).

If you'd like to learn more about the Genealogy Assistant extension, you might enjoy watching the features video (about 15 minutes long). It moves quickly, but it's a very good overview none the less.

I've also added a link to the website in my Genealogy Toolbox under Online Tools and Browser Extensions. If you decide to test it out, comment or connect with me on socials and tell me how you like it!

Palatines to America German Genealogical Society

Recently, I discovered when my 5th great-grandfather, Freiderich Zearfoss arrived in Pennsylvania! Even with an unusual name, researching this ancestor isn't as easy as you might think. His surname isn't one you see all the time, but I'm finding it spelled almost a dozen different ways. Born around 1724 in the Palatinate region of Germany (a historical region in south-western Germany), he arrived on the ship Edinburgh on September 15, 1749 at the age of 25. The ship sailed from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and since I don't see any others with the same surname in the record of immigrants, it's quite possible he may have come alone on the voyage. He married after he arrived in America. His information is a springboard for another quest I've been on.

I've been looking for where my Shelly line came to America. There have been some confusing (uncited) details in many trees claiming the Shelly's were of English descent but moved to Holland, ultimately coming to America to avoid religious persecution. But once here, the Shelly's settled and lived in the German communities in Pennsylvania. My Ancestry ethnicity results show I have 21% Germanic Europe from my paternal side, likely an area of French & German Switzerland. Switzerland was directly adjacent to the historical Palatinate area of Germany. It seems possible the Shelly's may have originated in much the same area.

I'm hopeful finding where Freiderich was from will help me find more details on the Shelly family origins. While I was doing some preliminary research, I stumbled on a website called Palatines to America German Genealogical Society. While full access to the site does require membership, there are plenty of resources available for free. I've already been able to find Zerfass (one of the many surname spellings), Shelly and Snavely (another branch of my tree from Pennsylvania) surnames in the Ancestor Chart Project. It remains to be seen if any of the ancestors listed are my ancestors. They also have a robust list of links to external resources, but be prepared, some of them will require translation to English (your browser should prompt you to translate). Membership is $40 per year for US members, and their membership year starts in October. If you're interested in joining, it may be wise to take this into account to maximize your membership (especially if you're only interested in a one time membership.) 

For now, I'm going to take advantage of the free resources the site offers and do additional research on sites where I already have subscriptions. I haven't yet started pursing this Palatinate angle on Ancestry, and MyHeritage certainly has a wealth of European records. But I've added Palatines to America German Genealogical Society to my Genealogy Toolbox under Historical Societies so I'll have it handy when I need it. If you have ancestors from the Palatinate region, I'd be interested to hear if this site helps you in your own research.

Hello Great Great GrandPappy!

So there I was, stuck in an endless loop of insanity, doing the same thing over and over and hoping for a different result. Let me back up a little. I was working on finding sources for one of the (few) unsourced people in my tree. He was my mother's Aunt Opal's 3rd husband. I know he existed because his surname is in the Social Security records for Aunt Opal. His last name is Couch. His given name? I wish I knew! 

While most trees have her first two husbands (and associated children), few have any mention of the third husband. One Ancestry user tree shows him as Frank (but has no sources). Ancestry helpfully shows me several Joe Couch records....but Aunt Opal was Opal Estelle Robertson and Joe was married to Opal Fay White. Another dead end (and a good reminder how important it is to really delve into a hint to be sure it's correct). I'd searched every way I could think of several times over, but wasn't getting anywhere on any site I tried.

Then I had a brilliant flash of memory! Didn't I see a photo of Aunt Opal in one of the albums I brought home from my father's house? I'm sure I did! And don't I very clearly remember on the back of one a photography studio stamp with Couch in it? Maybe? Yes, definitely maybe! Off to the storage bin to see if I could locate it. Half an hour later, having dug out and looked thru several albums (but not the boxes of loose photos) I hadn't found a single image of Aunt Opal. But I was happily lifting photos off the not so sticky anymore pages looking at the backs to see if there were any identifying notes. And then I saw it! 

