The theme for Week 43 is "Dig a Little Deeper." Answers don't always come easily in genealogy. This week, what is something you had to dig a little deeper than usual to find? Click here to check out all of the themes for 2023.
When incorporating DNA into my genealogical research, I often find myself delving deeper to uncover the elusive clues I'm searching for. DNA serves as a valuable tool that can both open doors and validate existing research. I initially turned to DNA analysis to unravel the identity of my biological maternal grandfather. Yet, diving headfirst into the world of genetic genealogy left me more bewildered than enlightened. I soon realized the importance of educating myself about DNA methods and strategies, such as the Leeds Method, which are instrumental in organizing and interpreting DNA matches. My quest for knowledge also involved watching informative shows that demonstrated how DNA can be employed to reunite adoptees with their long-lost family members.
Embracing the Leeds Method, I focused my attention on a cluster of "unknown" DNA matches, aiming to unearth a shared ancestral connection among them. After scrutinizing the family trees of matches with more extensive genealogical records, I finally discerned what seemed to be a common ancestor within the realm of second to third cousins. It's worth noting that this involved an extensive review of numerous family trees, and it took weeks of dedicated research to pinpoint this shared lineage. Informed by their age, I hypothesized that these individuals were likely the great-grandparents of my maternal grandfather. This couple had only six offspring, I attempted to trace their descendants. I identify the specific branches leading to my DNA Matches and my focus fell on their male great-grandchildren, as I believed one could potentially be my grandfather. I diligently examined the life histories of each candidate, seeking anyone who might have resided in the right place at the right time for my mother's conception.
This exploration led me to a family of brothers, but it appeared that only one of them had lived in Wisconsin; the rest had resided in Iowa. My research efforts centered on this individual, and I uncovered details about his children. Regrettably, I reached a point where I couldn't definitively confirm any further connections along this branch due to the absence of close DNA matches.
Then, one fateful day, a known maternal cousin from my maternal grandmother’s side emerged as a DNA match, specifically at the second cousin level. On that very day, another "unknown" individual also appeared as a second cousin level match also on my maternal side. Intriguingly, these two individuals did not share any DNA connections with each other. As per my research, second cousins should always be connected through shared DNA, implying that if one match is related to my maternal grandmother's side, the other must be tied to my maternal grandfather's side.
Upon scrutinizing the match who had a family tree with only seven individuals (six of whom were still living and marked as "private"), I identified a key piece of information. Among those seven individuals, one was marked as deceased, and I could discern her name. Remarkably, this person was one of the children of the man who had resided in Wisconsin and was a likely candidate to be my maternal grandfather. Further examination of our shared matches confirmed a substantial overlap with this man and his ancestors on both sides of his family tree.
By persistently digging deeper into my DNA matches and untangling the web of connections, I was able to confidently declare that this man was indeed my long-lost grandfather. This conviction was ultimately solidified a few years later when his sole surviving child underwent DNA testing, revealing her as my half-aunt. The joy of unraveling this longstanding mystery was indescribable. Without the aid of DNA analysis, I doubt I would have ever succeeded in solving this intricate puzzle.
Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!
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