violagirl
Familiar Member
Joined: Aug 17, 2011 11:04:54 GMT -5
Posts: 703
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Post by violagirl on Sept 4, 2017 7:49:16 GMT -5
I did an Ancestry DNA test. You can then upload the data to various sites like Gedmatch or FTDNA or Promethease. It did not tell me anything I didn't already know - ie - Irish/Scottish/English mainly. It did turn up some interesting family skeletons. Biggest one was a great great great grandfather who had a second family on the side. Only found that link through DNA. For genealogy purposes, it is helpful to establish links you already suspect or have documentation for, but has not really yielded any big surprises.
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zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,869
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Post by zibazinski on Sept 4, 2017 8:10:59 GMT -5
I'm trying to decide which one to take. There's quite a few out there.
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Deleted
Joined: May 18, 2024 16:22:20 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2017 18:09:10 GMT -5
My sister offered for both of us to pay for the one that Ancestry.com does. I told her that I don't want to open a can of worms. I'm not the least concerned about racial "purity." I'm rather obviously of Native-American ancestry (my mother's grandmother and it shows in my skin tones, hair texture, etc.).
But with some FB analysis, the results for my sister and me were radically different. It was no doubt worth what we paid for it . . . nothing. But our parents married/had children in their 30s, which wasn't much the case in the 1950s. Our mother didn't graduate from high school so a career isn't the explanation. Our paternal family were the ultimate secret keepers.
It is entirely possible that my sister and I are not the only siblings. Our mother was mentally ill to the point of being admitted (and not released from) three state mental hospitals. I have always suspected that we probably have a sibling (or more).
But at age 63, I simply don't want to go there. My sister and I survived a hell of a lot together. I won't go into the nitty-gritty, but it is definitely a survivor's story. We are our own nuclear family. Adding a half-sibling at this point wouldn't bring me joy.
So I said no. I don't want to know my heritage, particularly when it lets others know when you are a probable DNA match.
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Anne_in_VA
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:09:35 GMT -5
Posts: 5,511
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Sept 4, 2017 18:11:36 GMT -5
I've thought about it, but don't know if I really should. Lots of family secrets and at 70, I don't think I'll go there.
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Gardening Grandma
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:39:46 GMT -5
Posts: 17,962
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Sept 4, 2017 18:46:07 GMT -5
My two half sisters and half brother had no idea I existed til one of tbem took tbe dna test. Two years ago, they reached out and contacted me. Qe all are tbrillex (well, except maybe for our father who kept a secret for 60 some years)
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zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,869
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Post by zibazinski on Sept 4, 2017 19:13:03 GMT -5
Now I've got to do it. I'd love to find half siblings
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Deleted
Joined: May 18, 2024 16:22:20 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2017 19:24:28 GMT -5
Now I've got to do it. I'd love to find half siblings I'm curious as to why. My sister and I share a lot of family history, some good and a lot not so good. She's big into genealogy so she would probably share your love of finding half siblings. I really don't see why adding people I don't know to the family unit is so great and wonderful. I would have loved to have the traditional American family unit, but I didn't. So I don't know why I am should be excited to find out that there were others impacted by the horrendous dysfunctional family we were. My mom was schizophrenic, and my father committed suicide when I was 5. If there were other children, they were better off not knowing us. Trust me. Let me know how it turns out for you.
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zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,869
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Post by zibazinski on Sept 4, 2017 19:26:07 GMT -5
I have no siblings and they'd be from my dad so they'd be wonderful
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Gardening Grandma
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:39:46 GMT -5
Posts: 17,962
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Sept 4, 2017 20:54:14 GMT -5
I can speak only for myself; getting to know my half siblings has been (so far) an enriching experience. We had different mothers and a vastly different childhhod experience. So when we find areas of commonality, we attribute that to our genetic connections. They are incredibly sweet people and getting to know them has enriched my life. They are intelligent, educated and intellectually curious.
Now, I will admit that I have no interest in getting drawn into a family drama; but our mothers are deceased and they live multiple states away, so that seems unlikely.
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TheOtherMe
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 14:40:52 GMT -5
Posts: 27,280
Mini-Profile Name Color: e619e6
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Post by TheOtherMe on Sept 5, 2017 20:52:28 GMT -5
I would like to do a DNA test at some point. I have done some genealogy on both sides of my family. I do know my mother's family had 1 slave per the census from when they were in North Carolina. I'm taking that means they were not all that well to do.
I know my maternal grandfather was Quaker.
Supposed on dad's side, we can trace the family back to Scotland in the 1600s. Not so easy with mom's side.
The courthouse in North Carolina burned down so many records were lost.
I think I know of my only half sibling.
There have been a lot of secrets in both sides of my family. They do get out so you might as well tell the truth.
My mom's brother got my aunt pregnant so they got married. They then lied about their marriage date for 50 years. At 50 years, they wanted to have their 50th anniversary celebration on the correct date
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imanangel
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 8, 2014 12:18:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,042
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Post by imanangel on Sept 9, 2017 9:16:30 GMT -5
I think I'm a mutt. I am definitely a mutt and proud of it.
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