I tested with AncestryDNA. Now what?

+13 votes
197 views
Here are some basic steps you should do next:

1.  Register at https://www.gedmatch.com/login1.php and follow GEDmatch's instructions to upload your AncestryDNA results there.

2.  Enter your GEDmatch ID on your DNA Tests page in WikiTree.

3.  Change your privacy level to "Private wth Public Family Tree" or an even more open level.

4. Invite ALL your matches at AncestryDNA to add their results to GEDmatch.

5. Invite ALL your matches at GEDmatch to add their ancestry and GEDmatch ID to WikiTree.

What other steps do you suggest?
in The Tree House by Peter Roberts G2G6 Pilot (695k points)

2 Answers

+7 votes
The thing I'd like to know is what to say to people who have a fine match or two with you but you have no idea where the connection is.  Does it become easier once you figure out some of the lines?  What surprises me is that I've never had another person contact me and tell me we have a match.  Are all genealogists as shy as I?
by Dave Dardinger G2G6 Pilot (438k points)
If your matches add their ancestry to WIkiTree then other WikiTreers can collaborate and contribute to their "incomplete" ancestral tree.

This has happened in WikiTree's Bahamas Project.  Ancestry got added by others and mtDNA and auDNA matches helped confirm those additions.
No, we're not all as shy as you are, Dave!  I'm not at all shy when it comes to genealogy and DNA connections!  FOFL!!

Are you using a system or software program to help you research, organize and keep track of your matches?  I recommend Genome Mate Pro (free).  It helps you analyze and determine triangulated groups, track emails, keep notes, mark segments as known to be up your paternal or maternal line, shows shared surnames when you've got a family tree attached and any of your matches have a surname list, etc.

Definitely I send a lot more emails than I receive with regard to shared DNA.  I suggest you put together (if you haven't already done so) a standard email to send to potential matches, always providing a link to your family tree/pedigree chart (on Wikitree or wherever you have it), and including a list of known surnames with locations/time frames.  Always tell them where you found the match (ancestry, FTDNA, 23andMe or Gedmatch), and the name of the person/kit you are matching (some people administer numerous kits).  Start with your largest shared segments, as it'll be easier to locate a common ancestor.  Most importantly, don't get discouraged!  You won't hear back from lots of people; some people will be adopted and have no knowledge of their ancestors; some people don't have family trees...  You get the idea!  Just keep plugging away.  It'll get easier as time goes by and more and more people test (and put together family trees).
+5 votes
Another 'step' I suggest is to develop your family tree as extensively as you can back ten generations.  Don't only enter your direct ancestors, but also their siblings and the spouses of each, as well as the children (and their spouses) of those couples, on up/down the line.  The more extensive your family tree, the better the chance that you will be able to determine your most recent common ancestors when you locate a triangulated group.

As far as Gedmatch, I recommend that people set up a separate email account to deal exclusively with their DNA testing.  This not only protects you from receiving a bunch of spam mail (and provides anonymity for those concerned with that) in your regular email, but keeps all of the DNA emails in one account separate from your regular email.  I set up individual email accounts for each DNA kit I administer.  This allows me to know whose DNA I'm dealing with when I receive emails.
by Darlene Athey-Hill G2G6 Pilot (536k points)

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