DNA

I submitted my DNA to Ancestry about four years ago.  I wasn't too surprised at my ethic grouping but I was amazed at my many matches.

I've pretty much completed my family tree.  As they sang in Oklahoma, "I've gone about as fur as I c'n go".  My paternal grandfather's roots go back to 1719, Essex, England.  My paternal grandmother's roots go back to 1822, Lambeth, Surrey, England.  My maternal grandfather's roots go back to 1825, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England and my maternal grandmother's roots go back to 1640, Bedfordshire, England.

Doing my research, I've located relatives I didn't even know!  We know we are related as our DNA matches.  We've contacted each other through email and I've met two in person.  My one cousin came from Australia to cruise to Alaska and the other cousin I met whilst in England last June!

If you want to get your DNA results, Ancestry is offering the kit for CAD$ 89 for Canada Day.  They continually make these offers.  You don't have to tie your DNA into a family tree if you don't want, but I suggest you do, even if it's a small tree.  You give your email address to Ancestry so any DNA matches will email you through the Ancestry email system.  You don't need to use your real name if you don't want to.

I have 11 close matches (first or second cousins) and 144 other matches.  I've pretty well figured out all my close matches.  My family tree isn't too large, however, Cec's family tree is HUGE!  He has 75,814 people on his tree!  A lot of his ancestors had huge families and he's added them all.  He is trying to find the relationship (by marriage) as he thinks he's related to Josh Grobin!  Josh's ancestor was a Zimmerman in Illinois and, yes, Cec has Zimmerman's in Illinois.  No royalty and it's a far distant relative but it could be true.