"Well there's someone I don't recognize" I thought to myself. It was a dapper older gentleman in a nice enough suit, staring thoughtfully into the distance. On the back of the photo, in my mother's beautiful script was "William Jefferson Robertson, Grandpa Robbie's father). It took me a moment to understand who Grandpa Robbie was. I didn't have any great grandpa Robert, Robbie, Robby or Bob. Then it hit me, my great grandfather Nathan Newell Robertson must have been called Grandpa Robbie (presumably for his surname Robertson)....this was his father, who I had identified in the past, but had never seen a photo of before. 

After I carefully tracked back the generations one finger at a time, mom...grandma...Nathan Newell...William...four fingers...I exclaimed "Hello Great Great GrandPappy! It's nice to meet you!" His photo is shown above. The facial shape reminds me a little of my grandmother, but I would never have figured out who it was without the note my mother carefully penned. I'm so glad she did. While I don't know for sure the year this was taken, I uploaded the image to MyHeritage. I hadn't tried the photo dating there yet and this seemed a good way to test it out. It estimated the image as being around 1921. 

William was born in 1857 in South Carolina. As with many of my ancestors, he was a farmer. By the 1870 census he had moved to Georgia. In 1881 he married Eliza Elvira Kuhn, and somewhere between 1911-1914 he married Ida Franklin. He had 3 sons between the two marriages. By 1890, property tax records show he owned a farm, and by the 1910 census his property was valued at $1500. From all appearances, he was a moderately successful farmer. While his life seems somewhat unremarkable, I'm sure he was a hard worker because farming is not an easy occupation. He died in Georgia in 1946 and is buried there.

I never did find the picture of Aunt Opal (but I will eventually go through the box of loose photos at some point). Finding this photo knocked me out of my insanity loop and "introduced" me to someone I never thought I'd "see".

Original photo in possession of Ancestry User patndoris94

MyHeritage May Be Ending RAW DNA Uploads From Other Sites

 

In the last couple of days, there's been a lot of chatter in forums about MyHeritage terminating the ability to upload DNA results from other sites. Up to this point, users had been able to upload their results from other DNA testing services for free, and see matches from the MyHeritage database. From a user perspective, this was a great way for users to connect with additional family members, and potentially break down more brick walls.

From a business standpoint (in my personal opinion), this was always a great boon for MyHeritage as well. I don't know how many users took advantage of this feature, but certainly it helped grow the size of their database more quickly, making them one of the bigger genealogy sites, with in excess of 9 million DNA profiles. The downside of this was many users probably uploaded, took advantage of the matches, and never subscribed. I'm sure they're hoping selling their DNA kits, instead of allowing free upload, will create a more consistent revenue stream. Since the price of their test is often less costly than Ancestry, it may work to their advantage. Will people who test with them be more inclined to subscribe? It's probably a coin toss. Some will, some won't.  

More interestingly, in the last couple of weeks, I've watched a couple news programs (sorry, I can't remember the exact episodes and despite endless Google searches, I can't find the info) where they publicly said DNA had been uploaded to the MyHeritage database to assist in solving law enforcement cases. I was quite surprised given the Terms of Service for MyHeritage state: "MyHeritage prohibits law enforcement use of it's DNA Services." This is the type of information usually associated with GEDmatch, not MyHeritage. Here is an excellent Fox News interview with CeCe Moore delving a bit deeper into this subject.

While it may technically not be illegal to upload, I'd argue every genealogist, law enforcement official and family historian has an ethical obligation to adhere to each site's Terms of Service. Users have every right to expect privacy, unless they specifically opt in to a site allowing law enforcement participation. I personally feel anyone uploading surreptitiously, knowingly violating both Terms of Service and the privacy rights of users, is not a very good ambassador for the genealogical community. This kind of behavior sows the seeds of distrust in the general public, and once people are convinced it's not safe to do DNA testing, it can be almost impossible to convince them otherwise.

From the few search results I can find, several people have inquired of MyHeritage, but I have not seen any official announcement confirming the removal of the free DNA upload feature. I have seen screenshots similar to the one below, and scores of users saying they no longer have the option to upload. My personal MyHeritage account (with a paid Omni subscription) seems to be unaffected, and I still have the option presented to upload. While I can click to start a new upload, I have not tried to complete the process (since my tests are already uploaded to the site).

