Spit in the tube and wait for your tree. It’s not as simple as that. Autosomal DNA test results indicate a relationship. If the relationship is close (sibling, parent/child, aunt/uncle, first cousin), the predicated relationship is usually easy to immediately determine. But beyond that it is not so clear. Based upon the amount of shared DNA, the precise relationship can be “roughly” determined, but research in paper records, interviews with relatives, and other “non-DNA” research is necessary. The DNA is only part of the story and spitting in a tube doesn’t mean your ancestry will be spitted right back at you. It’s more difficult than that.
When compiling your tree, make certain that the geography makes reasonable sense. Some individuals and families do move from one year to the next, particularly if they have difficulties finding work or are somewhat financially unstable. Some families in urban situations may move every time the rent gets so far behind that it becomes a problem. It’s one thing to move across the street or across town from one year to the next. When that happens addresses may change–but the county or even the parish of residence may not. It’s another thing to move more significant distances on a constant basis. Once a correspondent had a couple jumping all over Germany for a fifteen year time period with children born in a variety of regions. It can happen. […]
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