Openings in the Advanced DNA Special Interest Group!

Good news! If you've been wishing you'd signed up for our Advanced DNA SIG led by Mark McLaren, a few new spaces have opened up. Participants must have completed the CGS DNA Series or equivalent DNA class/experience, and must have uploaded DNA test results at one of the common DNA websites.

The Advanced DNA Skills Special Interest Group will continue to develop their understanding of DNA techniques, review new developments in DNA testing and tools, and discuss member’s research problems and case studies.

Meetings are held online via Zoom, on the 4th Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

If interested, please contact Mark McLaren.

 Copyright © 2021 by California Genealogical Society

Quarantine Quests: Finding Enoch

This Quarantine Quests story is from CGS member Shirley Thomson and written by Chris Pattillo.

More than fifty years ago Shirley Thomson began her quest for the birth family of her husband, Tommy’s, earliest known ancestor, Enoch Thomson, born in 1784 in New York. Shirley started searching for Enoch’s parentage when she discovered the wealth of genealogical records in the local library where she was working in 1962. Since that time, she has persisted in her efforts to discover Enoch’s connection to one of many Thomson family trees.

Enoch Thomson (1784-1872),
farmer and part-time Baptist preacher,
 Sullivan County, Indiana

The best part of being quarantined is that “it eliminates my need to make excuses for working on my family history” says Shirley. After many years of searching and not finding the desired connection, Shirley decided to hire the CGS Research team to help with her quest. That decision was made in February of 2020, shortly before the quarantine began. Initially, hiring the research team – that includes Lavinia Schwarz and Pat Smith – increased Shirley’s workload. As the team of researchers dug in, they presented Shirley with lots of questions. Shirley was very busy answering their questions starting in February and into the early weeks of the quarantine. Since then she has taken a bit of a break from genealogy.

When asked what tips Shirley had to offer, she said “Perseverance.” That is what is needed when tackling a tough problem. After fifty-plus years of pursuit I’d say Shirley is a model of perseverance.

Shirley has been using DNA to look for Enoch’s parents since 2006. She has found several autosomal and yDNA matches – some with lines going back to the mid-1600s. Each new DNA clue confirms the same family line, but she has yet to find Enoch from any of these leads. One of her challenges is the tradition in this family to use middle or nicknames, so while she is focused on looking for Enoch it may be that he was known as “Ed” and that is why she has yet to pin this man down.

Deed to land purchased by brothers-in-law Justis Clark and Enoch Thomson
of Lysander, New York, on 30 July 1811. By 1820, both Clark and Thomson
families were resettled on farms near the Wabash River in Indiana

I asked how she managed to come up with new questions to ask after fifty years of searching – how does she formulate new questions that enable her to approach the problem from a different perspective? Her answer was prompt and emphatic: “Oh, that’s easy, because technology gives us new opportunities all the time'” When asked for an example, Shirley said she has three pages of names of other Thomson descendants who are doing research on this same family. She was able to print this out from the GEDmatch.com site. The report lists people who match Enoch’s autosomal DNA. She can refine the list and see their ancestral lines and what they are focused on. Using their GEDCOM identification number she can compare them to other matches to her husband. Studying this information continues to provide new clues.

So far neither Shirley nor the research team have found the link they are seeking, but all are persevering.

Enoch's son Reuben Thomson (1827-1907) with his wife Margaret McKinney
 and nine grown children, mid-1800s

If you have a Quarantine Quests story to share, please contact Chris at cpattillo@californiaancestors.org.

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Quarantine Quests: Quaker Connections

This Quarantine Quests story comes from CGS member Sandy Fryer, who used DNA and records from the Society of Friends to home in on an elusive ancestor.

Those of us whose ancestors had distinctive surnames have it much easier than those who struggle with a Smith, Murphy, Lee, or Jones. Sandy Fryer has to contend with a third-great-grandfather named Elverton Jones. Thank heavens he has an unusual first name. The only thing Sandy knows about this elusive ancestor’s birth is that he was born in Virginia about 1800.

