DNA Myth

A common DNA misconception is that you and your sibling will have the same autosomal DNA results. I have no idea where this myth came from but here are some examples showing how not true it is.
On the left is me and on the right is my brother.

 Here we have three more siblings: Marcos, Rebecca, and Mary.

There are more regions but they are all less than 1% noise except on Mary's. Hers also includes 2% Mali and 1% Senegal that didn't fit into the screen cap.
That's just the ethnicity results. Let's take a look at the cousin matches.

They are all listed as "immediate family" for each other and they all match their aunt, Maria B.
As you can see they all share different amounts of DNA with different relatives. Jannivy is the granddaughter of their sister who has passed away. Maria shares so much DNA with her that she shows up as "close family" instead of "1st cousin" where a great-niece would usually show. As the amount of DNA shared gets smaller it's more likely a match will only show up on one sibling. If you're using, or will be using, DNA as a serious research tool you should test as many family members as possible. Your brother, sister, aunt, or uncle may be the key to solving your mystery.

Case Study #1: Hammack & Mott

I've been wanting write a post about the research process for a while now. Even if you aren't a Hammack or a Mott I hope you'll find some helpful hints here. I'm actually not a Mott either but we'll get to that later. Here are the main characters in this story:

Sophia Ann "Annie" Hammack, my father's maternal grandmother
John Franklin Hammack and Martha Cornelia Mott, Annie's parents

Martha Cornelia Mott's name will change a couple of times during the course of this post.

Talking to Dad

The names of my father's maternal aunts and uncles were known to me, I had met them all. For anything beyond that I had to ask Dad what he remembered. His maternal grandmother's name was Annie Hammack and this case study is about her line. According to Dad the names of Annie's parents, his great-grandparents, were John Franklin Hammack & Martha Cornelia Mott. He never met them but he did have a memory of meeting one of Annie's sisters and thought her name might be Carrie. So with that I was off to try and find out something about his maternal grandmother's family.

Annie Hammack Loftice with my baby brother and me.

I had no problem finding Annie with her husband and children in U.S. censuses but finding anything prior to her marriage was my first road block. Annie was born in Missouri so there wasn't an immigration issue.

By Any Other Name

Most of my great-grandparents applied for Social Security. I had a list of applications to order. Ordering all of them was out of the question financially so I prioritized the list. Annie was not at the top. I had names for her parents and that would be the primary reason for ordering the application. As I was running out of alternate spellings and different searches to try I started moving her up the list.
Dad seemed sure of the names but I was stuck so I crossed my fingers and ordered her SS-5. A few weeks later I found out that Dad was right with one small, but very important, omission.

After the jump: The answer, more questions and contact from distant family.

New DNA Results

AncestryDNA released their updated ethnicity results yesterday!
Of course the DNA portion of Ancestry.com promptly crashed.
I know, you're shocked.
Here is the new list of the possible results:

Africa
Africa North
Africa South-Central Hunter-Gatherers
Africa Southeastern Bantu
Benin/Togo
Cameroon/Congo
Ivory Coast/Ghana
Mali
Nigeria
Senegal

America
Native American

Asia
Asia Central
Asia East
Asia South

Europe
Europe East
Europe West
European Jewish
Finnish/Northern Russia
Great Britain
Iberian Peninsula
Ireland
Italy/Greece
Scandinavia

Pacific Islander
Melanesia
Polynesia

West Asia
Caucasus
Near East

I was able to get the results for all five of my tests open in separate windows in one of the short functional periods. After making all these screen caps I was going to see how this change was shown in matches and explore some of the other changes. Unfortunately the AncestryDNA site was no longer available so for today I just have images of the results to compare.
After the jump the images are side by side so you don't have to scroll up and down to see what changed for each person.

Here are the original results for (top) Dad, Mom, Mom's Aunt, (bottom) me and Baby Brother.

Here are the new results without "trace regions":

New results with "trace regions" (Dad, Mom, Mom's Aunt, Me, Brother):

After the jump: Side by side comparison

April Fools' Day 1965

The reporter or editor turned this into a fluff piece but this was actually an equal rights protest with a sense of humor. Prior to The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 a pregnant woman could, and usually would, be fired. If it didn't happen when the pregnancy was found out it would happen when it came time to give birth. Her sick leave would be denied and she would be fired for missing work. This was an April Fools' Day joke with a message.
From the Tri-City Herald (Washington), April 1, 1965 (transcription below):

Owen Hurd, Washington Public Power Supply System manager, had visions of the $122-million Hanford steam plant job being shut down today for lack of clerical help as his seven office secretaries appeared in maternity smocks, asking for "sick leave" in an April Fool gag. The non-pregnant, smock-clad women were, from left, Mrs. Carl Peterson, Mrs. Philip Seaman, Mrs. Gifford Eatmon, Mrs. Charles Ripplinger, Mrs. Norm Killman, Mrs. Montana Yates, and Mrs. Wanda Vaughn.

