Not just for ourselves, but for unknowable future generations

The structure of the DNA double helix

The number of current Ancestry.com customers may now approach 15+ million, and perhaps a similar number are inactive or deceased former DNA or Family Tree customers – where their formally active accounts have now lapsed.  But even these inactive public family trees remain available for current and trial customer genealogical research. Ancestry.com management claims over 10 million customers have taken an Ancestry DNA ethnicity test.  These folks have current active profiles in Ancestry's growing DNA database. Test takers are all eligible and invited to create trial Ancestry family trees.  Ancestry.com may be the largest family tree search application, but there are a half dozen or more other firms providing these lineage/DNA services. Other competent DNA firms include FamilyTree DNA, MyHeritage, 23andMe, Living DNA, etc.

Writing for MIT Technology Review, author Antonio Regalado claims “...More people took genetic ancestry [tests] last year [2017] than in all previous years combined.” Perhaps surprising to some, on Facebook alone, there are a significant number of public and closed groups dedicated to the genealogical interests of members, many of these dedicated to the research of specific surnames or geographical locations like Early New England or French Canadian. The aggregate number of people in pursuit of personal lineage data may easily top 25 million. The Internet has provided the means to do quicker genealogical research, but there remains an amazing number who still research the old fashion way by visits to historical societies, churches, public record facilities, cemeteries, and the like. 

A good share of individual genealogical researchers do it not just for themselves, but for others with similar interests and for their unknowable generations perhaps in two or more future centuries.  So I'm not sure what point those folks who fail to comprehend ancestral pursuits are making -- I for one don't understand them. Caring more for deceased ancestors than for the living seems a patently absurd argument the uninterested sometimes make. Take a look at this 1906 poem authored by the professional engineer, family historian, and breeder of trotting and show horses Mr. Walter Butler Palmer (1868-1932). His thoughtful poem provides a clue by correctly illustrating some of the motivation felt by those actively engaged in genealogical research.

Dear Ancestor

"Your tombstone stands among the rest
Neglected and alone
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished marble stone
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn

You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh and blood and bone
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own

Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so
I wonder how you lived and loved
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot
And come to visit you."

-Walter Butler Palmer

Note:  The image presented at the top of this post is a public domain photo by NASA found by a simple Internet search.

Multiple DNA Ethnicity Analysis

The directly below image was prepared for sharing on July 15, 2018, by AncestryDNA at www.Ancestry.com.  Not much has changed since their original estimate was calculated in 2012/2013.  DNA doesn't change, but AncestryDNA claims their analysis techniques frequently change and update as DNA technology and science advances.  These updates seem to have little impact in our original case. 

Note: the above ethnicity estimate tracks fairly close to our paper genealogical research.  We are as close to 100% European as statistically probable -- and must say -- very proud to be among the largest American minority group -- a true European-American! 

18 September 2018

UPDATE... Newer Ethnicity Estimates, where percentage change by AncestryDNA alleged due to better DNA scientific analysis. 

23andMe DNA results on left, new AncestryDNA on right:

Establishes again that my likely ethnicity remains close -- very close -- to 100% European origin, a true "European American."

26 September 2018

The Latest and Last Update:  Received a marketing email from MyHeritage DNA a couple of days ago announcing the firm's improved ability to accept uploaded 23andMe-DNA raw data (genotyping chip--version 5) for ethnicity evaluation under MyHeritage analysis methodology.

Presented here are the MyHeritage DNA Ethnicity Estimates:

       

An individual's DNA clearly does not change. 😏But raw data evaluation methods seem significantly variable.  The 26 Sep 2018 analysis of my 23andMe raw DNA data done by MyHeritage shows some strong variation relative to other DNA analysis firms, in particular with my estimated personal French and UK ancestry previously suggested under both AncestryDNA and 23andMe-DNA methodologies.

Questions On The Legitimacy Of Surname Paul

Our Great Grandparent's Monument, Saint George Lithuanian Catholic Cemetery, Wood Road, Whitesboro, NY 

We have no known aboriginal or Native American roots... ancestry is 100% European, at least per our AncestryDNA ethnicity estimate. Paternal Grandfather Stephen Paul Sr. (no middle name), d.1982, was born March 1890 in Lithuania as Stefan Poceus. The surname Poceus was never officially changed by a U.S. court, but family folklore suggests Stefan's dad -- Dominick Poceus wanted an American name when naturalized a USA citizen in March 1900, so he simply changed his surname to Paul (except in Utica-based St. George Lithuanian Catholic Church, where their use of Poceus surname continued in Church community records until death). The Poceus surname is on Dominick and his wife our Great Grandma Petronelli "Anna" Poceus' gravestone, this monument viewed at the top of this post.

Paternal Great Grandparents "Dom" and "Anna" Serva Poceus (ca: Abt. 1930)

But Paul is the surname on my dad's (Stephen Paul Jr.) and his childen's birth certificates, so I guess that's our legal surname. I've now communicated with a few dozen Ancestry DNA hits... all but a couple cousin respondents have been on my maternal-side... this fact seems a bit strange.

