It's the "Being served a Family Tree on a silver platter" mind set that Ancestry reinforces with their "genealogy is SO EASY to do" commercials. Just put a couple of names on a tree and the Ancestry program will bring out all this other information to add to your tree. Hah!
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looking for ANY info on birth parents
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Hi,
You may wish to join the GAGP project here on FTDNA. There are some very good pinned posts to help with further research and testing. One resource highly recommended is dnaadoption.com. Their methods are sound and proven (as I can personally attest).
One thing about messaging in ancestry.com - the green buttons are internal messages somebody will only see if they log on. The brown one you access from the users's profiles actually sends and e-mail out ("Contact <username>"). This may help, a little.
Good luck!
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I agree
Originally posted by MMaddi View PostYou are 100% right about this. All of the three main testing companies have a frustrating lack of replies from and trees posted by matches.
I can understand this for 23andMe, since the company until very recently has advertised itself as a place to test to learn about health traits and doesn't encourage its customers much to opt into DNA Relatives. Since both AncestryDNA and FTDNA are marketing to genealogists, it's a head scratcher why more people don't reply and don't seem to be interested in collaboration to find common ancestors.
In the case of AncestryDNA, I think that many of their customers order the test after seeing a commercial about how they'll find out their ethnic ancestry and may even have to give up their lederhosen for a kilt. I also think that many people at both AncestryDNA and FTDNA have the idea that testing their DNA will magically churn out a family tree for them. They don't realize that genealogy sometimes takes years of research and collaboration with others to make progress.
Best regards, Doug
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Originally posted by MMaddi View PostYou are 100% right about this. All of the three main testing companies have a frustrating lack of replies from and trees posted by matches.
I can understand this for 23andMe, since the company until very recently has advertised itself as a place to test to learn about health traits and doesn't encourage its customers much to opt into DNA Relatives. Since both AncestryDNA and FTDNA are marketing to genealogists, it's a head scratcher why more people don't reply and don't seem to be interested in collaboration to find common ancestors.
In the case of AncestryDNA, I think that many of their customers order the test after seeing a commercial about how they'll find out their ethnic ancestry and may even have to give up their lederhosen for a kilt. I also think that many people at both AncestryDNA and FTDNA have the idea that testing their DNA will magically churn out a family tree for them. They don't realize that genealogy sometimes takes years of research and collaboration with others to make progress.
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Genealogist
Originally posted by mollyblum View PostI just tested w Ancestry and also noticed more than half of my very distant matches (the majority) have no tree and don't respond or have three people on their tree!!! Um, how is that helpful???? It is literally the tester and their parents. Lol. Very disappointed in Ancestry. I have a very detailed tree and thought I would be able to prove or link my father's suspected father somehow. Only had two somewhat close matches. Like 3rd or 4th cousin range. The rest are out there. Some are duplicates from ftdna. But I guess I will have to research every one to get a full picture. Have not tested at 23 and me and really have no plans.
Best regards, Doug
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Originally posted by MMaddi View Post
In the case of AncestryDNA, I think that many of their customers order the test after seeing a commercial about how they'll find out their ethnic ancestry.
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BBA64-a question for you on how different your matches were between Ancestry and 23andMe...In two years on Ancestry, the closest paternal match I can see is a 4th cousin and I've gotten nowhere with those thus far. So, did you get closer matches with 23andMe? I've been unwilling to shell out the $$ for basically the same set of names, but if I'm reading this correctly, you are under the impression that most users will get different names due to the different database?
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Different results at different places
You will get different responses at different houses.
I have a good number of matches at FTDNA because I bought tests for people there. Mom, Grandma, Uncle, siblings.
But at Ancestry, I have several close matches, but many farther matches. (Pioneer ancestry on both sides.)
23andMe, 1 first cousin match, and several 2nd cousin matches.
MyHeritage is the latest company I tested at, and the closest match there is 1C1R. (Oddly, I don't know which family is his. Must research that.)
So, yes, testing at different houses will give you different results. Some duplication is possible, but you just never know who will test where. And that brick-wall ancestor could be doing a cheek-swab, even as we speak...
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Originally posted by Faithiebee123 View PostI haven't been able to find many close relatives so far. Mostly 3rd 4th and 5th cousins. Are they considered close relatives? I'll check out that site you suggested!
I'm planning on doing the Family Finder test eventually. Is there really that much of a benefit to testing with different companies rather than uploading the raw data I already have? Obviously I'm new to this whole genealogy thing so forgive me for seeming like an idiot.
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