As I recently wrote Genealogy is one of the biggiest hobbies in the world.
One of the most important, new, aspects of the pasttime, these days, involves DNA Research.
In order to begin to make headway on a Brick Wall related to the parentage of the Father of my Mother, in June I paid for her brother, my Uncle Paul, to participate in the historic Wells Family DNA Project, by The Wells Family Research Association.
I got the results back, at the end of July, and they are intriguing.
I'll have more to report on this, as I study the results, but it's pretty clear he's a Wells. ;-D
The interesting thing is that, of the 250 test takers that Ancestry says his DNA has similarities to...
the most recent time period for a common ancestor goes back 125 years,
for 2 test takers not named Wells (1 in England, and 1 in Oregon),
then 150 yrs. for 7 people named Wells.
There are even 2 people living in Germany, neither named Wells, 1 with a common ancestor around 450 years ago, and another 825 years ago.
And people think Genealogy is Boring???? ;-D
In 2002 a researcher into the Wells Family, sent me a Genealogy Report listing names, and notes, for what she said was my line, from the early 1700's to the mid- 1880's.
I set it aside, for years, since I didn't have proof of my connection to it.
With the DNA results for my Uncle the tie is now there, though who the MOTHER of his Father is is still up in the air.
So I've been adding just the names and dates to my records so I can have a basic GEDCOM to contribute to my listing at the Wells DNA Project.
With that researchers list I find myself with a huge cast of characters, including one case of cousins marrying, and an unknown number of unknown cousins potentially all across America, even some Smiths and Jones, hee, hee. ;-D
88 families, made up of 264 individuals, now fill my genealogy program.
After a lot of hard work, and double checking, I finally finished, and made my 1st Gedcom. ;-D
Leaving out all of my living relations (Sisters, cousins, a niece, and nephew, and assorted wives, and hubbies.), except for my Uncle, the DNA Sample Guy, and myself, I submitted it to the project.
What is a GEDCOM?
Glad I asked! ;-D
GEDCOM (an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunication), is the standard for exchanging data from one genealogy program to another.
In celebration I wrote a song, hee, hee! (And rounded up some important links that will help anyone interested in Genealogy grasp what this concept is, and why it is an important tool for all of us.) ;-D
With sincerely apologies to Princeton University, the Sandhills Sixteen, and anyone else who has recorded a version of the old American folk song called "I've been workin' on the railroad" (Including The Rooftop Singers!). ;-D
I've Been Workin' on My Genealogy
I've been workin' on my Genealogy,
All the live long day.
I've been workin' on my Genealogy,
Tracing my ancestors back a long, long, way.
Don't you hear the whispers from the past?
Look for your bloodlines in the morning.
Don't you hear your forefathers shouting
"Sonny, won't you look us up?"
Sonny, won't you look us up,
Sonny, won't you look us up,
Sonny, won't you look us up in the records?
Sonny, won't you look us up,
Sonny, won't you look us up,
Sonny, won't you look us up in the records?
Someone in the census is related to Sonny.
Someone's in the census he knows.
Someone in the census is related to Sonny.
Just waiting for him to find them, I know.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o-o-o-o.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Just waiting for him to find them, I know.
(Copyright 2008)
Top results for Google Search: What is a GEDCOM?
TURNING A GEDCOM INTO A WEBPAGE
If you don't know about Cyndi's List, or Eastman's, then you are in for a treat.
I can't stress enough that you should Bookmark BOTH forthwith. ;-D
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