MASS 'RESIGNATIONS' HIT WPPSS AS SECRETARIES APRIL-FOOL HURD

"Motherhood is wonderful, but this is ridiculous," murmured Owen Hurd, executive director of Washington Public Power Supply System, this morning.
He had just been hit between the eyes with the biggest shock since the WPPSS began building its $122-million atomic steam plant at Hanford.
Hurd's shock-of-a-lifetime occurred shortly after his office opened. He looked up from his desk and there stood the entire staff of seven WPPSS secretaries, all in maternity smocks and holding out applications for "sick leave."
"We're all pregnant," announced Eleanor Seamon, Hurd's private secretary. Hurd grabbed his head in desperation, struggled for breath and shouted, "H-E-L-P."
Then, in unison, the seven smock-clad secretaries chorused, "APRIL FOOL!"
Hurd said the incident gave him the biggest scare, and the biggest laugh he's had in 38 years as a public-power executive. He said if the pregnancies had been "for real," it would have shut down the project. "It takes about a pound of typing paper for every pound of steel in a hydroelectric project," he explained.
Hurd said his office crew convinced him of one thing: "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."

Mrs. Montana Yates in the photo is my grandfather's sister. Here's a better photo of her at work:

PREVIOUS POST: Photo Friday: Axe Murderer
NEXT POST: Where Do I Begin?

My DNA Results III

In case you missed the first two posts on my results (links at the end of this post) the test I'm talking about is Ancestry.com's newest DNA test, an autosomal test. It can be taken by both men and women and is currently only available to purchase in the U.S..
I wanted to have results from both of my parents before writing another DNA post. I was fully prepared to write about how I really am "Daddy's girl" because I was sure my 40% Scandinavian and 18% British Isles were all from Dad. I was surprised that the percentage would be so far off of 50%. 52/48 I could see. 54/46 maybe. But 58/42 seemed off to me. Well my instincts were right. I just never expected British Isles results on my mom's side! Not even a single digit percent. I'm stunned!
Results and more after the jump.

This Time It's Personal II

Before we get started there was a great post over at Clue Wagon earlier this month: In Which I Assign You A New Year's Resolution. If you enjoy my blog you'll definitely like Kerry's post!

On to today's post...
Once again someone has poached my family and mangled their details to fit them into their tree. Almost two months ago I left comments letting the tree owner know about their mistake. They haven't fixed it so here we go.
Everything in italics is taken from one of my trees. Note that the name on the profile is not one of them.
More after the jump.

 Petra Anzaldua
 B: 27 Apr 1918
 D: 13 Dec 1985

 FATHER: Jesus Contreras (1887-1930)
 MOTHER: Eugenia Gonzales (1888-1976)

 SPOUSE and CHILDREN
 Julian Contreras (1870-????) m. 1891
 ✿ Altigraca Contreres, B: 1887 in Texas
 ✿ Eutimio Contreras, B: 1893 in Texas (the tree continues through this son)
 ✿ Aotimeo Tim Contreras, B: 1893 in Texas
 ✿ Sipriano Contreras, B: 1894 in Mexico
 ✿ Pedro Contreras, B: 1895 in Texas
 ✿ Jose Contreras, B: 1897 in Mexico
 ✿ Benito Contreres, B: 1898 in Texas

 SPOUSE and CHILDREN
 Juan Dimas (1916-1998) m. 1945
 ✿ Jesus Dimas (1942-1942) Born and died in Texas

 UNKNOWN SPOUSE and LIVING Child

 US CENSUS RECORDS attached to this profile:
 ✿ 1900 Contreres family in Beeville, TX: Julian, Apr 1870; Petra, Sep 1873;
     Altigracia, Aug 1887; Aotimeo, Jan 1893; Pedro, Apr 1895; Benito, Mar 1898
 ✿ 1910 Contreras family in San Bernardino, CA: Juan, 40; Petra, 35;
     Sipriano, 16; Jose, 13
 ✿ 1920 Contreras family in Victoria, TX: Julian, 50; Petra, 49;
     Benito, 21; Lupe, 14, Petra, 7
 ✿ 1930 Contreras family in Refugio, TX: Petra, 58, widow;
     Ronmea, 26 (divorced); Lupe, 24; 7 grandchildren
 ✿ 1940 Refugio, TX: Petra Contreras, 67, widow;
     living with daughter Petra (28) and her family

 Also attached:
 ✿ Marriage license list from the newspaper, includes Juan Dimas and Petra Contreras.
 ✿ Photo of Petra Dimas hugging her niece after her niece was baptized. 
     It's one of the few photos my mother has of her Tia Petra.

My DNA Results II

You can read about my initial results here. Since that post I've had time to look through all the matches and new ones have been added almost daily.
Here are the stats so far:

1144   total matches
    18   are in the 4th to 6th cousin range with 95% confidence or higher
    67   of the public trees have fewer than 30 people on them
  157   do not have a tree on Ancestry.com
  184   have private trees

Because of the large number of results I'm setting aside the matches that have no tree and those that have private trees. My tree is public so they are free to look and if they find a match I hope they will contact me. One person already has because she read my previous blog post! She invited me to view her private tree. No luck finding our connection (4th - 6th cousin with 95% confidence) but we'll continue to search.