Sandy created this table to help her keep track of yDNA connections

Traditional research methods have not enabled her to expand beyond these basic facts, so Sandy decided to submit a yDNA sample from her brother in hopes of finding new leads and paths to follow. Sandy joined the Jones DNA project and used FamilyTree DNA to identify other Joneses within a genetic distance of 3. These individuals have a 78% chance of having a common ancestor within six generations. Since Sandy lacks sufficient information to identify Elverton’s parents her strategy is to look at other Jones families in hopes of finding a common ancestor.

She started by looking at R.A. Jones, but fairly quickly proved that his family tree was only accurate to his third-great-grandfather.  Next, she focused on R.L. Jones, who had identified his Jones line back to a Richard Jones born about 1704.  Notably, this family line were Quakers and it was fairly easy to verify R. L. Jones’s work. Needless to say, doing this work is a painstaking effort requiring good record keeping–an ideal diversion while confined to one’s home during the pandemic.

A third lead is C.D. Jones, for whom Sandy has been able to document multiple generations. More importantly, she again confirmed a Quaker connection and documentation that Nathan Jones, C.D.’s fifth great grandfather served during the American Revolution–for which he was expelled from the Quakers.

One of the records Sandy found for Nathan Jones in a Roster of
Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia

This Quaker theme seems like a strong lead. The Quakers kept good records so Sandy’s next research steps will focus on Quaker connections. She asks, “If any of our members have experience researching Quakers, particularly in Virginia, please get in touch with me to share what you know.” Sandy can be reached at sfryer@californiaancestors.org.

The member-posted family trees on Ancestry.com have aided Sandy in her search. Knowing that one cannot rely upon these trees as being accurate, Sandy has instead used the trees to find documentation that supports their claims and sometimes offers clues to other places where she can look for further documentation. Ancestry has pretty good Quaker records, which is also helping her make progress.

One of the Quaker sources Sandy found mentions Nathan Jones and
two of his brothers

Sandy created a table to help her keep track of the names and facts she is finding for each Jones candidate. Her table enables her to easily compare each individual by generation and associations. Sandy also created a family tree using her Legacy genealogy program for her yDNA connections. She uses this tree, which is separate from her primary tree, to keep each piece of information she finds along with her sources. She also uses Legacy to create reports that help her analyze her data.

Since using Ancestry Family Trees has helped Sandy make progress on her conundrum she admits to feeling a little guilty for not having shared her research on Ancestry. Now, she is reconsidering that decision and may share some portion of her tree publicly. 

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

GEDMatch is sold to Verogen

In the latest twist in the saga that has been unfolding since 2018, when DNA was used to catch the Golden State Killer, it was announced this week that GEDMatch has been purchased by Verogen, a DNA sequencing company that works with law enforcement. Verogen has said it will continue GEDMatch's opt-in policy, instated after the Golden State Killer case sparked concerns that police and the FBI could access users' personal genetic information. While the debate about privacy versus crime-solving is not likely to be resolved any time soon, many observers think this is a positive development for GEDMatch and its 81-year-old founder, Curtis Rogers. Rogers and his partner John Olson founded GEDMatch in 2010 as a site for amateur genealogists who could upload the results of a personal DNA test and look for relatives sharing matching stretches of DNA. Before 2018, the website was fairly obscure, known mostly to genealogists. Once the story of the captured serial killer hit the headlines, everything changed. Rogers and Olson were caught up in a conflict they never anticipated. It is hoped that Verogen, a much larger firm, may be able to provide tighter security over the data and better navigate the competing ethical and legal concerns. There remain many questions about how this might work, though.

Some further reading:

Business Wire: GEDMatch Partners with Genomics Firm Verogen
Wired: A DNA Firm that Caters to Police Just Bought a Genealogy Site
NBC News: New Owner of Consumer DNA Database GEDMatch Vows to Fight Police Search Warrants
Wired: What the Golden State Killer Case Tells Us About Forensic Genetics

Copyright © 2019 by California Genealogical Society

FREE DNA Roundtable, Thursday, August 15

An addition to our Summer Thursday evenings series: Therese Hart-Pignotti and Dawn Kosmakos will lead an informal Q&A and discussion on using DNA in genealogy. Both Therese and Dawn found their birth families using DNA and have helped others to do the same. All welcome.

