Have you used your DNA matches as a source to support your ancestry? While I haven’t documented all of my ‘common ancestor’ matches, I have tried to document the genetic aspect of my tree. (See RM8 Documenting DNA) While this information is in my RootsMagic file, it is private and thus not shared on my tree.
As I was working thru YourDNA Guide’s Shared Matches of Matches course, I had created a genetic network. Since that genetic network supports my tree, I wondered if there was a way to use this network as documentation on a public tree while protecting the privacy of my matches. So I asked about this in my course.
The WikiTree Help: DNA Confirmation page provides step by step directions on whether DNA can be used as a source and if so, how to cite the DNA results. Following these guidelines, I would have quite a few DNA matches that I could use to provide genetic evidence for my portion of the tree.
To create my first citation, I used the DNA Citation Maker App. Since my match is not on WikiTree and is living, I privatized their name as PrivateB.
In the next step, I enter the sex of my match.
I then indicated which generation we share in common and selected our common ancestor.
I then indicated how my match (PrivateB) is related to Josie Hammond.
The app uses this information to build a mini tree. On that tree, I selected my match’s mother and entered here sex.
To check the data, the app asks me to verify the relationship, the source of the DNA and whether the DNA predicted relationship supports the traditional genealogy.
The next step asks for the testing company and the DNA results. Thus, I refer back to Ancestry to obtain those results and then enter the information into the
Then the app provides detailed instructions for adding the DNA confirmation to the Wikitree profile and include a citation that can be copied into the profile.
Thus, I have used DNA evidence to support my relationship to Josie Hammond and her husband Judson Crawford.
Now, I just need to repeat the process with my other close cousin matches to use genetic information to document my ancestry.