So, where does this leave us? If you have not previously uploaded, and you have an interest in doing so, I'd recommend trying to do it now, as the future of this feature on MyHeritage is unclear. If you're looking to upload to other sites to get more matches, FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA), LivingDNA and of course, GEDmatch, are still allowing uploads to the best of my knowledge. This could be a strategic change by MyHeritage to increase revenue. It could be an attempt to get ahead of any bad press and reassure users their data will remain private. It could also be selectively rolled out to specific countries or states. We'll just have to wait and see if there's some kind of official statement or blog post by MyHeritage.

I'm a big fan of using DNA as I research my family tree. I hope the increase in use of DNA by law enforcement doesn't end up creating more roadblocks for those of us who embrace DNA as a part of our regular research. While I wholeheartedly support solving cases, including use of DNA uploads on sites who allow it, I do not condone intentionally violating the privacy of millions of people just to get a single conviction. This is simply my opinion, and every person is free to have their own, even if we don't agree. While MyHeritage isn't my number one go to site, I'd hate to see them come under scrutiny for acts they may have been unaware of or didn't condone.

My First Royal Connection....Sort Of

I've never tested at FamilyTreeDNA, but I've uploaded my Ancestry DNA results there, and I've linked to my MyHeritage profile. After seeing some posts today about the updated haplotree and newly added haplogroup reports, I went to take a peek to see if I could find any new and exciting information on FamilyTreeDNA.

I already know my maternal haplogroup is T2b4 from my 23andMe DNA results. Once I was signed in, I selected "Discover Haplogroup Reports" from my Home page. I selected the drop down for mtDNA and entered T2b4. When I submitted, I got a form asking if I was a FamilyTreeDNA customer or not. At the very bottom of the screen is a link for "Already Registered? Sign In". Clicking to sign in again (slightly annoying since I already signed in to the site) took me to the beta platform page. I had to reselect mtDNA and put my haplogroup in again to fianlly disply the mtDNA Discover page. Given this is beta, it's possible the information displayed may change or some features may become unavailable in the future if you haven't tested at the site. But for now, I was able to view information totally new to me. (Y-DNA is also an option for male testers who may have this data available.)

There's quite a bit of information displayed, but I'm a sucker for "Notable Connections", so I clicked straight away since it was the most interesting to me. While I know from 23andMe I have many historical Viking matches, I was very excited to see I'm related (through a common maternal ancestor) to Virginia Eriksdotter (1559– 1633) a Swedish noble. She was the recognized illegitimate daughter of King Erik XIV of Sweden and his official royal mistress Agda Persdotter. She was born at Kalmar Castle in Sweden. Althought I asked ChatGPT if it was able to find any paintings of Virgnia, it was unable to locate any. But I was able to find the above image of the castle (Image credit: Image By L.G.foto - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link)

I'm not sure how true it is, but this is listed as a "rare connection" at 1 in 146 people. Only 1,841 other FamilyTreeDNA customers are this closely related to her. Given how far back this is, I don't know if I'd call this "closely related", and it's unlikely I'll ever prove the connection on paper, but it's my first known match to anyone remotely royal. I should point out the following notation is given: "Her detailed mitochondrial haplogroup was determined by mtFull Sequence testing of a descendant and reported in the Sweden DNA Project. The lineage is documented at WikiTree. It has not yet been confirmed by a second test result." 

As of now, I'm not inclined to take any more DNA tests. While I'm sure there's far more to reveal in my DNA, I've thousands of matches I'll never get through as it is. For now, I'm happy with this new "sort of" royal connection. For more on the new features visit the FamilyTreeDNA Blog. 

Image By L.G.foto - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

Maximizing your DNA Matches

AI created image using DALL-E and ChatGPT 4

If you're just starting out with DNA, you may be interested in maximizing your DNA matches. Even though your testing site may have returned hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of results, finding more matches really isn't a bad thing. Unless you're prepared to spend a lot of time researching living people and reaching out to matches (who may or may not respond), it's unlikely you'll find where every match fits in your tree...not even close. So having more matches is better when trying to trace back to those elusive ancestors. You never know when one match may break down a brick wall to solve a mystery!

Testing your DNA is always an individual decision. Only you can decide if it's the right choice for you. There are concerns over privacy, the discoveries you might make, who might gain access to your data in the future and who else might be influenced by your results and research. These are all very valid concerns and no one can tell you if DNA testing is right for you - you must decide for yourself. I struggled with all the same questions, but decided to test anyway - and I  don't regret my choice one bit. Once you've made the choice to test, the next question is where?

