DNA CLASS AT SAGHS

Monday morning and a review of the week end.  I was so busy, quality time with the hubby, Sunday drive on a Saturday, so it's nice to sit down at the computer and get the fingers flying over the keyboard again.  So much to get caught up on.

When I first moved back to San Antonio twelve years ago I joined the San Antonio Genealogical Historical Society so I could access their wonderful library.  I even donated a few items when I was finished with them. 

Through the years I let my membership lapse as the computer became my best friend, namely Ancestry.com.  Plus I didn't have to leave my house.  And Ancestry does not have a lot of history on their network.  I have found though, that the city library, county libraries,  and the historical library are still a wonderful resource, plus you have a live person there to assist you.  You don't have to pick up a phone and wait until it's your turn to talk, or listen to an automated voice that gives you the run around.

Check out the San Antonio City Library Genealogical Department at www.mysapl.org
Schertz Library Genealogical Departmart at www.schertzlibrary.org
San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society at www.rootsweb.com/~txsaghs2


Sooo back to the DNA class that was conducted yesterday at the library.  Jeremy Balkin from Family Tree DNA gave a wonderful presentation.  He was patient with each one of us gray haired ndividuals, and answered their questions right down to the last dot and he even crossed the t's.

I highly recommend anyone that is interested in doing their DNA to go ahead and do it.  Even if it's just for fun.  Family Tree has several different prices and tests.  Their website is www.familytreedna.com

YDNA 37 markers special $129
YDNA 67 markers  special $209
mtDNA PLUS  $139
mtDNAFMS $209
Family Finder  $209

These prices were from the handout Jeremy distributed to the class. 

My first DNA test was the mtDNA because I didn't want to spend a lot of money.  That was six years ago.  Well I got a list of other people that had their's done too.........and the list was quite long.  I couldn't make sense of any of it.  I was so confused.

So I bit the bullett and upgraded and paid some more money.  More people, still couldn't figure it out.  Then I was able to go to a class on DNA and the individual who was conducting the class suggested if I really wanted to find out who my father was to take the Family Finder test.

MORE MONEY.....  I just couldn't bring myself to pay for another test.  My inner being fought back and forth.......I broke.  I did the Family Finder test. 

Sooo glad I did.  I did find fourth cousins, not the ones I'm looking for as they were cousins from my mother's father's line, who I already knew their parents but not the children.  I am still seeking anyone from my biological father's side.  (whoever that maybe)

I did learn more about the web site and how to read the numbers and such.  And I did learn that even though I had a cousin (we think we are fourth cousins) it may not show up on the results.  There is a 50% probability that fourth cousin will be a match.  A third cousin is a 90% and a second cousin is 99% match.   As I said before, Jeremy was very through and explained very well. 

Sooooo I'm still working on it.  What I'm sayin' is that if you are out there looking for a close match to yours then you need to try to find at least a third cousin.  Easier said than done, especially if you do not know who you are looking for.  Like a needle in a haystack.  But then the investigator in me is working hard to answer the hard question....."Who is he?"

Until then............................................   

SAN ANTONIO GENEALOGICAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY

If anyone is interested in DNA the San Antonio Genealogical Historical Society is having a speaker from Family Tree DNA on Sun 13 Jan 2013 at 2 p.m.  Cost is $5.00 per member and $10.00 non-member.  You will need to make a reservation by calling 210-342-5242.  Space is limited.
Their address is 911 Melissa Dr., San Antonio, TX.  Corner of Blanco and Melissa (outside of loop 410)

Also check out their web site if you need help in researching your Texas Heritage.
www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/txsaghs

Until then...................................

THE WAITING GAME

It's been a week, almost two since my cousin sent in her DNA sample.  I say my cousin because we are 99% sure we are cousins but the DNA will tell us for sure.

I found this cousin about ten years ago as I was looking for my biological father.  We would be fourth cousins.  Since then we've shared information when we found it.  Sent each other pictures.  Then about four years ago she introduced me to another cousin.  This cousin would be a first cousin.  Now this cousin has sent me a lot of pictures of her mother and uncle plus pictures of the grandparents.

