Recently, I noticed that my Ancestry DNA had a new match at 2nd cousin level. After looking at my match's Family Tree, I noticed something familiar and odd at the same time: there was a Last Name that matches but not the Profile.
Let Me Explain...
The Match for both of us was a John Bennett. As you can imagine, that is a fairly common name especially back at the turn of the 1900's. My Ancestry 2nd cousin had a match to a John Bennett. The assumption would be to assume that THAT John Bennett also should be in my tree. So, for investigating sake, I added him to my tree. That is when I saw the odd thing... there were a bunch of Bennett's that I had unknown DNA connections to BUT on a completely separate branch of the family tree. Heck, on a completely different tree and not even remotely related to my 2nd cousin's John Bennett. How did I know this?
Let Me Explain...
As I was looking at an expanded tree view, I noticed that, a year before, I had created and placed "Profile Designations" on these unknown Bennetts. I had DNA Circles that I was attached to because of my DNA but did not known how or why. These people were a mystery to me.
Let Me Explain...
The Match for both of us was a John Bennett. As you can imagine, that is a fairly common name especially back at the turn of the 1900's. My Ancestry 2nd cousin had a match to a John Bennett. The assumption would be to assume that THAT John Bennett also should be in my tree. So, for investigating sake, I added him to my tree. That is when I saw the odd thing... there were a bunch of Bennett's that I had unknown DNA connections to BUT on a completely separate branch of the family tree. Heck, on a completely different tree and not even remotely related to my 2nd cousin's John Bennett. How did I know this?
Let Me Explain...
As I was looking at an expanded tree view, I noticed that, a year before, I had created and placed "Profile Designations" on these unknown Bennetts. I had DNA Circles that I was attached to because of my DNA but did not known how or why. These people were a mystery to me.
But, because I had placed one of these Profile Designations on each of their Profile, my expanded Ancestry Tree immediately picked up on the fact that I had linked to the WRONG John Bennett and his tree. Not only had I linked to the wrong one, so did my 2nd cousin and A LOT of other people on their family trees. DON'T EVER TRUST THAT DARN LITTLE LEAF! EVER!
Here is what I recommend, go to your DNA Homepage on Ancestry.com. Scroll down that page until you reach your NEW ANCESTOR DISCOVERIES. These are Ancestors that you probably do not know. Add one of the above icons to their Profile so in the future whenever someone connects, you will know you are barking up the right tree.
For these and more Ancestry Profile freebies, visit Ancestry Free Icons on this website.
Here is what I recommend, go to your DNA Homepage on Ancestry.com. Scroll down that page until you reach your NEW ANCESTOR DISCOVERIES. These are Ancestors that you probably do not know. Add one of the above icons to their Profile so in the future whenever someone connects, you will know you are barking up the right tree.
For these and more Ancestry Profile freebies, visit Ancestry Free Icons on this website.