Paternal Grandparents Stephen and Bess Moegling Paul (ca: 1955)

Aged 18 Grandpa Stefan Poceus enlisted in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps in 1908 for a three-year stint.  His enlistment papers show his name is Stephen Paul, born at Utica, Oneida County, NY -- his name and birthplace enlistment claims both are disingenuous statements (untrue claims), data that in the military today would be considered a fraudulent enlistment. Grandpa was Honorably Discharged from U.S. Army in 1911 on completion of enlistment. Grandpa's daughters Effie and Margaret (our dad's sisters) confirm their father would not speak of experiences in Lithuania, it is suspected his early childhood there was both dangerous and highly unhappy. He was obviously competent in verbal Lithuanian language, but would not teach his daughters the language despite their frequent pleadings. My older brother Steve III tells a story about a family fishing trip. Seems Grandpa rode shotgun as our dad was driving. The boys, brothers and cousins sat in the back. I must have been aged about five, and began to pester Grandpa about his birth country... Grandpa did not reply, stirring in his seat. I kept up the long questions, as dad evidently turned toward the back seat and gave brother Steve and concerned dirty look... as if to non-verbally tell him to shut me up. Guess that paternal "stop it" look must have worked. Another funny family tale is that Grandpa's younger sister, our fun-loving Grand Aunt Rosie, taught his wife and our Grandma Bess several dirty words and uncomplimentary phrases in the Lithuanian language. Seems when Grandma Bess wanted to win a running family argument, she would shout out to Grandpa some learned disgusting Lithuanian phase... he would clam-up and walk off... Grandma had just won another ongoing family argument.         

        

I've basically started to question what I think I know about my genealogical paternal-side. Perhaps somewhere in the our past distant lineage, some other unknown guy had it in for one of my distant grandfathers . And then too remembering, our mostly French DNA mom Lillian did like our milkman when I was a kid.  I do make an undocumented claim to Dr. Ron Paul as an Uncle (Uncle Ron the unsuccessful candidate for U.S. President in 2008) -- and his son Dr. Rand Paul as my cousin (Cousin Rand the U.S. Senator and unsuccessful candidate for USA President in 2016). However, I've stayed away from claiming that greatly skilled professional basketball player Chris Paul as a cousin.

     

Don't Rush To Purchase A Scottish Kilt Wardrobe

Ancestry.com DNA "Ethnicity Estimates" Are Misleading; but, might be good for business. 

This post is meant to help new family genealogists with DNA result queries. No question Ancestry.com TV ads, etc. go far to compound “newbie” genealogist confusion with their ethnicity estimate percentage calculations. That guy who switched to wearing Scottish kilts based on his Scottish Ancestry single figure DNA estimates, or that overweight black woman who evidently starts wearing African head-ware based on her African DNA estimate really slay me – a great disservice here by Ancestry DNA management. Nothing is certain in an Ancestry ethnicity estimate! The single figure percentage presented in Ancestry's "Ethnicity Estimate" is developed from a probable calculated range... it is an uncertain and somewhat likely ESTIMATE!  

For example, my personal Ancestry DNA geographical area "Scandinavia" is estimated at 9%, developed from an Ancestry.com algorithm where my personal DNA actual range from Scandinavia is 0%-21%; whereas, my "Ireland" estimate at 26% is developed from a 15%-36% possible DNA range. All single figure estimates are developed from a range that can be viewed in your Ancestry DNA Ethnicity Estimate by clicking "View Your Genetic Estimate" button -- "Show 3 more Regions" -- then click the specific region to view the full range of possibility. Additionally, in this expanded view, one can easily see that "Great Britain" for example – actually expands possible DNA sources beyond Great Britain to include most of France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, and The Netherlands. All Ancestry DNA specific geographical areas can be expanded in this way to include far greater surrounding lands than suggested by their single area estimate.

Also, when working back in your ancestry a half-dozen generations or more, the "DNA match" presented by these autosomal DNA ethnicity tests confirm little about your actual ancestry. These numbers as related to individuals in your distant past are not "DNA Verification" of true family connection -- such matches simply state there is a limited probability of DNA connection. At best, the Ancestry DNA geographic region can create a warm feeling that your genealogical paper research is on the right track. But perhaps this possible DNA region match actually originates from distant sources presently unknown to the tested person. Here again, an Ancestry.com TV ad where a fifty-something woman claims discovery of her previously unknown 26% Native-American ancestry is highly suspect. How can this be?  First, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, this single figure geographic estimate percentage is likely developed from a far wider 10%-to-40% range of statistical probability. The most Christian answer is this new-found Native American lady was adopted and never knew her actual blood-related ancestors identity.  Or, a less Christian possibility... it might be one or more of her distant ancestors is actually Native American, where her paper ancestor(s) were not responsible for planting her pre-birth seeds. 

Oh, right... forgot... my bad... forgive me... all our distant ancestors were each pure as the fresh driven northern snows... nothing to see here... no funny business of a sexual nature ever happened in past times. Don't tell this to a parish priest with a locate Catholic Church in Herkimer, NY who refuses involvement in family genealogy research, this due to his experience where in a few past cases some hurtful nasty information about a researcher's actual documented ancestry was found written in his historical church records.         

Note: The kilted Scottish guy image displayed at the top of this post is based on an edited Internet-based image captured by simple Google search and displayed here in accordance with "free use" copyright provisions for non-profit educational purposes only.