Lately, since getting new lenses, literally in both eyes and in the frames I use to clarify the written word, I have picked up several books and articles. These usually have a wide range of topical information to match my ever present curiosity. I have these located in various places throughout the house and when in that local will pick up one and read from it. This creates a “this and that” style of processing information.

Due to questions received from several sources this weeks topics centered about reading, writing, word usage, and a topic I really know little about, yet fascinates and intrigues me – Y-DNA used in family research.

As I have reported many times I love to read and I gather things together to write. Family history fascinates me for it involves detective skills such as deductive reasoning. In writing family history it become an act of creation. The reading and research build and reveal the character of individuals and the family. It is in the writing that gets you inside to paint the emotional beings in a family in context of a time frame.

Sometimes we find “tons” of information but little of the individuals themselves. We then chase ghosts in our effort to capture a shadow of persons and their interaction. This was evident in my pursuit of the Civil War experiences of a second great grandfather. Scant facts reported that he was wounded, sent to Andersonville Prison, exchanged or paroled, and died en route home. Years of searching Andersonville Prison records and reports in biographies and memoirs gave great pictures of conditions at Andersonville and other prisons, but never revealed the person. Finally in chasing that ghost a shadow was produced by broadening the scope of research. An answer to the question was revealed in a small note in his service record that hinted at being in a hospital. From chasing ghosts to finding a shadow a form came into being.

With excitement this develops part of a biography of the person and biography deals factually with individual lives. The memoirs, which are produced by a persons memory or perspective, begin the act of creation, developing the shadow from the ghosts. This is detective work. This is sleuthing. The trick to painting the portrait is to get inside the person. Research demands meticulous collection and evaluation of the facts. Family history puts in the passion giving form to the shadow. In joining the two one must not diverge from the truth.

On one of the email lists this week, some discussion occurred about Y-DNA. I was asked if I would elaborate on the more topic in my heritage articles. Well, one of the modern tools to research the facts in family history is the use of the Y-DNA. In July 1962 I began the process of keeping my promise to my Mother that I would “find from whence I came”. Mom more than assured me that she gave birth to me, so the quest was to study our family history. This I have done – study, that is – with the many many “brick” walls such a research course brings anyone.

In those days there was very little known about DNA. It was not yet a tool for law enforcement, nor a tool to be used by the innocent to right wrongs. Today, the utility of Y-DNA testing in genealogy serves several purposes. One is to learn something more about the ancestry of a surname. Another is to supplement conventional records-based genealogical research. Another and far more important purpose would be to group many various surname lines in America [surname-based family tree reconstruction projects] in the late 1700s using Y-DNA.

Due to the difficulty in understanding how DNA and genealogy relate to each other there are many questions and answering them is not the easiest task on the planet. It requires some understanding of statistics and genetics. Fortunately there are genealogists who do understand the results and can explain the applications of genetics to genealogy.

So finally after forty three years of research and many encounters with “brick walls” which create a frustration, I decided to save my allowance for a long time and I participated in a Y-DNA analysis for 37 markers. It was thrilling to match, first with two different folks for the first 25 markers. Then with one of those folks for 35 of the 37 markers. One of these folks was from the same area of Southern Illinois that my Father and his parents were from. Thus, our heritage is a joint heritage from Illinois back to south central Kentucky to northwest South Carolina. The other person’s family did not migrate to America until the middle 1800s. Thus, though we do not yet know the exact connection and she knows her heritage back to the early 1600s, we Southern Illinois appear to be confirmed Ulster Irish back to those early 1600s.

That to me was a thrill worth the price of admission. Before I let my Scottish thriftness let me make such an expenditure I went to the web site for the laboratory that does much of the present day DNA testing for genealogy – http://www.ftdna.com/ -- Family Tree DNA.

The Y chromosome is exclusive to the male of the species and Y-DNA is passed only from father to son, father to son, etc. Since the test is only male, females have to find a willing close known relative to sponsor them. Some amazing genealogical discoveries are possible because of this new tool. Not only does Y-DNA show you who IS related, it also shows you who is NOT related. If matches are not found, it helps you eliminate places to center your search.

Hopefully there will be men who will match 37 out of 37 markers, but you can still be related if you don't match at all 37 markers. Mutations occur over a period of time, some in fast-moving markers (those shown in red numbers) and some in slow moving markers. The ones in red are more likely to mutate at a faster rate, so less "weight" is placed on their match. The FTDNA pages have charts that show the likelihood of relatedness within a given number of generations based on the number of markers that match, and if they are fast or slow moving.

DNA testing is great for those who wish to extend their family trees by confirming a link where no conventional source records exist. And these tests are great for folks who want to perform surname-based family tree reconstruction projects.

The genetic test is quite easy. The kit consists of a cheek scraper and a collection tube. In about five minutes, you will be able to read the instructions and perform a painless cheek scraping. FTNDA say that the effect of using the scraper is about the same as brushing your cheek with a soft bristle toothbrush.

If this interests you, visit Family Tree DNA’s site and look for your surname[s] results. And, maybe if your name is Mikey, you might like it.

e-la-Di-e-das-Di ha-WI nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da.
(May you walk in peace and harmony)

Wado,

Bill

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