Where can I find a genealogist to help me with DNA ancestry?

Question

I dont trust online DNA anymore they are a scam and ancestry.com in my opinion isnt all that great either!

Answer 1

Define your ACTUAL GOAL.

DNA is a biological testing process, which gives you info about genetic background. It is comparatively new, maybe 10-20 years old. There are many commercial companies, and frankly, I have not tried any of them. Genetics isn't what I am searching for, because it is not genealogy. It tells you nothing about your actual ancestors..their names, their personalities, when/where they lived and died, etc. If YOU want "ancient" background without persons, then research what the process is, before plunking down your money.

A GENEALOGIST is someone who researches ancestry via documents and records. Those records have existed for hundreds of years, and involve specific persons. The "game" of genealogy is defining which records you need, to build your ancestral lineage. Ancestry.com is a commercial site/company, and the marketing tends to hit newcomers, who want to type in their name and have an instant result of their family. Older researchers like myself, traced ancestors before the internet, and already know that online family trees are NOT DOCUMENTS. They are simply someone else's work, and often have huge mistakes. Ancestry.com does have valuable resources such as original images of census, and many other records. There are thousands of free sites to find records..and not all records are online.

The regulars here are more than happy to explain the PROCESS of research.. what is a valid document, how to find them and tie them together. The method is basically simple.. start with you, and work backwards, be willing to take time to insure that your results are VERIFIABLE. An example of a record that is of value may be your grandparents death certificate. Your gr gr grandmother's tombstone. A court record in colonial Virginia where the heirs of John Smith disputed his will.

Once you have a better idea of your goal, browse through the solved questions to find applicable tips. Just wanting to explain the difference to you, then help you get going.

Answer 2

Most Genealogists do not use DNA to research family history, they trace and document family members one at a time beginning with whom ever hired them and charging usually by the hour

of research and not by the amount of information found.

DNA testing is not based on being able to identify direct ancestry, although it can be used to compare relationships.

Ancestry is a commercial site that provided historical records at subscription fee. The pedigree charts that are uploaded by the general public are not verified and Ancestry has a disclaimer indication that they are not responsible for accuracy of the information that may be provided in a pedigree chart. Unfortunately many of the charts a simply duplicates of already existing ones and many of these are incorrect. When the owners are contacted about errors it is up to the owner to make corrections or ignore the correction requested.

There is one on Ancestry of My entire biological family, it was copied by the Neice of my Stepfather and she is of no biological relationship to the families of either of my parents, yet she presents the information as if it were her family. The one addition she made independently indicates the wrong spelling of the first name, incorrect birth date, and indicates that the person is deceased. I researched the information only to find that the person was a black woman living in Mississippi. Since I talk to the person who this information is representing I can say beyond all shadow of a doubt that she is not deceased, or that she has ever lived in Mississippi. The person who owns the chart refuses to make corrections and delete information that has is beyond my Mother. There is nothing I can do except add comments to the chart reflecting the errors and that the owner is not related in any manner to after the first generation annotated.in the chart.. I cannot hold ancestry responsible and so there is nothing that can be done. but I will say that the relatives of my Father are not happy about this, as there are numerous errors through the generations in his lineage. If you use Ancestry to records your chart and findings I strongly suggest that you keep the information Private

Answer 3

Online DNA??? I am confused. Have you taken a genetic genealogy test and don't understand the results? Here is a link to an excellent series of articles on the different tests and what they can and can't tell you. Links to her blog include information and links to the more reputable testing companies. This is the first article on Y-DNA



http://www.geni.com/blog/dna-testing-for-genealogy-getting-started-part-one-375984.html



Ancestry is only useful if you understand how to use it. It is a valuable tool, but it doesn't do everything for you. Even quality DNA tests will only augment the paper family pedigree you already have. DNA tests can strengthen weak documentation or confirm conclusions or direct your research to a particular family. They can also disprove information from other sources.



You might want to consider taking some of the many online courses on getting started in family history available free from Family Search.org



ADD I am going to correct a common misconception being bandied about. Genetic Genealogy is very much a part of modern genealogical research as evidenced by the thousands of members of The International Society of Genetic Genealogy. (I am one of them) DNA testing is one valuable tool, but it will not supply you with a family tree. It can prove conclusions that have no paper trail or provide research direction - I just found 3 DNA cousin matches for a 5th great grandfather I had been trying to prove for years, and narrowed down families to research for a brick wall 4th great grandmother, both using Ancestry DNA.

Answer 4

You are speaking approximately ethnicity while you use the phrase ancestry, I anticipate. If you've gotten had DNA checking out played they quite often furnish a percent chart. Not that it's of any fairly significance except you're evaluating 2 carefully similar humans. Ethnicity is quite often expressed in a fragment. An Example: I am a million/four Italian Swiss, My Mother used to be a million/two; My Grandfather used to be complete and used to be of the primary new release born within the US and either one of his dad and mom had been Italian Swiss. As you'll be able to see each and every new release is a million/two as a lot of a given ethnicity because the new release earlier than them However, simply due to the fact I am a million/four Italian Swiss on my moms part does not imply I am the identical quantity English, due to the fact there may be English on each side of my Ancestry, My father used to be a million/four and my mom a million/eight which equals three/eighth and makes me three/16ths English. You must realize the ethnicity and quantities on each side of your household. Until not too long ago such a lot humans did not get that concerned of their ancestry., They could realize that they had been English, German and Greek, or that one dad or mum used to be Greek and German and the opposite English and Welsh, however they did not get to stuck up within the quantities.

Answer 5

Genealogist do not help people with genetics which DNA is, genealogists research the paper trail of record that your ancestors generated during their lifetime to build a family tree.....................



I would agree ancestry DNA is a scam.... they certainly can't do what people think they can or that their marketing says.............ancestry.com is a commercial website, it isn't what researching ancestry is about, it is just one of many who are making money from people hobbies and their advertising is misleading especially for new 'researchers' who have no idea what they are doing and beleive ancestry.com and all its marketing, then think that is the way to research........... it is useful tool to people who know what they are doing in research ...it is not the tool box and never will be for anyone who is a serious researcher or who wants their ancestors in their tree.....................

Answer 6

http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/about-genetic-genealogy/