Use Ancestor Projects to try to break your brick wall

 

When you upload your dna data to GEDmatch you may get an overwhelming amount of matches from just about every genealogy dna company.

There is a way to narrow down the pool and connect with those that may hold the key to your success in breaking your brick wall. GEDmatch has many tools to help you, and I like the Ancestor Project tool. 

Ancestor Projects is still marked as new though it has been around for a little while now, and there are many projects to choose from. There are DNA projects for countries, areas within a country, surnames, ethnic groups, etc. 

I have joined a few, one being the county in Ireland where my Seale family is from. I also joined a group for Lanakrshire, Scotland as I am stuck on my Thomson line in and around Glasgow.

Here's how it works.  Under DNA Applications click on Ancestor Projects. 

Scroll down to the projects available, looking at the name of the project and the description. When you find one that may help you click the Join button, answer the questions and give your GEDmatch number. You will hear back from the group within a day or two and then follow their instructions. 

Most of these projects are connected to a Facebook group or a website, where you can connect with your matches within that group. Others you may have to email the administrator. 

TIP: If you are trying to go waaay back you may try lowering the threshold to 5 or 6.

Irish DNA Registry

I can see how DNA testing and looking for matches can become addicting. For me the fourth try was a winner (first three samples were no good for testing) and I received my results yesterday. I have been on the computer ever since, contacting matches and being contacted by others.  

If you are having trouble finding your ancestors in Ireland, read on...


After only barely glancing at matches I uploaded my raw data to whoever would take me... GEDmatch, My Heritage (**you now have until Dec 15 to upload FREE), Living DNA, and Family Tree DNA (*updated)

I was waiting for results to specifically upload to GEDmatch so I could join the FaceBook group... Irish DNA Registry. It is a closed group and you can only join once you have your GEDmatch number. There are now over 7500 members, all with ancestral ties to Ireland. 

Once you join you are instructed how to upload your GEDmatch matches to their Matchbox program where your results are compared with others in the program and you will see all your matches with Irish Ancestors. Although... technically you could both be looking for Irish ancestors but match in Scotland or England. It happens. 

The program is in an excel spreadsheet and sounds a little more complicated then it actually is.  You do need a google account to use Matchbox, as the spreadsheet goes into your google drive. There you can upload again with new GEDmatches and see your new Irish matches.   

First day and I have 37 matches!

Best of all everyone there has tested because they are serious, not just curious. 

I am already connecting with people who are matches with my ancestors I had no way of finding in Ireland. Now there is hope!