Between 1861 and 1865, our country fought over whether slavery should be allowed or not. The Union lined up on one side and the Confederacy lined up on the other and they commenced to killing each other over the disagreement. The Union won the American Civil War and as a result, not only was slavery ended but the idea of 'human rights' or that all humans are created equal gained traction, which, I think, kept momentum behind America's path toward equal rights for all people that we still fight today, albeit, less bloody.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
DNA Test Results - Neanderthals and Mitochondrial Eve
The thing that interested me in genealogy to begin with was this desire to know who I am, what I'm made of and where I came from. I started with this really general research into the origins of humans, which ended with 'humans migrated to various places across the earth at various times'. Then I picked up about 700 years ago in Europe with my earliest known ancestors with genealogy. Between the two - 700 years ago and a few hundred thousand years ago was this really big gap of ... "Eh, Who Knows?!"
So, one of the most compelling reasons I wanted to get my DNA tested was to find out what my mitochondrial Haplogroup is - and, in turn, to have some idea of how my ancient ancestors migrated across the earth's surface, and in turn, what their lifestyles were like. Its one thing to know, in general, that some male and female somewhere got together to have babies, who had babies etc and that's how our species came to be - but something else entirely to know where my ancestors specifically, fit into the advent of agriculture or the use of iron or how they helped carry their culture from one place to another.
I got my dna analyzed via 23andme.com. They do two forms of analysis that was applicable to this particular research into myself. They will tell you how much of your DNA is neanderthal as well as what your maternal haplogroup is.
Neanderthals were these humanoid folks that were really closely related (although not ancestors) to modern humans. We are Homo Sapien Sapiens, they were Homo Sapien Neanderthalensis (or Homo Neanderthalensis). We have tons of neanderthal fossils. And by 'we', I mean scientists that know what to do with such things. Not too terribly long ago - only a few years - it was discovered that modern humans have a touch of neanderthal DNA in them.
I will say that there seems to be quite a bit of dissention over how that DNA got into us humans. Some say hey maybe only the males of one species were able to mate with the females of the other and only the female offspring survived. Some say, if it happened, it was rare. And some insist it never happened and instead, the Neanderthal DNA that we have in us is actually the DNA from a third, common ancestor.
At any rate, only this year, the first fossils thought to be a hybrid of neanderthal and modern human was found. Cusp of science and whatnot and 23andme is able to analyze for it. So the first cool thing I found out is that I have 2.8% Neanderthal DNA. By whatever means neanderthal DNA made it into my DNA, I can now reasonably explain my eating habits and my son's bedroom.
But even cooler was to discover that my mitochondrial haplogroup is T2f1. Ta da! Exciting, right? Those four characters tell me how my ancient ancestors migrated across the earth so that I, Carrie, wound up here, where I am. You know exactly what those four characters mean. Right? Hah. Neither do I. I'm still piecing together my specific history - but in the mean time, here is some stuff about Mitochondrial Haplogroup where it intersects with ancient history.
So, one of the most compelling reasons I wanted to get my DNA tested was to find out what my mitochondrial Haplogroup is - and, in turn, to have some idea of how my ancient ancestors migrated across the earth's surface, and in turn, what their lifestyles were like. Its one thing to know, in general, that some male and female somewhere got together to have babies, who had babies etc and that's how our species came to be - but something else entirely to know where my ancestors specifically, fit into the advent of agriculture or the use of iron or how they helped carry their culture from one place to another.
I got my dna analyzed via 23andme.com. They do two forms of analysis that was applicable to this particular research into myself. They will tell you how much of your DNA is neanderthal as well as what your maternal haplogroup is.
Neanderthals were these humanoid folks that were really closely related (although not ancestors) to modern humans. We are Homo Sapien Sapiens, they were Homo Sapien Neanderthalensis (or Homo Neanderthalensis). We have tons of neanderthal fossils. And by 'we', I mean scientists that know what to do with such things. Not too terribly long ago - only a few years - it was discovered that modern humans have a touch of neanderthal DNA in them.
I will say that there seems to be quite a bit of dissention over how that DNA got into us humans. Some say hey maybe only the males of one species were able to mate with the females of the other and only the female offspring survived. Some say, if it happened, it was rare. And some insist it never happened and instead, the Neanderthal DNA that we have in us is actually the DNA from a third, common ancestor.
At any rate, only this year, the first fossils thought to be a hybrid of neanderthal and modern human was found. Cusp of science and whatnot and 23andme is able to analyze for it. So the first cool thing I found out is that I have 2.8% Neanderthal DNA. By whatever means neanderthal DNA made it into my DNA, I can now reasonably explain my eating habits and my son's bedroom.