Copyright © 2019 by California Genealogical Society

2019 DNA class offerings

Get your DNA on with CGS in 2019!

CGS is sponsoring a plethora of classes and activities focused on ancestral DNA this year. It all kicks off March 7 with a NEW 6-week DNA series being taught by Mark McLaren at the Oakland FamilySearch Library. This is intended for people either new to DNA or looking to improve their ability to use it in their research. Class textbook is The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine Bettinger.

Then we offer 3 one-day seminars on interpreting your DNA test results:

March 23:  You've Got Your Ancestry DNA Results, What Next?

March 30:  You've Got Your Family Tree DNA Results, What Next?

April 6: You've Got Your 23andMe or MyHeritage DNA Results, What Next?

Those who've completed one of the above classes may be interested in the First Saturday Monthly DNA Study Group, starting up again on May 4. Information is given during the preliminary classes.

And there's more ...

Stay tuned for details on the following:

Summer Evening Drop-in DNA Q&A Sessions
(Time/date TBA)

Therese Hart-Pignotti will help with your DNA questions, particularly as they relate to adoptions.

Fall Classes on Advanced DNA Topics 
(Time/date TBA)

Jim Russell will cover citing DNA sources in your genealogy writing, using the emerging DNA matching tools, and more, as well as a lecture on Y-DNA. 

Subscribe to our blog or follow us on Facebook to get the latest news!

Copyright © 2019 by California Genealogical Society

Perspectives on DNA and Adoption: A panel discussion

On Saturday, September 29, the California Genealogical Society will host a panel discussion on one of the hottest topics in genealogy today. DNA testing is transforming genealogical research, and it’s having a huge impact on families with adoptions. Our five panelists will share a range of perspectives, from adoptees, adoptive parents, and consultants. They will discuss using DNA to build a family tree, and offer guidelines and insights for dealing with the emotional and ethical issues that can arise.

 

Speakers include:

Laura Ashizawa, an adoptee who found her birth mother through genealogical records online and then located her birth father using DNA.

Eva Goodwin, who is experienced in genetic genealogy research, including adoptions. She has contributed research for the Who Do You Think You Are? TV series. 

Therese Hart-Pignotti, an adopted only daughter. She works as a paralegal developing family pedigrees for use in legal cases when a person has died without an heir.

Sarah Liron, who was adopted at birth through a closed adoption. She eventually located her birth mother through genealogical records. DNA then helped her identify hundreds of people in her paternal family tree and connected with scores of cousins in her birth father’s family. Sarah holds a master’s degree in genetic counseling from UC Berkeley.

Joanna Shear, a professional genealogist and adoptive mother, who used traditional research to uncover living family members thought lost in the Holocaust. DNA testing has led her to the ancestral villages of her immigrant great-grandparents. She has experienced the powerful influence that family history can have on sense of identity for herself and through work for others. 

Linda Okazaki

The panel is facilitated by Linda Okazaki, a contract researcher with Ancestry’s ProGenealogists and past president of the California Genealogical Society. She writes a column, “Finding Your Nikkei Roots,” which is published bi-monthly in the Nichi Bei Weekly.

The event runs 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, September 29 at CGS. Tickets available at EventBrite (click for link): Cost is $45 (can be applied toward CGS membership). Free for CGS members.

 

Copyright © 2018 by California Genealogical Society

Putting the Gene in Genealogy

Blaine Bettinger with CGS past president Linda Okazaki in Berkeley, March 3

On March 3, CGS hosted “A Day with the Genetic Genealogist,” a daylong seminar with Blaine Bettinger at the David Brower Center in Berkeley. The sold-out event addressed “Getting the Most Out of Your AncestryDNA Matches,” gave an overview of Y-DNA, mtDNA, and autosomal DNA, and looked at new third-party tools for genealogical DNA analysis. Bettinger also led a smaller seminar at CGS the previous day, where he examined in detail such topics as the need for ethics and standards in DNA testing, a “genealogical proof standard” for genetics, and how to interpret non-European DNA evidence.