There are 2 of the major sites who notably do not allow uploads from other testing sites, a critical step if you want to maximize your matches. These are 23andMe and Ancestry.com. While 23andMe can be good for those interested in how their DNA results might impact their future health, it's not the easiest site to deal with as far as matches in my experience. While I have tested there (since a friend gifted me the DNA kit), I find working with matches frustrating since so little information is provided, the site isn't geared toward research and I'm not at a point where I feel compelled to reach out to individuals to figure out how we're related.  Their tree builder is simply not up to par as compared to other sites. You can however download your raw DNA to upload elsewhere, so if the health component is important, it may be the right choice for you.

Ancestry does not allow uploads from other sites either, but it's likely your best bet for a first test. They also have the largest database of testers, so in general (but not always), you'll be more likely to find the most matches on their site. Plus, you can download your raw DNA for upload elsewhere. Their DNA tools are very easy to use (although some are now behind a paywall). I strongly suggest waiting for a holiday sale to buy a kit at Ancestry. You can usually find them on sale around major holidays for as low as $59. If you have Amazon Prime, they've always had the sale price and you don't have to pay extra for shipping. If you purchase through Ancestry, they do charge shipping fee.

Once your DNA results are back, if you've decided to maximize your matches, head over and download you raw DNA file (instructions for Ancestry are here). Now, I want to tell you where you can upload your raw DNA results once you have them in hand and how to get many more matches for free. Keep in mind, if your relatives have tested or uploaded their results at multiple sites, you may find some overlap, but you'll also find lots of matches who haven't tested at Ancestry.

The followings sites allow a free upload of raw DNA files (from both Ancestry and 23andMe). While there are plenty of other sites allowing upload of raw DNA, these are all well known, reputable sites. If you choose to use another site, be sure to check their privacy policies as well as who they allow to access your DNA. Each site offers slightly different features and/or DNA tools with your free upload, but as of now, they all include matching for free. 

• MyHeritage.com
• LivingDNA.com
• FamilyTreeDNA.com**
• GEDmatch.com**

**Both FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) and GEDmatch work with law enforcement. When uploading to either of these sites, be sure to review your opt-in or opt-out settings to ensure they're set the way you prefer. Also be aware, while sites do their best to protect your DNA results to the extent they are legally allowed to do so, they may still be compelled to provide access by court order. And no site is immune to hackers, as we saw with the 23andMe breach. Sites are doing their best to beef up security in the wake of the breach, including limiting viewable information and downloads (including match lists) until sufficient security is in place. Over time, I fully expect we'll see the ability to download more data and match lists come back, but for now, using your matches may take some patience. 

After uploading to any, or all, of the sites above, sit back, relax and allow a few days for matching to occur. It's not instantaneous. After a few days (or when you receive an email your matches are ready) go ahead and login and start exploring all your new found relatives! If you choose to communicate with your matches, you may make new lifelong bonds. With others, you may communicate just long enough to figure out how you're related. And some may never respond to your requests. I've uploaded my Ancestry DNA results to all 4 of the additional sites for free. I've communicated with several matches using Ancestry, MyHeritage, GEDmatch and LivingDNA. I'm thankful for every single match I'm able to place in my tree. They help me confirm my research and in some cases, open the door to generations I have yet to explore.

Dead Fred Genealogy Photo Archive

DeadFred.com is one of those rabbit hole sites for me. It's a genealogy photo archive allowing users to search for, upload, and research historical photographs. It's a FREE resource for those interested in genealogy and family history, particularly identifying and preserving old family photos. Users can browse through a vast collection of photographs, including those submitted by other users from around the world. Photographs often include detailed information such as names, dates, and locations. The hope is to reconnect individuals with their past. While I've not found any confirmed photos of my family on the site (yet), I do so enjoy poking around and browsing aimlessly through their collections. I find it fascinating...especially period clothing!

Here are some of the features of the site:

Search Functionality: Users can search the archive for specific names, locations, or keywords to find photographs potentially related to their family. Currently, the site boasts 159,354 records!

