During the winter-spring of 2022, I am enrolled in the genetic genealogy course, Research Like a Pro with DNA Study Group, from the team at Family Locket of Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin. A weekly reflection journal is one course component. I’m sharing mine. This week's lesson consisted of work with timelines, citations, and … Continue reading Reflection Journal: Week 3: Timelines, Source Citations for DNA & Documentary Sources, & File Organization
Author: Steve Little
All 32 of my 3rd-great-grandparents had settled into one Appalachian county by 1820 (many earlier), and 60 of my most-recent ancestors were born, lived, and died there, in Ashe County, NC. I'm interested in genetic genealogy, especially endogamy, pedigree collapse, and teasing-apart multiple relationships using DNA segment triangulation. I am also a husband, dad, birder, chess dilettante, film & TV fan, genetic genealogist, Methodist pastor, photographer, reader, writer, regex script hacker, skygazer, and Virginian.
Reflection Journal: Week 2: Create a Diagram of your Matches & Write a Research Objective
Introduction: Context, Assignment, and Prerogative As I move into the second week of the course, I build from last week’s work. This week, I use the assessment of our DNA matches and analysis of our pedigree from my previous efforts, and I create diagrams to visualize that information and I refine our possible research objectives. … Continue reading Reflection Journal: Week 2: Create a Diagram of your Matches & Write a Research Objective
Reflection Journal: Week 1: Assess Your DNA Matches & Analyze Your Pedigree
Series information During the winter-spring of 2022, I am enrolled in the genetic genealogy course, Research Like a Pro with DNA Study Group, from the team at Family Locket of Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin. A weekly reflection journal is one course component. I’m sharing mine. This week’s assignment: analyze your pedigree and list 2-3 … Continue reading Reflection Journal: Week 1: Assess Your DNA Matches & Analyze Your Pedigree
Reflection Journal: Week 0: Introduction: Research Like a Pro with DNA – Study Group
Series information During the winter-spring of 2022, I am enrolled in the genetic genealogy course, Research Like a Pro with DNA Study Group, from the team at Family Locket of Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin. A weekly reflection journal is one course component. I'm sharing mine. This week’s assignment: in preparation for the … Continue reading Reflection Journal: Week 0: Introduction: Research Like a Pro with DNA – Study Group
Color Coding DNA Matches: Lawrence-Little Ahnentafel Color Schemes, MRCA Pedigree Tables
A Lawrence-Little MRCA Pedigree Table displays confirmed DNA matches as groups with shared most recent common ancestor couples in a pedigree chart; a Lawrence-Little color scheme conveys genetic and genealogical information with color: the hue of a child is an mix of hues of parents; the intensity of color increases each generation. When a Lawrence-Little color scheme is paired with a chromosome segment map, it is easier to see how unknown match segments may be related to known, charted matches.
Little Surname Ancestors Project at GEDmatch
The Little Surname Ancestors Project at GEDmatch came online and went live this week. This is a copy of the initial Welcome! Letter which I drafted and sent to charter members earlier this evening. Little Surname Ancestors Project at GEDmatchGraphic on left: Fabric of Life by René Campbell. Tartan pattern at right inspired but only … Continue reading Little Surname Ancestors Project at GEDmatch
1692 Order Freeing Abraham Little (1671-1720), Indentured Servant, My Surname Immigrant Ancestor
The whole order freeing Abraham Little (1672-1720), about only 40 words, entered on page 319 of the order book recording court business on Sunday, December 14, 1692, reads: "LITTLE v BECKINGTON: Ordered: That ABRAM LITTLE, Servant to ABRAM BECKINGTON, shall be free from his said Master, it fully appearing to this Court that he was free by his Indenture here in Court produced from the 25th day of November last" (Stafford County Order Book 1689-93, page 319; Stafford County Microfilm, reel 7, image 217; Richmond, VA: Library of Virginia).
Lou Bare, 1878-1960, great-grandmother
Lou Bare Lou Bare was born on 4 July 1878 in North Carolina, the daughter of Rudolph Bare (born 29 October 1837; married 23 February 1866; died 30 March 1919) and Fannie Wagoner (born 29 Dec 1848; died 22 Dec 1929). According to the census, she lived in Jefferson, NC in 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, … Continue reading Lou Bare, 1878-1960, great-grandmother
Pearl Ethel Houck, 1891-1992, great-grandmother
Marriage record for Pearl Houck and Conley Houck I knew my Great-Grandmother Pearl Ethel Houck. I was able to spend some time with her in the weeks before she died at 101. (She had been glad that Willard Scott had mentioned her 100th birthday the year before.) Her mind was sharp until the end, and … Continue reading Pearl Ethel Houck, 1891-1992, great-grandmother
George Cecil Bower, 1893-1987, great-grandfather
George Cecil Bower (back row, third from right) with siblings and parents. I knew my great-grandfather, George Cecil Bower. He was already 74 years old when I was born in 1967, so my memories of him are of a man well into his 80s. Nevertheless, I do have some prominent memories of him. First, for … Continue reading George Cecil Bower, 1893-1987, great-grandfather