Blaine Bettinger was first bitten by the genealogy bug in middle school, when a family history assignment sparked a fascination that would continue through his life. He was a graduate student at SUNY Upstate Medical University, studying molecular biology and biochemistry, when the first affordable direct-to-consumer tests for ancestral DNA came on the market. “This was combining my two loves, microbiology and genealogy,” he remembers. Soon he had discovered his passion. After grad school, he decided to pursue a law degree, reckoning that “would allow me to pursue my love of science and reading and writing, without being at the bench every day. So I went right from grad school to law school, and it's been a terrific career.” In 2007, he launched a website, The Genetic Genealogist, one of the earliest blogs on the topic. 

Self-described as “an intellectual property attorney by day and a DNA specialist by night,” Dr. Bettinger soon became one of the go-to authorities on ancestral DNA.  He’s been interviewed and quoted by national publications such as Newsweek, New Scientist, and Wired. He’s also gained something like rock-star status in the genealogical community for his entertaining presentations, which are both informative and lucid enough for the layperson.

While limited population samples currently hinder the study of ancestral DNA, especially for those of non-European heritage, Bettinger anticipates great leaps and bounds in DNA analysis in the near future. “The way the databases are growing, it’s just incredible,” he says. He’s enthusiastic about the development of such tools as DNAPainter, GEDMatch, and the Chrome extension MedBetter, which make it easier to understand and compare DNA results. In April 2018 he plans to launch a new “DNA Central” project to help subscribers keep abreast of the latest developments in genetic genealogy.

You can learn more about Bettinger’s work at his website, TheGeneticGenealogist.com.

Copyright © 2018 by California Genealogical Society

A Few Good Volunteers

Dear Friends of CGS,

We have a great line-up of events and classes for 2018, but running a business such as ours takes many volunteers. It’s hard to imagine that a non-profit organization with roughly 1,000 members operates with no paid staff. 

I appreciate all of you who donated to the Annual Appeal and to the Capital Campaign. But we also need volunteers to help keep things running smoothly. All of our committees can use some additional help. Please contact Kathleen Beitiks if you would like to volunteer. 

Happy Holidays, 

Linda Okazaki

The following volunteer positions are vacant:

·  Catalog Librarian: Volunteer needed to enter data into WorldCat and to assist in evaluating our current holdings. Knowledge of Library of Congress cataloging and experience with WorldCat required. Reports to the Library Director.

· Digital Historian: Volunteer needed to organize, digitize, and preserve our records, both current and historical. Reports to the president.

·  Field Trip Coordinator: Volunteer needed to plan fieldtrips to locations relevant to genealogical research such as the David Rumsey Collection at Stanford or the Society of California Pioneers. Reports to the Events Chair.

· Off-site Event Coordinator: Plan and execute large scale events such as Ancestry Day or NEHGS Comes West, or work with big-name speakers such as Cyndi Ingle, Judy Russell, and Blaine Bettinger. Experience running large events needed. Reports to the Events Chair. Works closely with the Technology and Marketing teams.

· Social Media Coordinator: Volunteer needed to plan and execute our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram accounts. Reports to the Publications Chair and/or Marketing Chair. Prior experience not necessary, but familiarity with social media is helpful.

The following committee chair positions are vacant. Please contact Linda Okazaki if you are interested or have a recommendation:

· Marketing Chair: Coordinate and execute activities which promote our organization and events. Overlaps with most other committees. Prior marketing experience a plus. 

·  Outreach Chair: Plan and execute events and activities which benefit both CGS and the community at large, such as classes at Senior Centers or having representation at events like the Aloha Festival or Ancestry day. Develop and maintain relationships with other organizations such as the California Mayflower Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution. Overlaps with Development, Fundraising, and Membership.

