Michael John Neill's Genealogy Website
Relationship projections in DNA test results are estimations based upon shared DNA. The relationship is an estimate. The relationship stated is based on the amount of shared DNA (measured in centimorgans). The Shared cM Project has estimates of relationships based on shared centimorgans. These are estimates. These probable relationships on the Shared cM Project are based […]
[still applicable today] From the former Ancestry Daily News Michael John Neill — 3/22/2006 This week we look at some ways that our searches of records can be stymied. Handwriting Have you considered how the letters might appear on the page of the original document? This is especially a concern when using indexes […]
Part of my problem in utilizing my AncestryDNA matches to find relatives of my Irish forebears was that I was too concentrated on matching other descendants of my Samuel Neill. It’s tempting to do that–after all, there were about ten other descendants of Samuel in the AncestryDNA database. They would have to match other Neill relatives […]
Words matter. The recent post on a DNA discovery used the phrase “Potential DNA Match on My Neill Family” in the title. DNA matches to someone or it doesn’t. There’s not a “potential” to the match. The “potential” is when the researcher is not yet certain which family the shared match comes through. What’s “potential” […]
We are usually told to cite our sources because it allows us to go back and find things again if necessary and it assists us in the analysis of information. Another reason: Reducing errors created by the researcher. Creating citations after the research has been done can be time consuming, tedious, and repetitive process. For […]
An 1833 deed record in Coshocton County, Ohio, from Thomas Chaney to Abraham Chaney contains the following text at the very bottom of the record copy of the deed: Recorder’s Office Coshocton County Ohio This Deed was Filed in my office for Record Oct [22?]nd 1834 [And?] was Recorded same day & Year in book […]
Historical timelines fitting your ancestor’s life into larger historical events are a good analytical tool. However… One always has to give some thought to whether or not the historical event really had an impact on your ancestor’s life. Don’t just dump larger historical events into your ancestor’s personal chronology without thinking about whether or not […]
The War of 1812 widow’s pension application for Jemima Meads (widow of Elisha) in Harford County, Maryland, includes testimony from Thomas Tredway. Elisha served as a private in Captain James Rampley’s Company of the Maryland Militia in the War of 1812. Tredway was an 83-year old resident of Baltimore County, Maryland, at the time of […]
