Quick and Dirty – Not Quite

Why I Don’t Use Quick and Dirty Trees

Have you ever tried using a “quick and dirty tree” to identify a DNA match? After watching Genealogy TV’s podcast, Quick and Dirty Tree Strategies, I realized I take a different—and more deliberate—approach. So, I thought I’d share why I don’t follow the quick and dirty method, and what I do instead.

Why I Avoid Quick and Dirty Trees

There are a few key reasons I steer clear of this strategy:

• Sheer volume of matches: I have over 130,000 DNA matches. For the vast majority, I don’t yet know the connection.
• Well-developed tree: I’ve already traced my lineage through all of my 2nd and 3rd great-grandparents, and nearly all of my 4th great-grandparents.
• Known close matches: I’ve identified my 1st and 2nd cousins and most of my 3rd cousins, providing a solid foundation for comparison.

Because of this, I don’t need to build speculative trees for my DNA matches. Instead, I use my well-researched tree to identify their possible place within it.

My Alternative Approach

Rather than starting with the match and building backward, I start with my known ancestors and work forward—adding their descendants. The goal is to give Ancestry’s algorithms more data to work with so they can find the connection through ThruLines and other tools.

Here’s how I do it:

1. Use RootsMagic’s FamilySearch connection
   I add spouses and children of individuals in my tree using the FamilySearch interface within RootsMagic.
2. Apply color coding for lineage tracking
   I use color coding to assign each person to their appropriate ancestral line, keeping everything visually organized.
3. Refresh the group in RootsMagic
   This allows the new individuals to be added to my existing ancestral line group.
4. Update my Ancestry tree with TreeShare
   Once I’ve verified and documented the new people, I sync them to my Ancestry tree using RootsMagic’s TreeShare feature.
5. Use Ancestry hints to locate records
   I follow Ancestry’s hints to find census, marriage, birth, and death records, then cite those sources in both RootsMagic and my Ancestry tree.
6. Repeat the process
   As I identify new generations of descendants, I continue the cycle—always sourcing but never rushing.

Not Quick—But Worth It

While I do cite sources, I don’t dive into exhaustive research for each person. Still, I take enough care to ensure accuracy, which slows down the process. But for me, that’s okay. I’d rather have a tree rooted in solid information than one filled with shaky assumptions.

Final Thoughts

Quick and dirty trees may work for some, but I prefer a method that builds on the solid foundation of my existing research. By thoughtfully expanding my known lines and providing Ancestry with more complete data, I increase the chances of uncovering meaningful DNA connections—without sacrificing accuracy. It’s not fast, but it’s effective.

What’s Your Approach

Genealogy is full of different paths to discovery. What strategies have worked best for you when trying to connect DNA matches?