Surname Search: There's an extensive surname list for photos where a surname has been provided. 23,354 surnames to be exact! Note: It may be difficult to figure out if the person is "the person" you're looking for. Don't assume just because the name is right, it's the relative you're seeking. Try to find corroborating evidence and keep in mind, the oldest surviving photo is from 1826. Photography really didn't take off until the mid 1800's. So if you find a photo of someone who lived before those dates, it's not the person you're looking for.

Photo Submission: Users are encouraged to upload their own old family photos to the archive, along with any known information about the photographs, to assist others in their research. You can even mail them old photos you don't want any longer and they'll add them to the archive.

Vintage Yearbooks: Yearbook photos from pre-1935 vintage yearbooks submitted to the site. (I'd imagine there's a potential for overlap with collections already available on some of the big sites, but you never know!)

Mystery Photos: Photos submitted without surnames are posted in a special section. These photos may be even harder to identify. But you might be lucky enough to spot one of someone you already know from existing photos and can give the person a full name. Or maybe you recognize grandma's house in the picture and can help establish a location.

Potential to Reunite Photos with Families: If you find you're related to someone in a photo posted on the site, and the photo is owned by DeadFred.com, you can request the original photo be sent to you. So far, they've reunited 3,347 photos! However, if the photo was posted by another user, it will be up to them if they want to reunite the photo. Either way, you can easily download a copy of any photos (for your personal use).

The only major site I'm aware of where Dead Fred photos are included in their searchable collections is MyHeritage.com. As of today, they show the collection having 65,976 items, less than half the total records on the site. Even if you're familiar with the database from MyHeritage, it never hurts to go direct to the source!

Dead Fred is a totally FREE site. They do not charge users to upload photos. Nor do they charge for reuniting photos. But since there are tangible costs associated with maintaining the site, they do take donations by check or PayPal if you want to support the project. Unlike many sites who reunite photos by doing extensive research themselves and contacting potential family members directly - an act of kindness many greatly appreciate - this site emphasizes collaboration, relying on its users to contribute content and providing any known details to help others in their research. The site aims to assist in the discovery of lost family connections and the preservation of historical photographs for future generations of genealogists. If you've never visited before, head on over to DeadFred.com and check it out.

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

MyHeritage: OldNews and Omni Plan Cost

MyHeritage.com announced a new subscription plan today in conjunction with the launch of OldNews.com. You can read more at Introducing OldNews.com, A New Website for Exploring Historical Newspapers. I'm all about newspaper archives. I personally find obits and articles to be a wonderful way to identify and add family members to my tree. But it wasn't just the newspapers I was after! By now you know my addiction to subscriptions...I wanted to know how much the new Omni plan cost and see the features included.

Let's start with what you get. This "superset" of the complete subscription includes:

• Complete subscription from MyHeritage.com with all the features users have come to expect from this service level (regularly $299/year)
• Access to OldNews.com (regularly $99/year)
• Unlimited access to 2,000 online genealogy webinars for all levels on Legacy Family Tree Webinars (regularly $49.95/year)
• Full access to all Pro features on Geni.com (regularly $149/year)
• Unlimited use of all features on the Reimagine app (regularly $7.99/month - $95.88/year)

Since I already had a MyHeritage complete plan, I wasn't immediately presented with an option to upgrade. The cost for the Omni plan wasn't included in the blog post. I had to search on MyHeritage for a newspaper not previously on the site (I used the one shown in the post) so OldNews would prompt me to upgrade. Since I just renewed a few months ago, I was shown the amount remaining on my existing plan and the additional amount I'd be charged today. The only slight downside is now my MyHeritage subscription renews a little earlier in the year. Bottom line, just like supersizing your meal at the fast food restaurant, Omni costs a bit more, at $399 per year ($100 more than the existing complete plan) but it certainly comes with a lot of additional features. Omni is currently only available as an annual subscription. 

I do want to mention, MyHeritage is not my "go to" site for tree building. I find the interface less user friendly than Ancestry. But I do look for records, periodically upload my GEDCOM so I have an up to date backup location, sometimes use the tree consistency checker and utilize DNA matches and DNA tools. Do I get my money's worth? Maybe, maybe not. It's hit or miss, but I'm not planning on cancelling my membership any time soon. If you don't currently have a complete subscription, you may want to spend some time evaluating whether an Omni plan is right for you, or if you'd be better off just subscribing to OldNews if you want access to it.

