Andrew McKnight's Ancestories: Coaxing Family Stories Out of the Past

It is an age-old human question to wonder where we come from, and how we got here. Maybe we've inherited some things from elderly relatives, or a grandparent keeps a family tree with a variety of tantalizing mysteries. Maybe you are an adoptee looking to learn your birth origins. Whatever leads you into this journey, congratulations! For we are living in a "Golden Age of Genealogy." Never before have we had so many powerful tools, from cheap DNA test kits to literally tens of millions of digitized old records in many countries easily searchable on the internet - and the character recognition technology to do so. You can learn more about your family history from the comfort of your own home than has ever been previously possible. And it is possible to make more mistaken assumptions as well. The most common DNA tests done by tens of millions of people evaluate our autosomal DNA. In general, our autosomal DNA tests in theory should be able to identify and confirm ancest...

And thank you for visiting! My purpose is to help people who may have done a DNA test learn all of the powerful ways they can use it to explore their family history. Disclaimer : I am not a certified Professional Genealogist, simply an experienced and always-learning family researcher with a gift for simplifying complicated concepts to make sense to a casually interested person. I have spent many years exploring my own history in the British Isles and colonial New England, as well as my wife's Spanish and Polish heritage. I have uncovered fascinating family stories, and had incredible experiences with living relatives. Our family's past has made my present rich indeed, and that is an amazing gift that I'd love to help you unlock. This blog will feature lots of simple posts on how to make the most of your DNA test in combination with the essential thorough traditional research. We truly live in a "Golden Age" of Genealogy, where our DNA science allows us to rel...