Linda Parker Magellan - Speaker Profile

Talk Title: Navigating the New World of Genetic Genealogy

Affiliations:

Founding Member of ISOGG
Technical Assistant/Webmaster for JoGG

Memberships:

Daughters of the American Revolution
United Daughters of the Confederacy
Southern California Genealogical Society

Background: 

Linda Parker Magellan is an independent Professional Genetic Genealogy Consultant who has travelled internationally assisting individuals in the discovery of their ancestry through the use of DNA testing.  Linda enjoys putting the pieces of the puzzle together to solve the mystery of one’s genetic inheritance.    

Linda ordered her first DNA test kit in 2003 and has been hooked ever since.  She now administers several surname projects and has experience with FamilyTree DNA, 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and The Genograpic Project.  

As a founding member of the International Society for Genetic Genealogy, Linda has long regarded education a priority and continues to develop professionally through workshops, conferences, and continuing education coursework.  Her area of expertise is in teaching others how to unravel the story in their DNA.  

What do you do as a day job?

Officially retired Apple Certified Macintosh Technician
Owner at Our Family Origins
Professional Genetic Genealogist
Speaker and Historian

What do you do as a night job?

Most of my nights are occupied with my day job! Research, research, research!

How did you get into genealogy?

My interest in genealogy began at about age 10. I started by asking my parents about my grandparents and what ethnicity they were. I wrote everything down and I still have those notes to this day. My next adventure into genealogy came in about 1988 when I bought my first Apple computer and decided to make my own database to keep track of my research. In 1989, with my computer in tow, I drove across the United States in search of relatives to interview… I’m still interviewing relatives throughout the world.

Tell us about your involvement with genetic genealogy

In 2003 while doing research on my mother’s maiden name, Wright, I happened across the FamilyTreeDNA website. I had really wanted to discover where my Wright family came from so it took me all of about 30 seconds to decide that I had to order a 12-marker y-DNA test for my male Wright cousins. It was at that time that I set up the Wright Surname Project which currently has 993 members. I must admit that I had no idea what to expect, but almost immediately realized that DNA testing would become an invaluable tool for genealogy research. Since those early days I have sought to learn as much as possible and have tested at all of the major DNA testing companies. 

What will you be talking about?
This presentation is geared for the new DNA tester. However, there will be useful information for anyone seeking ideas about what to do next. Information will include how to set up a spreadsheet for tracking matches, ideas and suggestions for contacting matches, and a review of many resources available.

These lectures are sponsored by FamilyTreeDNA and organised by volunteers from ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogy).

Ann Marie Coghlan - Speaker Profile

Presentation: Introducing DNA for family research

Affiliation: Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) British Chapter

Membership:
Cork Genealogical Society
Society of Genealogists [UK]
Cloyne Literary and Historical Society
ISOGG

Background: 

Ann Marie Coghlan is a Professional Genealogist living in Ireland. She is a member of The British Chapter of APG : The Association of Professional Genealogists. Ann Marie’s background is in Education and in Business Consultancy. She manages Social Media for Cork Genealogical Society and has the Cork Genealogical Society’s Facebook pages with its private Hubgroup for Cork DNA. She is also the Admin for The Cork Ireland Project, The Nagle Family Project and McGrath Clan Project hosted at FamilyTreeDNA.

What do you do as a Day Job? 

Professional Genealogist at ‘ Family Past & Place Genealogy Services’.

What do you do as a Night Job? 

My own research if I’m lucky !

How did you get into genealogy?

As a small child, looking at family photograph albums and listening to my relatives, especially my Great Uncle Joe’s family stories and his time in France in WW1

Tell us about your involvement with genetic genealogy 

I was always interested in early prehistory research. I read Brian Sykes ‘Seven Daughters of Eve’ and that started my interest but at that time DNA testing was very expensive. At WDYTYA Live in London 2013. I was ‘encouraged’ by Maurice to test with FTDNA and was also interested in the possibilities around reuniting the Cork Diaspora with Y- and atDNA. On receiving my results, I realised the only way to identify my own Cork lines was by networking with other Cork researchers. I applied for the Cork-Ireland Project on FTDNA and set up a private Facebook group for Cork Heritage using the Gedmatch Facebook group model. These were then connected to the established Cork DNA Leaders’ research, and the Gedmatch group subsequently to Cork Genealogical Society, where I have been a member for over 12 years. We are also registered with ISOGG as a Geographic Project.

I finally tested my own mtDNA two years ago and was awarded a rare Haplogroup and profile (thank you Grandma!) which is very interesting in itself, but not helping me much with my own traditional family research.

What will you be talking about? 

Why should we add DNA to our personal genealogy toolkit? Ann Marie explains the basics of DNA testing and how we can use genetic genealogy research in understanding not only our own personal family history but also our community history. This is an excellent talk for complete beginners who have never tested before, and a great refresher for those who already have.

Previous Presentations at GGI:

At GGI2016, Ann Marie gave us a fascinating insight into Adding DNA to your Family History Society. Here is the blurb about her talk, co-delivered with Maggie Lyttle: There are a variety of Family History Societies around Ireland and many of them have recently started to incorporate DNA testing as part of their society’s activities. In this presentation we hear from two such societies, one from Cork, the other from Ballymena. Ann Marie and Maggie will be telling us how they did it, why they did it, and what difference it has made to the members of their respective societies.

• Cork Genealogical Society - who are we and what do we do? 
• DNA Project Leaders for Cork and Irish Heritage 
• Historical Profile of The Cork Diaspora 
• Our DNA Corcaigh Project - how it works and current outcomes 
• How we incorporate DNA research into Cork Genealogical Society. 

More information ...

Family Past & Place Genealogy Services
Familyandpast.com
+353 87956 2840

Associate member of the AGI (Accredited Genealogists of Ireland)

Member of The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)
apgen.org  

Cork Genealogical Society
corkgenealogicalsociety.com
facebook.com/corkgenealogicalsociety

Cork DNA Projects
facebook.com/groups/corkdna [membership on personal request}
familytreedna.com/groups/cork-ireland
isogg.org/wiki/Geographical_DNA_projects



These lectures are sponsored by FamilyTreeDNA and organised by volunteers from ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogy).

Robert Casey - Speaker Profile

Title of Presentation
Y-SNPs: Key to the future

Membership ‐ ISOGG

Day Job

Retired from IBM after 40 years in sales, services and product development.

Talk Summary

The impact of the explosion of Y-SNPs being discovered is covered in depth in Robert’s presentation. It shows how Y-SNPs can organize surname projects by Y-SNP. It explores how Y-SNPs can be used to determine when Y-STR matches are not actually related. Y-STR “signatures” are covered in depth and how these signatures can be used to determine relatedness and predict Y-SNPs which reduce Y-SNP testing costs. With such plentiful Y-DNA data becoming available, the combination Y-STR signatures and extensive Y-SNP testing now allows the creation reasonably accurate genetic descendant charts by extending Y-STR signatures into the genealogical time frame.

Biography

Robert has been an active genealogist for forty years, publishing nine 600 page family histories at his web site. Ten years ago, he started concentrating on genetic genealogy and created the L21 YSNP predictor tool in 2011. He has extensive web sites on the Casey, Brooks and Kiersey Surname Projects, the R‐L226 private haplogroup project and the R‐L21 private haplogroup. Due to the explosion of Y-SNP testing, he continues to concentrate on determining the relationship between Y-STR signatures and Y-SNP testing results and is now developing new methodologies to produce genetic descendant charts based on both Y-STR and Y-SNP testing. Robert recently retired from IBM after forty years in sales, services and development.

How did you get into genealogy?

When my Dad retired in 1976, my parents and I became devoted genealogical researchers going on many research trips and dozens of “genealogy sessions.” From 1980 to 1992, we published four paper based family histories and now have nine family histories with around 60,000 relatives documented at my Interactive Family History web site.

How did you get into genetic genealogy?

After researching my ancestors for over 30 years, I was very frustrated in breaking down my brick walls and YDNA looked very promising for a long term strategy to make progress on my Casey ancestors. In 2006, I ordered my first 67 marker test. With YSNP discoveries of “Walk the Y” tests, I rolled out my R‐L21 YSNP predictor tool in 2011 and the R‐L21 Private web site that analyzed all new R‐L21 branches as they were discovered. With the onslaught of NGS tests, I switched my efforts to R‐L226 and rolled out the R‐L226 interactive descendant chart and the R‐L226 Private web site in May, 2016. My NGS test from Full Genomes Corporation Y Elite 1.0 was the first R‐ L226 NGS test and I now have five branches under R‐L226 based on my original NGS test.

What DNA tests will be discussed?

Only YDNA tests will be discussed with the primary focus on how YSNP testing enhances information discovered via YSTR testing.

Where can people get more information about you or your topic?