Of course I subscribed to the Omni plan! Even though the current price for OldNews.com is 25% off the first year (if all you want is the newspapers), the Omni plan is like getting Legacy Family Tree Webinars, a Geni Pro subscription and unlimited use of the Reimagine app as a bonus. Yes, sure, you're paying for them one way or another, but bundled with a new newspaper archive is certainly great marketing. I won't say I was actually considering signing up for any of those additional sites/apps, but since I have access I'll certainly use them. I would likely have subscribed to OldNews anyway and this gives me even more new sites and tools to utilize. MyHeritage often adds new features with no upcharge (unlike some other sites who shall remain nameless, but we all know who we're talking about). MyHeritage is simply taking some of the sites they already own and "bundling" them into a new plan - a stroke of marketing genius likely to increase their subscribers. 

Image by Krzysztof Pluta from Pixabay

Review: DNA Academy: Genetic Genealogy for Beginner's and Intermediate

Over the weekend, I completed the DNA Academy: Genetic Genealogy for Beginner's and Intermediate course at learn.trace.com, My goal was simple: learn more about DNA and how to better utilize it in my own research. This course did not disappoint!

I prefer to learn in an organized format. While there are certainly plenty of free online resources about DNA and working with it, I wanted something a little more structured. The self-paced course included 29 modules and covered everything I needed. From the basics necessary to understand DNA and how it's inherited, to ethnicity, endogamy and ethics, and how to best use DNA matches to further your research (including special situations) - all the major concepts were addressed. You also learn about phasing, clustering, and triangulation (both pedigree and segment). They highlight potential limitations and suggest where various additional types of DNA testing may (or may not) prove useful. There are also modules on using specific sites, tools and resources for working with DNA results and matches. Some modules also include case studies. Many handouts and forms are provided for download to assist with future research. For the most utilized research forms, video tutorials are presented on how to use them properly and efficiently. At completion, you'll retain access to review the course whenever you need to brush up on your skills, or to review any newly added content to the course.

While they estimated 5 weeks to complete the program, it took me about 8 (oh the convenience of self-paced!) According to the tracker on the site, I spent about 15 hours of dedicated time on the course (not including the time I scurried off to practice the skills as I learned, and fell down the occasional research rabbit hole along the way). Given the price tag of $250 for the course, it's a fairly cost efficient option. It's certainly far more economical than hiring a professional to assist. And if using your DNA results (or the results of those you're helping) more effectively can save you countless hours of spinning your wheels, it's a win in my book.

There are skills assessments in many of the modules to ensure you're understanding the material as you're working through the course. At completion, there's a final (slightly longer) skills assessment and if you get a passing score, you'll receive a certificate of completion. I finished with 90% and I'm eagerly awaiting an email with my certificate attached. Does the certificate actually get you anything? No, not really... just the satisfaction of knowing you passed the course. I suppose you could list it as a continuing education course, but I personally don't have a genealogy "resume", so for me it's strictly personal gratification.

Was there anything missing from the course? Not really. Though it's a genetic genealogy course, I'd still have liked to see a module addressing using DNA for forensic genealogy, including ethics and practices. I know I have family and friends who won't take a DNA test because they're worried about their DNA being used nefariously by law enforcement or forensic genealogy companies. I readily admit, forensic genealogy is a totally separate branch of the genealogy tree, but some basic knowledge as a part of this program might help course takers spread more accurate information as they converse with others. This is just my opinion - the course is very well rounded as far as genetic genealogy goes. Not having this topic in no way diminishes the value of the course.

If you're not ready to invest in a course to learn more about working with DNA, below are some great free resources**:

• AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
• MyHeritage Knowledge Base - DNA 
• GEDmatch Education 
• DNAeXplained 
• The DNA Geek
• segment-ology

So, did I break down any brick walls? No, not yet. For my biggest brick wall, I may need to wait for more DNA test takers to appear and/or investigate matches more thoroughly on some of the other sites where I've uploaded my DNA. Do I feel more confident about using my DNA matches? Yes, 100% I do! Do I recommend the course? If you have a desire to know more about DNA and working with results and matches (and you don't mind paying for a course)  then yes, I absolutely recommend it wholeheartedly! 

**Links to useful resources and sites mentioned in my posts can always be found on my Toolbox and Blogs To Follow pages.

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay