EIGHT - Too MUCH information and NOT enough information, sort thru the BS

"NEW" MOM photo from CUSTODY COURT files 1966?

ORGANIZATION only goes so far, I need HELP!

It's a challenge to SEARCH, read, save, and also "think outside the box". It's been Hours, days, weeks and now Months which have not provided any Real clues about my mother. My New FACEBOOK friend LOU has been my motivator, always saying "Don't give up" I guess all the years she taught Genealogy, she used that mantra on her students. Still, I was NOT getting anywhere and I think even Lou was feeling a bit frustrated because we were Not finding any new direction. 

I even read about and set up a"MIRROR" Family Tree on Ancestry.ca ~ the theory is IF you have a close DNA match, and you "think" some of their Family Tree members Could be your mutual family, you ADD them to your tree. You will get HINTS from Ancestry, which COULD lead to information you don't know exists. You wouldn't even Know what questions to ask. It HAS been helpful, but still nothing concrete - NOW WHAT?

The COURT files on the1965 - 1969 CUSTODY battle between my parents brought new information, but Lou and I weren't able to formulate any new leads....and then it Happened...Lou posted some questions on a Facebook KENTUCKY U.S.A. Search site. One person who kept replying to her posts was "TOM". He had a few ideas and after helping us for awhile, wanted to join our search!!!! BONUS!!!!

NEW BLOOD Transfusion

TOM brings a new element to the search, he is Great with "sounds like" names. If his search showes him RITA, he can read about FREDA and tell it's the same person, HOLY CRAP! TOM is also a pro at searching for anyone or anything to do with the military. TOM lives in Kentucky and has a good feel for the area and knows the special places to look. I use GRAVE SEARCH, well Not Tom...he searches the Burial plots in the area and has found graves for some of my mom's siblings who died veri young. These were Not listed on any of the standards Grave search sites!

The BIGGEST find that our pal Tom found....he searched the Kentucky Illinois "Births" He matched up my MIRROR matches to actual Birth and death announcements. Tom also found information on WWI Private "ROY JENNINGS", who it appears died when his Fishing skiff overturned in the OHIO River in 1932 ~ it was a AH HA moment! Mt mother said her mom died during child birth and her father died a few weeks before her birth on May 9 1032.  Things were pointing to this "might" be my grandfather...this was the shot in the arm I was hoping for!

Another BIT of help from a FACEBOOK Ancestry search site

I was fortunate to also have another young man STEVE from a Facebook Ancestry site, put his touch on the "Search for Lenora Jennings"  I have NO idea how he found the newspaper article about my Grandfathers drowning death in 1932. To see the Newspaper clip detailing how the storm had over turned his skiff, how a stranger towed the body back to shore for Identification and burial....AMAZING! Even a few of my DNA matches provided names, and when we checked them out, they turned into Leads. There is NO way I could have discovered the things I have so far, without the help I have recieved. My brain could Never have thought of all the quirks that the others were able to connect. I am amazed that Anyone is able to trace their Heritage!

SEVEN - Becoming an Ancestry DNA Detective

LENORA Anne JENNINGS 1957 Toronto Ontario

Becoming an ANCESTRY DNA Detective

The last ten days have been a FLURRY of BRAIN CELL activity! SO much to do with the Ancestry DNA results.  I read everything I could to make sure I covered all the bases. I must say I am quite Happy with my Minimal success. A few months ago I knew "Nothing", now I know there are DNA matches out there - some how it feels like progress.

Some of the DNA matches on ANCESTRY have family trees attached to their DNA results. I scoured over them, looking for any JENNINGS....not much to find. Then I had a DUHHHH moment and realized that there Could VERI well be someone who IS a Jennings, but got married and is now a Smith or ?  So then my plan of action was Researching every single name on someones Family Tree to see if some where in the Past there was a Jennings. Almost always, there was NOT!!!! This wasn't going to easy - EEEEK

WHY do I need GEDmatch?

 

I watched "YOUtube" videos, joined FACEBOOK Ancestry groups and even checked out a bunch of "PINterest" for suggestions on what to do next. I learned about GEDmatch, a docking place for your DNA results....regardless of what company you took your test from. Once you Upload your DNA results, you can Compare them with whomever has their DNA results on GEDmatch.