For my web DNA web sites: http://www.rcasey.net/DNA/Home.html

For my family histories:

http://www.rcasey.net/acrstrt2.htm

To learn more about the SAPP charting tool:

http://www.jdvtools.com/SAPP/

YouTube video (older version of this presentation):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYOKfw0SXB0

Jennifer Zinck - Speaker Profile

Title: Investigating Family History Mysteries with DNA: The Tools

Talk Description: Your autosomal DNA test results are in, so what’s next? What do we do with the pages of matches? Explore the latest tools offered by Family Tree DNA as well as the third-party tools offered by GEDmatch, DNAGedcom, and Genome Mate. Discover which tools are most useful for your situation and how to develop a DNA research plan to help solve your own family history mysteries.

Background: Jennifer Zinck is a researcher, writer, and speaker from the United States who specializes in the intersection of traditional and genetic genealogy. She frequently speaks and presents workshops on topics including beginner and intermediate genealogy, genetic genealogy, using DNA for unknown parentage, and technology for genealogy. Jennifer routinely attends conferences and participates in professional groups to remain current in her field. Jennifer serves as the President of the Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council and as a member of the Genetic Genealogy Standards Committee. She is a member of several professional organizations including ISOGG and the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Dennis O'Brien - Speaker Profile

Title of presentation

The DNA of Clan O’Brien

Background

Dennis is a member of the Society of Australian Genealogists, and Administrator of the O’Brien Surname Project.

What do you do as a Day Job?

• Retired International Logistics Specialist in Customs Laws
• University lecturer and Teacher at various Business Colleges in Australia and China

What do you do as a Night Job?

• Genealogy, DNA
• Director of the Mary Wade Society in Australia

How did you get into genealogy?

Born as a 3rd generation member to an Australian/Irish Catholic family. This offered lots of chances to meet my many great Aunts and Uncles and many cousins. In my mid-teens the elder Aunt asked me to read a small book she had written about the eldest of 10 children brought up in an Irish Catholic family in country Victoria, Australia. I was so hooked, I told my father of the book, he arranged for it to be printed and it became the base of all family research for our family in Australia and Ireland.

Within a few years I started gathering my own information and over the next 50 years have become the official keeper of the family records for both my paternal and maternal families, which extend to around 9500 persons in Ireland, England, USA and Australasia. Since 2001, I have visited many family members across the world and arranged several reunions in Ireland and the USA. Through the Mary Wade Society (Mary was one of the earliest arrivals in Australia, and a convict), I have access to over 17,000 extended family members, all on my maternal side.

Tell us about your involvement with genetic genealogy.

Possibly by accident. My parents and I were having lunch with Sir Conor O’Brien at the Dromorland and he was telling us about the O’Brien Surname Project. Both my father and I were tested and as the tests extended we continued to extend our knowledge.

Originally Michael O’Brien (USA) was the Administrator, but once the L226 connection was proven he felt the need to pass the position on and I accepted his invitation. I also worked extensively with Dennis Wright, L226 Project, as there is a direct overlap in our common goals. However, I have also been involved in helping non-L226 O’Brien’s members to extend their knowledge of where they came from.

What will you be talking about?

• Surname versus DNA results
• In DNA terms, who are the O’Brien’s
• The O’Brien’s and the Dál gCais
• SNP’s as against Y-STR markers

What is the relevance of each topic to Ireland & Irish genealogy?

Everyone wants to belong to a “Royal” family

What questions will you address during your presentation?

That a surname identifies you as a family, DNA identifies your history

What DNA tests will be discussed?

Y-DNA

To what surnames is this topic relevant?

O’Brien and its many variants

Links

• O’Brien Surname Project
• Irish Type III website

Dennis Wright - Speaker Profile

Title
The DNA of the Dál gCais and sub-clades discovered with Big-Y

Qualifications
BSc (Chem) VUW Wellington NZ

Membership
ISOGG

Biography

Dennis Wright has born in New Zealand and his interest in Genealogy began over 40 years ago following up family stories which led him back on his maternal side to Robert the Bruce, Scottish, English and ultimately European Royalty. He even found a line going back to Brian Boru. 

On his paternal side however, he has battled against an early 19th century brick wall in New Zealand for some 40 years. In 2005 it was suggested that DNA testing may help him break through and indeed it did. But to his surprise he found his paternal ancestry was Irish, not English as his name would suggest.

Dennis administers the FTDNA R-L226 Project and has maintained a DNA website for this Irish cluster. He authored a paper in the Spring 2009 edition Journal of Genetic Genealogy, entitled "A Set of Distinctive Markers Defines a Y-STR Signature for Gaelic Dalcassian Families".

