If you’re looking for a good way to honor your dad or his memory this Father’s Day, consider taking a Y-DNA test.
The Y-Chromosome is only found in males, passed on from a father to his sons. The Y-DNA test can be used to trace a direct paternal line. Only FamilyTreeDNA.com, out of Houston, offers the test. I’ve used it to verify my own direct paternal lineage, and have secured male relatives bearing other family surnames to test to verify those lines. If one takes this particular test, it’s best to test at the 37 marker or higher level.
The company offers discounts related to Father’s Day and other holidays. An Autosomal DNA test can be taken from this sample at this company, or in separate tests at other companies. That test links you to other relatives on both sides of your family. Ancestry.com now offers a delineation in test results as to whether they appear on your “Mother’s Side” or your “Father’s Side” if you are lucky enough to have a parent’s DNA in their program.
Surnames often change over time in spelling or translation. Sometimes, they are shortened. So different branches of the same family line may have different spellings. That’s when DNA can come in handy, to verify whether you are related to someone.
Genealogy library collection being renovated, temporary locations
The Georgia Room of the Charles D. Switzer Library in downtown Marietta closed for renovations on June 3. No access to the materials is planned during this time, other than online databases. The Sybil Wood McRay Genealogy & Local History Collection from the Gainesville downtown Central Library has moved temporarily to the North Hall Technology Center, 4175 Nopone Road, Gainesville. Check hallcountylibrary.org and then "Branches" for hours and directions, or call 770-532-3311, ext. 181.
The Augusta Genealogical Society has sold its downtown Augusta location and moved its Adamson Library Genealogy Collection to 1058 Claussen Road, Augusta. See augustagensociety.org for hours, directions and information on the expanded programming.
British genealogy source
The Genuki website at genuki.org.uk is a great place to go for free research into records of the United Kingdom and Ireland,so check it out. This site has greatly expanded the materials linked therein in recent years. If you’ve looked in the past, try it again.
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