Next Steps

[joeparkerUK]

Hi all,

I have been a Member of Ancestry for some years now and have built up a reasonable tree, along with completing and uploading DNA tests/data to assist.

I have hit a point now where I feel I have so much information that I don't know what to do with it.

I have a broken link on my father's Grandfather who was born illegitimately, however I was hoping my DNA results could benefit and assist with this, am I right?


What steps do people take to progress generally? I'd like to put some more meat on the bones rather than just names on a tree.. how can i do this?

[Meelystar]

Welcome to rootschat!
What about trying the British Newspaper Archive? I’ve found all sorts of interesting things by searching for my ancestors names (appearances in court/appearances on stage/sad family events/local politics/suicide/victims of crimes etc).  I would also look at researching occupations and places where ancestors lived. I would recommend these websites for some inspiration.
http://www.partletontree.com/InTheirShoes.htm
http://auntiemabel.org/blog/

With regard to the dna testing have you done anything with your results? I would start grouping the higher matches so you can start to narrow down where the illegitimate matches come in. I started looking at my Dad’s results in May and have been able to find out that his Great Grandfather had two illegitimate children before he got married.

[IgorStrav]

In addition, with regard to DNA, if you are hoping to find connections with whom you share DNA from a few generations back, you will need to have a wider tree - ie you need to follow through the siblings of your ancestors, together with their children through to the modern day.

I write from experience - when I did my DNA, I expected to find familiar names within the trees of my DNA matches.  And that has proved, even with those who have large trees, not to be the case.

In nearly every case I've had to do more broadening research to find where the links actually are.

But I also agree with Meelystar that there is great enjoyment to be had from following up the social history (street and area names, occupations, newspaper reports) associated with your ancestors.

I did quite a bit of research around cholera in the 1840's in London which affected some of my ancestors in South London.  And typhoid also hit my family much later in Maidstone.  Let alone TB whose prevalence led to my mother's frequent trips to the country from East London as a 'deserving' child to help her health with fresh country air.



Added - and if you're fed up with 'your lot' and need a rest, why not read through some of the threads here and join the investigators helping other people.  That's good fun!!

Welcome to Rootschatters!

[joeparkerUK]

Welcome to rootschat!
What about trying the British Newspaper Archive? I’ve found all sorts of interesting things by searching for my ancestors names (appearances in court/appearances on stage/sad family events/local politics/suicide/victims of crimes etc).  I would also look at researching occupations and places where ancestors lived. I would recommend these websites for some inspiration.
http://www.partletontree.com/InTheirShoes.htm
http://auntiemabel.org/blog/

With regard to the dna testing have you done anything with your results? I would start grouping the higher matches so you can start to narrow down where the illegitimate matches come in. I started looking at my Dad’s results in May and have been able to find out that his Great Grandfather had two illegitimate children before he got married.

Thanks Meelystar. That sounds good. I wanted to prioritise this broken link I have but sometimes it can get a bit daunting so having the 'fun' side of it to fall back on is handy too.

That story is unbelievable! The family story re my Grandad Ernest Parker (who was born illegitimately) was that his mother (Asenath) spent time working at Shugborough Hall which was owned and operated by the Bishops of Lichfield and that there was a potential link to Ernest and the upper-echelons at Shugborough, however nothing has confirmed that yet.

In addition, with regard to DNA, if you are hoping to find connections with whom you share DNA from a few generations back, you will need to have a wider tree - ie you need to follow through the siblings of your ancestors, together with their children through to the modern day.

I write from experience - when I did my DNA, I expected to find familiar names within the trees of my DNA matches.  And that has proved, even with those who have large trees, not to be the case.

In nearly every case I've had to do more broadening research to find where the links actually are.

But I also agree with Meelystar that there is great enjoyment to be had from following up the social history (street and area names, occupations, newspaper reports) associated with your ancestors.

I did quite a bit of research around cholera in the 1840's in London which affected some of my ancestors in South London.  And typhoid also hit my family much later in Maidstone.  Let alone TB whose prevalence led to my mother's frequent trips to the country from East London as a 'deserving' child to help her health with fresh country air.



Added - and if you're fed up with 'your lot' and need a rest, why not read through some of the threads here and join the investigators helping other people.  That's good fun!!

Welcome to Rootschatters!

That's great advice re building the tree. I have 689 people in the tree which I thought was a lot but I'm seeing others with 7000+ so I have a long way to go yet. Broadening research sounds like the way to go.

It would be great to help others as well so I'll get involved - thanks both.

[jorose]

Do you know where exactly Ernest was born? It's worth checking the address - might have been aamily address (born at home), a lodging house (check to see who else was there - sometimes doctors or midwives provided services out of private houses for single mothers) or an institution (workhouse infirmary for example).

Shugborough Hall was only owned by the Bishops until the 1540s! Later it was the seat of the Earls of Lichfield (the Anson family) - now it is in the hands of the National Trust.

There are some pictures of the domestic staff at Shugborough on this site, here's an example from circa 1890s-1900s:
https://www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/Details.aspx?&ResourceID=880&PageIndex=1&KeyWord=

If Asenath was in domestic service and became pregnant, she would have almost certainly have lost her job as soon as it was discovered, and couldn't have worked in a similar job with baby in tow.

[joeparkerUK]

Do you know where exactly Ernest was born? It's worth checking the address - might have been aamily address (born at home), a lodging house (check to see who else was there - sometimes doctors or midwives provided services out of private houses for single mothers) or an institution (workhouse infirmary for example).

Shugborough Hall was only owned by the Bishops until the 1540s! Later it was the seat of the Earls of Lichfield (the Anson family) - now it is in the hands of the National Trust.

There are some pictures of the domestic staff at Shugborough on this site, here's an example from circa 1890s-1900s:
https://www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/Details.aspx?&ResourceID=880&PageIndex=1&KeyWord=

If Asenath was in domestic service and became pregnant, she would have almost certainly have lost her job as soon as it was discovered, and couldn't have worked in a similar job with baby in tow.

Thanks so much. I purchased a copy of the BC and it showed that Ernest was born in a house shared with another family in Kingswinford - so potentially a lodging house?

[Treetotal]

Hi Joe and welcome to RootsChat...maps are a good way of tracking your ancestors location...by using NLS Maps side by side, you can compare the location of a house they lived in on the censuses then and now. Also search online for photos of churches where your ancestors where married. Find A Grave can throw up useful information too. Try googling a family name and location and you may be surprised at the results. Also, on Ancestry, to to "Pictures" and google a family name and place of birth and you may find Family photos. It's a good idea to look at the neighbours of your ancestors on censuses as Family often lived close by.
Good Luck!
Carol