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society

Celebrating the Past and the Future: 2018 Genealogy Events and Education Plans

by Maureen Hanlon

Our 120^th Anniversary in 2018 is a great milestone --- we’ve planned a number of events and classes to both delve into our heritage and leverage the science that allows us to understand that past even better.  

Currently,  we are scheduling our five part Records Series and four part Skills Series. Your suggestions are most welcome for ideas on classes and events as we continue planning for 2018 continues. Come to our January 13th Annual Member Meeting and Birthday Party to hear more details and enjoy a talk about ancestors.

    

NOTE:  Our free Introduction to Genealogy on the first Saturday and the popular San Francisco Special Interest Group and Family Tree Special Interest Group will continue meeting on the third Saturdays. 

DNA

DNA will be a major focus as we have engaged Blaine Bettinger, The Genetic Genealogist, to come for an amazing event on March 3rd.  Get ready for Blaine's event by attending Pam Miller's previously held three foundation lectures on the major DNA tests, Ancestry, FamilyTree and 23 and Me on January 27th, February 3rd and 10th, respectively.  

Then check our schedule for a talk by Eva Goodwin from Ancestry to be held later in the year on DNA, Adoptions and Unknown Parents. We will also continue the monthly first Saturday meetings of an ongoing DNA study group for those who have completed the foundation series. 

Heritage

Our fortune and that of our ancestors lies in California’s rich geography. We’ve scheduled the popular Melinda Kashuba, author of Walking with Your Ancestors: a Genealogist’s Guide to Using Maps and Geography for April 14th. 

We’re also celebrating the diversity of our state and its early settlers with a Chinese Ancestry Day in May, which is Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month. Grant Din, Marisa Louie Lee and others will talk, plus we are exploring a tour of Angel Island. Look for Stewart Traiman's class that will share insights and strategies for Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender (LGBT) genealogy on June 23rd.

 

The online CGS Irish Ancestry Network will hold its second anniversary get-together on March 24th with an informal meet-up and an afternoon lecture by Cath Trindle on Irish Townlands. 

Trips and Tours

In addition to our annual Salt Lake City Research trip being held April 22nd-29th, Jane Lindsey will lead a trip for intermediate genealogists in August to the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne Indiana, home of the most extensive genealogy periodical collection.  We also have plans in the works to visit Sutro Library and events with The California Historical Society.  

Updates, more information and registration links will be published on our EventBrite page at least two months prior to the events.

It's going to be a wonderful year of genealogy and celebration at The California Genealogical Society.  We hope you'll be a part of the magic!

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society

Got my DNA results. Now what?

written by Lisa Gorrell

Do you also have questions about your Ancestry.com DNA results?

Recently, I learned a lot by watching a new webinar on Legacy Family Tree Webinars, called “Watch Geoff Live: DNA.” You can find the webinar here. 

In this video, Geoff showed how he decided whom to have tested using Ancestry DNA. He tested his grandparents for autosomal DNA and the results show matches up to the 4th-5th cousin level. 

He then had a DNA expert, Diahan Southard, take him through his results page at Ancestry.com.  Diahan explained each of the sections in the DNA results page: Ethnicity Estimates, DNA Matches, New Ancestor’s Discoveries, and DNA Circles.

Geoff had a genealogical question he wanted to answer. Watch the webinar to see how close he came to answering his DNA question.

You can also learn more about Geoff’s results by reading his blog post about the experience.  Be sure to read the comments too because these added to my knowledge as well.

For myself, I previously hadn’t paid any attention to some of these parts of my own DNA results page because I didn’t understand their purpose.  After watching the webinar, I now feel much better about how to view my results.

Unfortunately, this webinar is no longer free, but I believe it is worth the $9.95 purchase price for a download. You can also subscribe to the webinar series by purchasing either a yearly subscription at $49.95 or a monthly one at $9.95. 

Once you subscribe, then you can then watch any of the other webinars in the library. There are also several additional webinars on DNA.   I think it’s well worth the money if you want to know more about genealogy and DNA.

