Monday, November 30, 2015

DNA: My New 23andMe Experience

Received the email yesterday that my 'new' 23andMe experience was ready, so I took the plunge and logged into the site.  After the preliminaries of making sure how my name would be displayed and opting into sharing of reports, etc. I was ready to start exploring.

I must say that I bought my first 23andMe kit the day they stopped giving health reports - a strange coincidence, so I had never had them in the first place.  I was disappointed that they wouldn't be providing those, but my main concern was genealogy and solving family mysteries, so that disappointment was quickly forgotten.

Now that I can see some of the health reports that they are providing, I'm not sure that I was really missing anything.  I realize that the types of reports they can provide is likely dictated by the FDA, but I can't see the increased value that they are providing.  If the health reports are the justification for raising their kit price to $199, all I can say is "wow".

The reports tell me information that I could find out by looking in the mirror, such as hair and eye color, as well as caffeine usage and lactose intolerance.  Not something I find too impressive.  The other reports are negative results for rare diseases, which fortunately I do not have, but if they are so rare, then why would I be worried about them?  Maybe I'm missing the point of the reports, but I'd like to know more about indicators for cancer or epilepsy or alchoholism.

The biggest changes I see at this point have to do with the DNA Relatives and how that experience will be enhanced or hindered by the new site.  It would appear that it would be hindered.  

While not an advanced user by any stretch, I have been able to find and make connections through DNA relatives, and have been tracking my results with a spreadsheet, comparing segments and finding triangulations, etc.  When it was announced that the 'old' website would be going away, I quickly went in and re-invited all the connections that hadn't responded to me in hopes that I would keep them as a connection.

Kitty Cooper's blog has a good run-down of the changes at the new site here.

I don't like the fact that you can no longer get the table view of matching segments of DNA.  That was what I was using to populate my spreadsheet and then comparing matches to each other.  

I don't understand why you can no longer sort your DNA relative matches by the most recent, either.  That was one way to find out which new matches you might have matched.  Granted, many of them were small matches, but every little bit counts when you're working with DNA.

I'm really confused by the fact that I still have anonymous matches showing - I thought one of the changes would be that everyone would be forced into sharing or they would not show in your DNA relatives.  Perhaps these folks haven't transitioned yet to the new system.  Will have to wait and see.

I've checked out the forums at 23andMe and to say that many people are unhappy would be an understatement.  Kitty's blog posts states that they have heard from the community and many of these complaints will be addressed.  We shall see.

Honestly, at this point I'm going to move my focus on to FamilyTreeDNA for any future testing.  I have tested both of my parents, my wife, my mother-in-law and brother-in-law at 23andMe, but will use the other sites in the future. There is no reason to recommend someone pay $199 for a test kit if you are wanting to use DNA for genealogical research.  The health reports do not justify the increased cost.  I'm not ready to buy into the "big pharma" conspiracy theories on the forums, as I already understood that was part of the exchange, but I question why the company appears to be trying to turn away the genealogy community.


Just my two cents worth.


Sunday, November 29, 2015

Shaky Leaves : Marriage of Lydia Taylor & Noah Worcester, 1757, Hollis, New Hampshire

Lydia Taylor (1733-1772) and Noah Worcester (1735-1817) were my paternal 6th-great grandparents.  Ancestry.com was showing the following hint of their marriage record in my LeMaster and Allied Families Member Tree.

Ancestry,com. New Hampshire, Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Lydia was the daughter of Abraham Taylor, and Noah was the son of Francis Worcester and Abigail Carleton.  Noah served during the Revolutionary War and was a member of the New Hampshire Constitutional Convention.

They were the parents of seven children : Noah, Jesse, Lydia, Sarah, Leonard, Thomas and Samuel.  My line comes through Sarah.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Surname Saturday : Generation Ten

For this edition of Surname Saturday, I'm going to list generation ten of my family tree in hopes of making a connection.  Many times people find my blog through Google searches, and I'm hoping to reach more cousins.  If you are related to any of these families, I'd love to hear from you.