But even cooler was to discover that my mitochondrial haplogroup is T2f1. Ta da! Exciting, right? Those four characters tell me how my ancient ancestors migrated across the earth so that I, Carrie, wound up here, where I am. You know exactly what those four characters mean. Right? Hah. Neither do I. I'm still piecing together my specific history - but in the mean time, here is some stuff about Mitochondrial Haplogroup where it intersects with ancient history.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Health and Genetics Meets Genealogy
I have to say that although it's fascinating to find civil war soldiers, knights and kings in my family tree, medical history is one of the huge pieces of information that I get from my research. Regardless of having both parents living, most of their siblings still alive and most of their parents having lived into my teens, I have a tremendous lack of knowledge about my family health history. As in... I never really had a family health history at all. All of those family history forms you fill out at a doctor's office so that they know what you are at risk for... I just never had anything to put there.
My mom raised us but after about age 8, her family was relatively far flung. I wasn't raised around my father's side of the family but even once I established a relationship with my father, we stayed relatively disconnected from his family until I later reconnected with his siblings in adulthood. Maybe that's why family health stuff isn't common knowledge in my immediate family. It could also be a generation thing... genetics and hereditary diseases and disorders is a relatively new generation-wise, 'common knowledge' concept. Even 10 years ago, DNA testing wasn't something the average person had access to, let alone for under $100. It could also be a regional thing. Health care in the south is vastly different than health care where I am now. Whole person (holistic) care just isn't 'a thing' there. Medical issues are tackled completely differently. My family is Southern and their attitudes about health have definitely been shaped by Southern culture. But, for whatever reason, here I am with no family health history to speak of.
My mom raised us but after about age 8, her family was relatively far flung. I wasn't raised around my father's side of the family but even once I established a relationship with my father, we stayed relatively disconnected from his family until I later reconnected with his siblings in adulthood. Maybe that's why family health stuff isn't common knowledge in my immediate family. It could also be a generation thing... genetics and hereditary diseases and disorders is a relatively new generation-wise, 'common knowledge' concept. Even 10 years ago, DNA testing wasn't something the average person had access to, let alone for under $100. It could also be a regional thing. Health care in the south is vastly different than health care where I am now. Whole person (holistic) care just isn't 'a thing' there. Medical issues are tackled completely differently. My family is Southern and their attitudes about health have definitely been shaped by Southern culture. But, for whatever reason, here I am with no family health history to speak of.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Lately in Geneaology
The last two weeks have been kind of a whirlwind of activity for me where genealogy is concerned - without a whole lot to blog about in great detail (yet).
First, after tons of research on various companies and having had it on my list of "stuff I want" for quite some time I got my DNA done at 23andme.com
. Their price dropped to $99 and it was an offer I just couldn't bypass. I'm really impressed with the process so far and I'm itching to get my results back. It could take another month or so. I'm curious what it turns up in the way of surnames and I'm really interested in learning more about my mitocondrial haplogroup and migration across the globe.
I rescued some family member's memorials at Find a Grave and touched them up with accurate names, dates, family members and bios. I love that Find A Grave has such a broad network that I was able to find some family headstones that I didn't have before. I went on a local graveyard excursion to get a picture of some headstones for some strangers on Find a Grave too... it was surprisingly rewarding.
I ordered some death certificates from Florida and Georgia for my grandparents that have passed. I would like to have hard copies of them. From there, I think my next step will be to order my great grandparents - although several of those were available online. It's funny to me that they are so readily available after a certain number of years.
First, after tons of research on various companies and having had it on my list of "stuff I want" for quite some time I got my DNA done at 23andme.com
I rescued some family member's memorials at Find a Grave and touched them up with accurate names, dates, family members and bios. I love that Find A Grave has such a broad network that I was able to find some family headstones that I didn't have before. I went on a local graveyard excursion to get a picture of some headstones for some strangers on Find a Grave too... it was surprisingly rewarding.
I ordered some death certificates from Florida and Georgia for my grandparents that have passed. I would like to have hard copies of them. From there, I think my next step will be to order my great grandparents - although several of those were available online. It's funny to me that they are so readily available after a certain number of years.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Alexander Yarbrough
Alexander Yarbrough on a Wagon [4]
Alex married Laura Belle Martin in Stewart County, TN on the 25th of April 1882. [1] My family all calls her Laura Belle, just like her daughter. I matched her with Laura Martin via her marriage to Alexander Yarbrough and her death date, which matched family stories. There is some confusion over Laura Belle Martin's birth date though. Her headstone (in this post) and her Social Security Death Index record says Sept 12, 1861, the marriage record says she was 18 in 1882, making her born about 1864 and the census says she was 37 in 1900, making her birth year about 1863. The marriage record could have been a transcription or miscalculation error as I have not seen the original, the census is written very clearly and I am not sure of the source of the date on the headstone. So take that for what you will but she was born sometime between 1861 and 1864.
The 1900 census shows Alex, 37, his wife Laura, who is also 37, married for 17 years, at that point, with seven children. Oscar, 16, Mary, 13, John, 11, Ella, 8, Ethel, 6, Effie, 3 and Millie, 1. [7]
On February 12, 1901, Laura Belle Yarbrough, my great grandmother, was born to Alex and Laura Belle.
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