Copyright © 2016 by California Genealogical Society

Lisa Gorrell: Meet a Genealogist & Salt Lake City Expert

It's time to introduce you to Lisa Gorrell, our second trip leader for the upcoming 16th Annual Salt Lake City Research trip (April 24th-May 1st). 

Lisa gave me her answers about what got her interested in genealogy and why you should consider going on our research trip.  I hope you enjoy getting to know Lisa and journey along with her to Salt Lake City!

Why did you start researching your genealogy?

I started being interested in genealogy when I was pregnant with my first child.  Although I had always been interested in whom my grandparents and cousins were, it wasn’t until after my first daughter was born that I felt compelled to begin researching my ancestry.

As fate would have it, the woman who watched her when I returned to work was a genealogist who faithfully went every year for a week to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. I wondered, “What could someone possibly do in a library for 14 hours a day?”

She took me to the Sutro Library in San Francisco and set me down to look at the 1920 census. Once I found my grandfather’s family, I was hooked. I now love doing genealogy research.

What did you need to learn?

I love to learn new things, so I joined a local genealogical society and attended their evening lectures when I could. I read everything I could get my hands on, starting with reading The Source and The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy from cover to cover. Trying to research in new records was a learning process as well.

One of the most helpful things I finally learned to do was ask for help from seasoned genealogists at the society. It’s amazing how much many of the members know.  They helped me avoid needless hours of dead-ends by pointing me in the right direction. 

These days, I try to attend at least one genealogical institute for a week of learning per year, as well as many advanced lectures that I can.

What were some of your first experiences with the California Genealogical Society?

I had originally joined to have home access to Heritage Quest. Later, I attended my first annual meeting and met some really nice people who made me want to volunteer. I have been a member since 2004. I enjoy working with Events teaching classes, helping patrons at desk duty once a month, and working on the board as Recording Secretary.

As one of the leaders of the upcoming research trip to The Family History Library in Salt Lake City (SLC), what can a researcher gain by attending? 

So many!  First let’s start with why we’re qualified to help you:  Jim Sorenson and I have a wealth of experience using the resources at the Family History Library. I have researched there more than a dozen times, researching in American, Canadian, German, English, and Swedish records.

Both Jim and I will be available to assist you during the open hours of the library by answering questions, and helping you with unfamiliar records, the computer or microfilm machines.  If you need foreign language experts at the library, we know who can help with minor translations of documents you may find.  We also want to keep you on track with your research and hope you also have a little fun while doing it!  

The library has books, microfilm, microfiche, maps, and family histories, some of which are only available there. The only way to access many of their digitized records are on the library's computers that also have access to the major subscription databases.

Helpful hint: Please check the library catalog at FamilySearch to be certain that the library has records for the areas you are researching. Although the library has millions of records, they do not have records from every place in the world.

Want another good reason to go on a research trip with a group of genealogists? It’s the comradery you get being with other like-minded researchers. There is nothing more fun than to have someone be as thrilled as you are when you find something exciting or important about your family. You can also bounce off ideas with someone for the next research track you decide to venture down.

Have you had a personal "a-ha/brick wall break-through moment" while researching in Salt Lake City?  If so, would you describe? 

It was my first foray into more “intermediate” kind of records.  I couldn’t find the parents of Ellis Lancaster who lived in Shelby County, Kentucky.  One of the problems was that I found a second Ellis Lancaster, oh boy...

The leader of the trip suggested I look at land records.  Land records were a bit scary for me at that time, but it really paid off.  Ellis’ father had no probate or will records, however, all of his land was sold and these records named his children.  “I now had the parents of Ellis!  Plus I wasn’t afraid of land records anymore. I now knew that these records could give me the information that can help me or anyone else break a brick wall.”

Any last thoughts on genealogy?

I can’t imagine life without genealogy. There is not enough time in the day to get all I want to get done.

Another huge plus for a research trip to the Family HistoryLibrary in Salt Lake City---you get to leave all of your daily chores at home and spend the majority of your day just focused on genealogy.  You can get so much done. That is so worth it!

Copyright © 2016 by California Genealogical Society