Generations 1 through 6
Generation 7
Generation 8
Generation 9

Generation 10
544. JEFFREY CHEW : born 10 Jan 1714 in Gloucester Co., New Jersey; married 15 Aug 1732 in Gloucester Co., New Jersey; died 10 Apr 1774 in Gloucester Co., New Jersey.
545. AMY DRIVER : born circa 1715; died 3 Nov 1773 in Gloucester Co., New Jersey.
546. JOHN RICHARDS : born circa 1715; married before 1738.
547. MARY ________ :
560. JOHN WOOLSTON : born 1686 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; died in Northampton, Burlington Co., New Jersey.
561. HANNAH TENCHER : born 1717 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., New Jersey.
562. JOSEPH AARONSEN : born 1706 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; married 25 Aug 1736 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; died in Cheseterfield, Burlington Co., New Jersey.
563. HANNAH FOLWELL : born 1718 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; died before 1749 in Burlington Co., New Jersey.
564. FRANCIS BRIGGS : born 1715 in Salem Co., New Jersey; died 1 Jun 1763 in Burlington Co., New Jersey.
565. RACHEL STOCKTON : born after 1715 in Burlington Co., New Jersey.
566. SAMUEL WOOLSTON : Same as person number 284 in Generation 9.
567. CYLLANIA WOOLSTON : Same as person number 285 in Generation 9.
568. SAMUEL WOOLSTON : born 1687 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; died 13 Jun 1761 in Northampton, Burlington Co., New Jersey.
569. SUSANNA BUDD : born in 1691.
570. JOHN WOOLSTON : Same as person number 560 above.
571. SARAH POWELL : born circa 1701 in Northampton Twp., Burlington Co., New Jersey; died before 1738.
572. JEREMIAH HAINES : born 25 Mar 1713 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; married 6 Sep 1736 in Burlington Co., New Jersey.
573. HANNAH BONNELL : died 15 Aug 1754 in Burlington Co., New Jersey.
574. FRANCIS VENICOMB
575. RACHEL LIPPINCOTT
602. ANDREAS HOLTZBAUM
624. JOSEPH MAXSON : born 1672 in Westerly, Rhode Island; married 1691; died Sep 1750 in Westerly, Rhode Island.
625. TACY BURDICK : born 1670 in Westerly, Rhode Island; died 1747 in Westerly, Rhode Island.
626. JOHN MAXSON : born 12 Oct 1666 in Westerly, Rhode Island; married 19 Jan 1687 in Westerly, Rhode Island; died 28 Oct 1747 in Westerly, Rhode Island.
627. JUDITH CLARKE : born 12 Oct 1667 in Newport, Rhode Island; died 17 Jul 1747 in Westerly, Rhode Island.
628. JOHN DAVIS : born 1692 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania; married 25 Aug 1715 in Westerly, Rhode Island; died 18 Apr 1745 in Squam, Monmouth Co., New Jersey.
629. ELIZABETH MAXSON : born 7 Nov 1695 in Westerly, Rhode Island; died Apr 1751 in Squam, Monmouth Co., New Jersey.
630. JOHN CRANDALL : born circa 1682 in Westerly, Rhode Island; died Jan 1767 in Westerly, Rhode Island.
631. MARY ________ : born circa 1682; died circa 1729.
634. CORNELIUS CORNILISZEN : born circa 1682; died 1758 in Piscataway, Middlesex Co., New Jersey.
635. MARY BREESE : born circa 1699 in Raritan, Somerset Co., New Jersey, died after 1758 in Somerset Co., New Jersey.
672. ULRICH SCHÜRCH : born 9 Mar 1663 in Sumiswald, Canton Bern, Switzerland; married circa 1695; died circa 1739 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.
673. BARBARA GRUNDBACHER : born 5 Nov 1672 in Sumiswald, Canton Bern, Switzerland.
674. PETER SWARR : born circa 1700.
675. ADALINE ________ : born circa 1700.
676. NICHOLAS ERB : born circa 1679-80 in Canton Bern, Switzerland; died 1740 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.
677. CATHERINE ________ 
690. HANS HEINRICH CHERDRON : born 8 Jul 1706 in Erlenbach, Bayern; married 22 Apr 1727 in Otterberg, Bayern; died after 1771 in York Co., Pennsylvania.
691. ANNA MARIA HERBACH : born 5 Jul 1705 in Otterberg, Bayern; died after 1772 in York Co., Pennsylvania.
700. JACOB STICKEL : baptized 9 Aug 1708 in Egenhausen, Württemberg; married 23 Nov 1734 in Egenhausen, Würrtemberg; died Warrington Twp., York Co., Pennsylvania.
701. MARIA SCHWARTZ : born 23 Nov 1713 in Egenehausen, Würrtemberg; died in Warrington Twp., York Co., Pennsylvania.