One of the first pictures I received from the fourth cousin was a one of mother, grandmother, sister and brother.  The brother being (maybe) my father.  The first thing that struck me was, I have a baby picture just like this.  I rummaged through my pictures and sure enough I found the picture, same poise, head tilted the same way, looked the same age, hair line looked the same, and same cheeks.  Now I told myself I was reading something into this picture because I wanted it to be the right person. 

Fast forward now to two years ago when I looked at a picture of one of my grandsons.  In the back of my mind I said to myself I've seen this face before.  I pulled all the pictures out that my first cousin sent me and sure enough there was a picture of my father (?).  Same ears, nose, and smile.  I sent a copy to my daughter and asked her if he looked familiar.  She agreed that it looked like her son.

So, now here I sit waiting for the results of the DNA.  Hoping that all my circumstances will pay off.  Were all these pictures something I was wanting to see in my mind.  Or will all of this together tell me that this man really is my father?

I'm on pins and needles.......but the friendship I've made with the fourth cousin will remain in my eyes and mind will always be my fourth cousin, no matter what.

Until then.......................

PART TWO WRITER'S CONFERENCE

Yes, my friends there is a part two of the conference.  I came home brain dead!  In overload!  So much information.......and now to put it to use.  I was not able to get an appointment with an agent or editor because they wanted a finished manuscript before they would talk to you.  SO.....to finish Katie's story and get it to the right agent, editor. 

Second thing......my husband text me and told me the computer crashed!  That was on Friday.....I got it back today.  We shall see.  So glad I have a laptop, just not used to doing all my work on a laptop but guess I will get used to it. 

If you have liked the story about Katie so far let me know.  I do plan to finish and will keep all my readers up to date on what is going on.  I could use some incouragement from time to time.  I get so caught up on research I tend to let the writing slide.  Some of you probably know what I'm talking about.

I will also keep you informed on the DNA research.  If anyone out there is just a little bit interested in DNA I recommend they have it done for themselves.  Even if you know who your parents, grandparents, etc are it's kind of fun to see the graph on where your relatives came from.  Two links you can go look at to research, price, etc is www.ancestry.com and www.familytreedna.com


Anyway I'm working my fingers away flowing and pounding away at the keys on the computer.  Will keep everyone posted.  Until then.................................

Family Tree DNA vs Ancestry DNA

The family reunion is over and it's back to getting the book put together.  The novel about my great, great, grandfather.  I'm pushing myself, but not hard enough.  The blood hound in me keeps being diverted to looking for more ancestors.  AND still trying to find out who my father is.

I had my DNA done through Family Tree DNA about four years ago then upgraded it to the Family Finder.  Now mind you I have found a fourth cousin through the Family Finder, or rather she found me.  I keep scanning the names and the names they have listed are not even close to who I'm searching.

About seven months ago I had my DNA done through Ancestry.  They gave me a pretty pie chart to show me where most of my ancestors came from. I belong to the halogroup H1 also known as The Colonists.  It says I belong to the same halogroup as the individual whos mtDNA was used to establish the standard (rCRS) with which we compare everyone's results.  I am 75% British Isles, 16% Eastern European, 6% Finnish/Volga-Ural, and 3% Uncertain.  What does that uncertain mean?Okay, I'm lost!

The Colonists group may have migrated to Europe, the Near East or the Caucasus Mountains, settling in present-day Basque Country, Scandinavia, Sardinia and other parts of Europe.

Now then what I know for SURE is most of my ancestors came from England, Ireland, and Germany.  When I look at the people that I share cM blocks with along with the longest blocks, I'm not connecting with anyone I know.

Some of the people on my Family Tree DNA are also on my Ancestry DNA.  We share common DNA but, there we are again, can't come up with who it is that we are related to.

It's so confusing.  So I'm still looking......for my father........and trying to figure out how I'm related to some.

Untill then...........................will keep you posted.................................