Dennis is a past member of Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies, New Zealand Society of Genealogists and Hampshire Genealogical Society. He is the ISOGG Australian Regional Coordinator.

Talk Summary

This presentation starts with the discovery of a distinctive STR signature in 2006 for a clade that was subsequently found to be that of the Dál gCais, the O’Briens and King Brian Boru. It leads through Walk the Y testing where the haplogroup defining SNP L226 was discovered in 2009.

In the last two years with the availability of Big-Y testing has resulted in an explosion of SNPs and branches found under R-L226 giving the men of this clade a better understanding of where they fit on the Dalcassian tree.

Tell us about your involvement with genetic genealogy 

After some 30 years doing paper genealogy, I was approached by the administrator of the Wright Project at FTDNA in 2005 and did a 12 marker test. This was followed by a 43 marker test at DNA Heritage which showed some unusual markers. Ken Nordveldt indicated he had seen these values in a small cluster from Clare, Tipperary and Limerick.

As no one else was researching this cluster I started looking more closely and setup a website in December 2006 for the Irish Type III cluster, which this group was now known as. There are now 1,000 haplotypes associated with the group. I authored a paper in the Spring 2009 edition Journal of Genetic Genealogy, entitled ”A Set of Distinctive Markers Defines a Y-STR Signature for Gaelic Dalcassian Families”.

After getting support for a Walk the Y test, SNP L226 was discovered in 2009 and the R-L226 project was established at FTDNA, which I administer. As one of the first participants in Big-Y, I collected and analysed the data of Z253 and L226 men as available and made recommendations to FTDNA on SNP pack testing, and to ISOGG for additions to the haplotree.

I have given presentations to several bodies in Melbourne on Genetic Genealogy. I have also been tested at 23andMe for ancestry and health reports.

What topics will you discuss?

The STR and SNP signatures of Irish Type III cluster

What is the relevance of each topic to Ireland & Irish genealogy?

This cluster is Dalcassian.

What DNA tests will be discussed?

Y chromosome only

To what surnames is this topic relevant?

O’Brien, Casey, Kennedy, Hogan, McGrath, McNamara and Crow

Links

• R-L226 Project
• Irish Type III website

James Barry - Speaker Profile

Talk Title
Testing Ancestral Remains: The Barrymore DNA Project

Background

Jim Barry is the administrator of the Barry DNA Project and a member of the Earls of Barrymore Project, the first effort to do DNA testing of the remains of a member of the Irish aristocracy. Jim has been an amateur genealogist for more than 30 years and a genetic genealogist for more than five. Educated as a social scientist, he was a professor of politics at George Mason University and a researcher in conflict resolution at the University of Maryland. Jim has published in the fields of international politics, negotiation and artificial intelligence. His family is from Barryroe, County Cork.

Membership

International Society of Genetic Genealogists; New England Historic Genealogical Society

How did you get into genealogy?

My interest in genealogy began more than 30 years ago when my parents passed away and I wanted to learn about their families, which were rarely discussed when I was young. It was only in the past 5 years or so that the combination of online records and DNA testing enabled me to trace all of my immigrant ancestors to their places of origin. In the process, I discovered that my Barry ancestors were from a tiny village in West Cork and that I had other ancestors from Armagh, Cavan and Down. My excitement was such that I have continued to explore my family roots and have helped many others to find their families of origin.

What about genetic genealogy?

I first got into genetic genealogy as one of the beta testers for the Ancestry.com autosomal DNA test. Shortly thereafter I began Y-DNA testing with FamilyTreeDNA and founded the Barry DNA Project in 2013. That same year, in collaboration with other genealogists and forensic scientists, I established the Earls of Barrymore DNA Project, the first effort in Ireland to test the remains of a deceased member of the Irish aristocracy.

What will you be talking about?

One of the most important Anglo-Irish families, the Barrys are found today throughout Ireland and the countries of the Irish Diaspora. Yet much remains unknown about this prominent family. The Barrymore DNA project uses the tools of modern anthropology and genetic science, coupled with genealogical research, to address these mysteries and learn how the Barrys of today relate to their aristocratic forbears. This presentation describes the results of forensic analysis and DNA testing of remains from the Barry mausoleum in Castlelyons, Cork. It details initial conclusions of the project, the challenges of ancestral DNA testing and future directions for research.

Links

• Earls of Barrymore Project
• Barry DNA Project