736. JOHN MOULTON : born circa 1665; married 16 Aug 1693; died 1728.
737. SARAH CONANT : born in 1668.
740. MOSES HURLBUT : born 26 Aug 1714 in Woodbury, Connecticut; married 23 Dec 1735; died 3 Aug 1763 in Roxbury, Connecticut.
741. REBECCA WARNER : born 12 Dec 1715; died 5 Jun 1797.
746. THOMAS GREEN : born circa 1693 in Marlboro, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; married 12 Nov 1718 in Marlboro, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died before 1755.
747. MARY JOHNSON : born 4 Dec 1696 in Marlboro, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
748. DAVID MORGAN : born 18 Feb 1678/9 in Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts; married 21 Jan 1702/3 in Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts; died 11 Sep 1760 in Brimfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts.
749. DEBORAH COLTON : born 26 Jul 1684 in Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts; died between 1721-29.
750. NATHANIEL MILLER 
751. REBECCA PRICHARD : born 15 Dec 1696 in Suffield, Connecticut.
752. THOMAS PHILBRICK : born 31 Mar 1688 in Hampton, Province of New Hampshire; died 15 Feb 1748 in Hampton, Province of New Hampshire.
753. ABIGAIL ________
754. ENOCH SANBORN 
755. ELIZABETH DENNETT
756. SAMUEL JEWETT : born 26 Apr 1694 in Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts; married 23 Oct 1718 in Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts
757. RUTH HARDY : born 15 Jun 1699 in Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died circa 1737.
764. FRANCIS WORCESTER : born 7 Jun 1698 in Bradford, Essex Co., Massachusetts; married 18 Apr 1720
765. ABIGAIL CARLTON 
766. ABRAHAM TAYLOR
768. JOHN WRIGHT born 10 Feb 1727 in Freuchie, Falkland Parish, Fife, Scotland; married 15 Feb 1753 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died Jun 1772 in Anamaboo, New Guinea.
769. HANNAH FESSENDEN : born 15 Aug 1732 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died 9 Dec 1800 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
772. VINCENT ROBINS : died before Feb 1760 in Amwell Twp., Hunterdon Co., New Jersey.
773. ANN KITCHEN
774. JAMES HODGKINS : married 28 Mar 1752 in Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania.
775. ELIZABETH EVANS : born circa 1737 in Pennsylvania; died circa 1814 in Pleasant Twp., Clermont Co., Ohio.
776. WILLIAM WARDLAW : born circa 1700 in Scotland; married between 1728-30; died 1762 in Augusta Co., Virginia.
777. JANE HARPER 
778. SAMUEL DOWNEY : died before 17 Aug 1773 in Augusta Co., Virginia
779. MARTHA McPHEETERS : died 1801 in Clark Co., Kentucky.
782. JOHN BERRY : born circa 1700 in Scotland; died 1771 in Augusta Co., Virginia.
784. SAMUEL HEATON : born 28 Nov 1681 in Wrentham, Massachusetts; married 10 Dec 1706 in Wrentham, Massachusetts; died 1735 in New Jersey.
785. SUSAN HAWES
792. JACOB JACOBS : died after 3 March 1803 in Harrison Co., Virginia
793. HANNAH JOHNSON
832. SETH PIERCE : born 30 Nov 1716 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; married 10 Nov 1743; died 5 Dec 1794.
833. ELIZABETH NYE : born 14 Dec 1720; died 14 May 1749 in Mansfield, Windham Co., Connecticut.
834. BENNETT FIELD : born 13 Dec 1709 in Deerfield, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts; married 18 Dec 1734 in Deerfield, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts; died 6 Apr 1770 in Mansfield, Windham Co., Connecticut.
835. ELIZABETH SPOFFORD : born 19 Apr 1715 in Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died 20 Nov 1772 in Mansfield, Windham Co., Connecticut.
836. JOSEPH SMALLEY : born circa 1712; died 1783.
837. JEMIMA ORDWAY
838. SAMUEL HUTCHINSON : born circa 1719 in Windham Co., Connecticut; died 8 Feb 1809 in Norwich, Windsor Co., Vermont.
839. JEMIMA DUNHAM : died 12 Jan 1798 in Norwich, Windsor Co., Vermont
848. JOHANNES GROENENDYKE : born 1718 in Kingston, Middlesex Co., New Jersey; married 25 Aug 1744 in Middlesex Co., New Jersey; died July 1785 near Kingston, Middlesex Co., New Jersey
849. SARAH ANN LAKE : born circa 1725 in New Brunswick, Middlesex Co., New Jersey; died May 1771.
