did you see Ancestry's new feature ThruLines?

Question

I think i will find it useful as a pre-sort through my thousands of distant cousins.  My concern is that unwary Ancestry users will take it as DNA proof that there is descent through that line.  I have learned from personal experience that without triangulation, it is all just hints.

What do you think?

Cheers

Shirlea

Answer 1

Hi Shirlea,

Lots of good discussion on this new feature here.

Comments

Yes the comments are great feedback. I want to look more at thrulines when I get a chance especially with my Wood and Bowden relatives.

Answer 2

Pretty useless, IMHO.

Answer 3

I find it very useful, saves me a lot of time figuring out how people connect. I have been working on making my ancestors genealogically defined. I don't think these lines are bogus. Most have vital statistics and are written up in family genealogies. I would like a way to put categories or stickers or tables...for Thrulines like there is for DNA Circles. I have started documenting them on my profile. Most of my ancestors up to 5-6 generations have thrulines, several 20 or more DNA cousins, This seems to add credence to the paper trail. In a way it surprises me that I haven't found surprises. There are a few adopted children that have found their way into the family through DNA, welcome aboard. It is nice when family is acknowledged!

Comments

ThruLines can be helpful but it is not concrete. I have found instances where bad information has been replicated generously and has shown up in my ThruLines as relatives, fortunately my papertrail is strong enough to prevail. I contact other Tree owners and try to show them the error and they usually correct their tree with my papertrail. So, be careful.

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So it is useful in correcting relatives' trees. I think that is a worthwhile result!

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Thank you!