It took a few days before I was able to do a comparison of "ONE to MANY"  Basically it is ONE (my DNA) compared to MANY (all other DNA submissions) There is SO many to see. I read Everything I could on the GEDmatch site, and it really helped. When I looked at the page it didn't seem like there was any order, but clicking the arrows on the headings I was able to use the chart better. All my highest DNA matches were first, and the cMs and segments were easier to see.

The Best thing about GEDmatch is the emails they provide, so you can contact your DNA matches. They suggest to do a thorough comparison on their site to make sure Before emailing. It was easy enough to do, so I double checked my entries before sending an email. I noticed some of my best matches were also the same people from ANCESTRY.CA  I felt more confident writing to the matches using the information confirming our connection from TWO sites.  Amazing feeling to write to distant "family" just do NOT expect alot of replies. YES I even read about "HOW" to properly address your DNA matches. You have to dangle a bit of information you have gathered, without spilling all the beans. You definetely do NOT want to say "hey I'm looking for my mother Lenora" WHY, because maybe they Know her and she does Not want to be found. 
Take it nice and slow Grasshopper - Patience in a Virtue!

GEDmatch Tier 1

SO, I'm on GEDmatch, reading, comparing, and not really getting a feeling for what I am looking at. I notice off to the side on the page is an offer for their Upgraded "TIER 1" membership. It's $10 a month OR you can choose a One time $10, which seemed like a super fair deal. WOW, the $10 was worth every penny. With the Tier 1, you can click on 3D or 2D comparisons with the matches of your choice. The colored visual really seemed to tell the tale. You can even see the different Segments of your DNA and compare them to whom ever you want. You get a glimpse into the Crazy world of DNA brainiacs....I didn't understand it all, but the colors helped my brain accept the facts.

Bet you are wondering about my replies....patience Grasshopper - LOL

SIX - Ancestry DNA arrives a month early!

Maria Yvette VERI ( ME! ) 1956 Toronto Ontario

ANCESTRY DNA test arrives a month early!

OMGawd....ANCESTRY DNA Test arrived and I haven't had a chance to watch all the videos to learn what the test is going to tell me!!!! I stayed up til 3:30am because I was SO excited and Hopeful and afraid to expect any miracles....but secretly praying there Would be some!

I went to the ANCESTRY.CA site and was pleasantly surprised at all the info they provided. The charts showed where my relatives originated from, and also the migration to the United States. Oh the colors, the diagrams and best of all the little stories, which you could click for every 25 years starting about the 1600's. I'm quite impressed, Ancestry did a good job.

Hold my BREATH and CLICK to see my DNA matches - Yikes

You would think a full grown woman would be "Veri" laid back about hitting the button to see who matches my DNA....but NO! Instead I was a bit afraid, because what if my MOM was there and had been all these years...just waiting for me to search in the right place? Worse case is if there is NO matches, or maybe only matches on my fathere's side, which would be NO help in finding my mom. Well OF COURSE I clicked and then had the confusion of reading something I did not understand. Good thing there is ANCESTRY "help" and then GOOGLE and of course YouTube videos. With all the extra help I was able to make sense of it a bit more.

I found a match of 1411 cMs ( Centimorgans for you Newbies - LOL ) Across 57 DNA segments.

( Extreme High chance we share an Aunt, Uncle, Grandparent OR could be HALF-SIBLING )

Another match was 1110 cMs across 42 segments

( First or Second cousin or share a Grandparent - Extremely High chance )

A 500 cMs across 27 segments

( Extreme High chance of second cousin, neice, nephew, aunt, uncle or share G.G. Grandmother)

Finally a bunch in the 350 and Below cMs

There was over 1,000 DNA MATCHES! Just AMAZING!

SO WHAT DO I DO NOW WITH ALL THESE DNA Matches???

Guess what is the kicker of all this fancy DNA stuff. "Many" of my matches have their User names as Initials (not names)  Many have NOT been on Ancestry for Years, and MANY have NO interest is exchanging information. I have learned there is alot of people who took the test to learn about their HISTORY, where their Ancestors originated from and what different Nationalities run thru their veins. They already Know who their family is, and aren't interested in finding any extras.

I have wrote to almost 50 DNA matches. The largest response has been from people who are ADOPTED and LOOKING FOR BIRTH FAMILY.  I answered all I could on my father's side, but of course I couldn't help with anything on my mom's side. 

FINGERS CROSSED that One day I WILL be able to share her information!