Finally, it’s done!!! What’s done, you ask? The final chapter in the DNA series, “The Autosomal Me.” The goal of this series was to use my DNA results to see if I could identify which family lines carried Native heritage. Lines, plural? Yes indeed, I have identified more than one line in my family that carries Native heritage – and multiple lines on both sides of the family. That was a bit of an AHA moment.
I’ve known for years that my mother has Micmac heritage via her Acadian family lines. What I didn’t know is that she likely has a second line too….and that my father’s genealogy just might contain a common ancestor with my mother. Yes, this was a revealing process – full of surprises.
The process I’ve established in The Autosomal Me series will walk you through your minority admixture as well, with the goal of finding those elusive Native or minority admixture ancestors. Warning – it’s long and intensive and not for the uncommitted. I would classify it as for the genetic genealogical warrior, so to speak.
It’s really quite interesting, because although I did not receive “the answer” in a nice neat package with a bow, the process did eliminate many lines from consideration, and on my father’s side, there are three candidate lines, one involving the known Native Hatcher family. Now, it’s time to focus on the genealogy research to see if I can turn up additional documentation or evidence for these family lines. Maybe there was no “nice neat answer” to receive, and what I’ve received is the truth, delivered in the work clothes of opportunity:)
The photo is of my oldest ancestor whose photo I have in my Native line, John Y. Estes (1818-1895). He carries DNA from several of the lines identified in the DNA discovery process. Maybe we’ve uncovered an explanation for why his skin color was identified as “dark” on his Civil War paperwork and the persistent family stories of Native ancestors. Please note that this is the only known photo of him and it was in very bad shape when found in the bottom of a box that mice had chewed. This photo has been professionally restored.
Native Heritage Project 
Roberta,
Thank you for your series. Although there is much that I don’t truly understand yet about the dna and its use, your series did prompt me to do more than I had before. I actually used the chromosome browser to compare some of my matches. My husband thought it looked awfully tedious when I showed it to him. Yes it was tedious, yet at the same time it is so fanscinating that it is possible to do it. It has sparked more interest and gave me a boost to my confidence that I may, still yet, be able to do some of this research and get results for myself!!!
Since some of your relatives are from the same areas as mine, I am still hopeful that we will be related and I will able to use your research and be saved from doing so much of my own…I know. not likely…but I can hope.
Dolores West
There is always hope – and look how much you’ll learn while you’re trying to find our match:)
HI roberta estes I have a dna match in my mtdna results that show as private with your last name,i also have a mtdna match with an ursula march born 1815 bra d ore nova scotia ,she is in the tree of henry marche port au port pen,newfoundland.
None of the kits I manage are private. Many people who are haplogroup H make their HVR1 results private because they have so many.
Hi Cousin, see the final chapter in the DNA series, The Autosomal Me. I have yet to read it and it looks very interesting. DO you have Radegone Lambert and Edme Lejeune in your tree?
Paul
Yes, Paul, I surely do. Are we cousins?
Hi Kathleen this is what I was talking re Roberta. The final chapter in the DNA series, The Autosomal Me.
Paul