After the jump: Surnames and DNA matches

My DNA Results

I considered writing an overview of Ancestry.com's new autosomal DNA test but the Legal Genealogist already has an excellent write up. I highly recommend reading her post if you're interested in the autosomal test.

As of March 2012 the categories for Ancestry.com's results were as follows:

  British Isles
  Central European
  East Asia (includes Siberia, China & Southeast Asia)
  Eastern European
  Finnish/Volga-Ural
  French/Swiss
  German
  Jewish
  Middle Eastern
  Native North American
  Native South American
  North African
  Russian/Persian/Turkish
  Scandinavian
  Southern European

As you'll see from my results at least one of those categories, Russian/Persian/Turkish, has changed since March. Also, I have yet to hear of anyone having "German" as a result. That may have been a result that was not as clearly defined as they initially thought. As Ancestry gets more input during this BETA phase of testing the categories, and thus everyone's results, may change a bit.  
One thing to keep in mind is that a country's borders are the results of politics not biology and they vary widely over the course of history. If you have any ancestors from "Bohemia" I'm sure you are already keenly aware of this.
My results after the jump.

So Crazy It Just Might Be True

Just as you shouldn't accept a profile without looking at the records,
you shouldn't dismiss a profile without looking at the records.
At first glance a timeline may seem unlikely
but if there are records to back it up...
(Comments after the jump.)

 ELLA MAY GILLESPIE
 Birth
 14 May 1894 in Franklin, Warren, Ohio
 Marriage #1
 29 Nov 1909 in Butler, Ohio to Edward Chamberlain
 Residence
 1910 Middletown, Butler, Ohio
 Marriage #2
 12 Feb 1914 in Butler, Ohio to Edward Chamberlain
 Marriage #3
 24 Sep 1917 in Butler, Ohio to Alfred Charles Walker
 Residence
 1920 Middletown, Butler, Ohio
 Marriage #4
 23 Jan 1922 in Butler, Ohio to Bradley Robinson
 Residence
 1930 Middletown, Butler, Ohio

The Sewing Machine

My mom wrote this a few years ago and I thought it would
be appropriate for Mother's Day weekend.

Mom did not have much time to do anything at home since she divorced when we were very young (I was six years old) and she had to work to support and raise us the best way she could. Anyway, every little chance she had, she would work on some fancy needlework. She loved to embroider and crochet but never had enough to buy supplies. Her dad, my grandpa, bought her a sewing machine so she could make us dresses. During those days street vendors would go around the neighborhood selling whatever. There was this man that would go by on a monthly basis selling his wares including material and sewing thread. Mom would buy scrap bundles (they were cheaper in price) to make us clothes. She made her own patterns. She didn't use instructions for her crocheting either! Back then flour came in a cloth sack (25 - 50 pounds). Most were "dirty looking" white sacks but we also had pretty prints. I think even my brother had flour sack underwear made by Mom. I still remember the very first bra she made for me. As a child I did not appreciate it and felt embarrassed to wear it. Of course now I feel so proud of my Mom and what she went through to make me what I am today. Back to the sewing machine. It was nice. It had a cabinet but most of all, Mama could really make the pedal go! She was proud of it. My baby sister, Lali, ended up with it. Don't know why but she dumped it! One day in the early 70's Floyd and I went to visit and saw it outside the house all rusty and the cabinet was rotted. Floyd figured he would try to make it work. No luck, it was too far gone. The only thing he could save was the iron legs. That's what we now use as an end table!

Mom, Grandma Luz, Tia Mary

Great-Grandpa Ysidro, Tia Lali, Tio Marcos


PREVIOUS POST: They told 2 friends and so on...
NEXT POST: Time Turner

This Time It's Personal

Josiah Gillespie was the brother of my ggg-grandfather.
Comments after the jump.

JOSIAH GILLESPIE
1836 Born in Pennsylvania
1850 Lived in Lebanon, Warren, Pennsylvania (US Census)
1867 Marriage to Emma Scott (1851 - 1900)
1868 Lived in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio (US National Homes for Disabled Soldiers)
1870 Lived in Jefferson, Montgomery, Ohio (US Census)
1880 Lived in Summit, Erie, Pennsylvania (US Census)
1880 Lived in National Military Home, Montgomery, Ohio (US Census)
1900 Lived in North East Township, Erie, Pennsylvania (US Census)
1909 Died in Poast Town, Butler, Ohio (Ohio Deaths)
1910 Lived in North East Township, Erie Pennsylvania WITH Emma (US Census)

PARENTS
Charles Gillespie and Nancy Gillaspie
SIBLINGS
Margaret, Gideon, Sarah, William, Charles, Arthur, James and Thomas