852. JOHANNIS ANTONIDES : born 28 Mar 1683 in Franeker, Netherlands; married in 1724.
853. ANNETJE COUWENHOVEN : born 21 Oct 1690.
854. MICHAEL VANDERVEER : born in New Utrecht, New Amsterdam.
855. BELITJA SUYDAM
904. SAMUEL WILLSON : born 5 Jan 1738 in Hunterdon Co., New Jersey; married 19 Aug 1761 in Hunterdon Co., New Jersey; died before 4 Jul 1795 in Hardwick Twp., Sussex Co., New Jersey
905. DEBORAH COLLINS : born 23 Mar 1741 in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania; died 8 Jan 1803 in Great Meadows, Warren Co., New Jersey.
928. THOMAS BEALS : born 14 Jan 1719 in Chester Co., Pennsylvania; married 12 Sep 1741 in Prince George's Co., Maryland; died 29 Aug 1801 in Highland Co., Ohio.
929. SARAH ANCRUM : born circa 1724; died 6 Jul 1813 in Highland Co., Ohio.
932. JAMES CHEW : born 1745 in Virginia; died 1783 in Virginia.
933. MARY CALDWELL
934. JOHN DAVIS : born 28 Sep 1735 in Chester Co., Pennsylvania; married 1759 in Orange Co., North Carolina; died 21 Nov 1806 in Chatham Co., North Carolina.
935. MARY CHAMNESS : born 11 Sep 1743 in Frederick Co., Maryland; died 22 Jun 1819 in Chatham Co., North Carolina.
938. BENJAMIN PIGGOTT : born 29 Sep 1732 in Cecil Co., Maryland; married circa 1756; died 26 Apr 1818 in Orange Co., North Carolina.
939. MARY HADLEY : born 30 Jan 1739 in Newcastle, Pennsylvania; died 31 Oct 1810 in Orange Co., North Carolina.
940. NICHOLAS BARKER : born 8 Mar 1737; married 9 Jun 1760 in Guilford Co., North Carolina; died 24 Mar 1826 in Randolph Co., North Carolina.
941. HANNAH ALLEN : born 10 Jul 1741 in Chester Co., Pennsylvania; died 10 Dec 1834 in Randolph Co., North Carolina.
942. MATTHEW OSBORNE : born 12 Jan 1729 in Sussex Co., Delaware; married 24 Jun 1755 in Guilford Co., North Carolina; died 22 Jan 1816 in Guilford Co., North Carolina.
943. MARY REYNOLDS : born 15 Nov 1738; died 13 Jan 1804 in Guilford Co., North Carolina.
950. RICHARD GRAHAM : born circa 1740.
951. ASENATH _________
952. HENRY MILLS : born 23 Sep 1720 in Chester Co., Pennsylvania; married 18 Jan 1740 in Virginia; died 10 October 1810 in Guilford Co., North Carolina.
953. HANNAH THORNBURG : born in 1725; died 27 Mar 1791 in Guilford Co., North Carolina.
954. MORDECAI MENDENHALL : born circa 1713 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; married 21 Mar 1735 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 3 Nov 1803 in Guilford Co., North Carolina.
955. CHARITY BEESON : born circa 1715 in Chester Co., Pennsylvania; died 20 Sep 1809 in Guilford Co., North Carolina.
956. ABRAHAM WOODWARD : born 17 Jun 1740; married circa 1765; died 3 Apr 1817 in Jefferson Co., Tennessee.
957. HANNAH THORNBROUGH : born 20 Nov 1738; died 30 Oct 1812 in Jefferson Co., Tennessee.
958. SAMUEL MILLIKAN : born 11 Dec 1742 in Chester Co., Pennsylvania; married 10 Jun 1767 in Guilford Co., North Carolina; died 3 Nov 1817 in Randolph Co., North Carolina.
959. ANN BALDWIN : born 18 May 1750 in Guilford Co., North Carolina.
1004. HENRY PUTNAM : born circa 1747 in Culpepper Co., Virginia; died 1825 in Mason Co., Kentucky.
1005. ELIZABETH KENDRICK
1006. BENJAMIN KENDRICK : born 1757 in Culpepper Co., Virginia; married 13 Jun 1778 in Fauquier Co., Virginia; died 12 Jun 1830 in Bourbon Co., Kentucky.
1007. FRANCES CORBIN : died 9 Nov 1838.
1008. PETER SWAFFORD : born circa 1740 in Ireland; died in Greenville Co., South Carolina.
1009. RENNIE HOWARD : born circa 1745 in Ireland.
1010. HENRY LARKIN : born circa 1710 Virginia; died before 8 Feb 1773 in Botetourt Co., Virginia.
1011. JANE NEWTON : born circa 1735 in Botetourt Co., Virginia.
1016. DAVID CROCKETT : died circa 1777 in Hawkins Co., Tennessee.
1017. ELIZABETH _________ : died 1777 in Hawkins Co., Tennessee.
1018. DAVID WATKINS
1019. HANNAH __________
1020. BOSTIN "SEBASTIAN" NOSLER : born circa 1730 in Germany; died after 1795 in Montgomery Co.,Virginia.
1021. SOPHIA _________
1022. WILLIAM PAINS

Surname Saturday – create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research. Surname Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.