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Ancestral Family Tree DNA Testing / Re: Ancestry Matches and Half Cousins.
« on: Friday 23 September 22 13:42 BST (UK) »I have had a tentaive search online, and a search through threads on here, but haven't come across an answer that makes my confusion any clearer. So apologies if creating the 1001st thread asking this.
The query I have is in regards to Ancestry matches and 'common ancestors.'
I have a handful of matches where we only descend from one ancestor rather than two.
For example, a female 4xgreat-Grandmother by Ancestry has myself and a "half cousin" being descended from her only, and not also the male 4xgreat-Grandfather.
There is no before or after marriages, as they were married young and died still together years later.
Does this indicate a non paternal issue, or a slight on Ancestry's part figuring out a relationship?
I do not understand your question. Do you mean you are not a DNA match to the spouse of the shown ancestor or are you simply referring to paper trail research and other people's trees?
If the first (DNA) it should be remembered that each parent only provides approximately 50% of their child's DNA (in addition a Small proportion of the child's DNA is "background" DNA which most of the population of the area carry).
Each parent in every generation that passes only passes down approximately 50% of their DNA so by simple arithmetic a child would on average only have 1.5% of any particular 4th grt. grandparent's DNA in their DNA and it is possible may not have any identifyable amount of DNA from that grt. grandparent showing in their DNA.
Cheers
Guy