Have Genes - Well Traveled

It is hard to conceptualize that our ancestors live within us.  At least on the genetic level it is the fact that we carry [hopefully alive] parts of our past generations in our genes.  Now a "gene" is the functional unit of heredity which occupies a specific place (called locus) on a chromosome.  This gene is capable of reproducing itself exactly at each cell division, and directs the formation of a protein. [ an enzyme, a catalyst, or other types of helper proteins ]  A "chromosome" (normally 46 in us humans) lives in the nucleus of our cells.  It is the bearer of our genes, but also surrounds itself with specialized filaments [called chromatin], and a helper gizmo that assists during cell division called the centromere.  Concepts, terms, definitions and the like surrounding all this genetic stuff   can certainly clog the brain, and may often form their own brick walls just trying to put things together.  Anyway, to help the genealogist in their own tree climbing experience there are a few themes that might provide some insight.

First, "genetics" and "genealogy" are not the same.  In spite of what is claimed from all those who want to sell DNA products in order to provide you with answers to all your family tree questions, this is not the case.  By definition, "genetics" is the branch of science concerned with the means and consequences of transmission and generation of the components of biological inheritance.  In my Stedman's Medical Dictionary, between "behavioral genetics" and "transplantation genetics" there are 21 definitions of various branches.  By definition, "genealogy" is an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor.  [There is now listed a "genetic genealogist" which I am sure would charge you to figure all your DNA stuff that has been analyzed.]

Secondly, if you have not already, you may discover that your DNA may help get under, around, or over that brick wall.  The problem for many genealogist is knowing which DNA type would give you the most help.  The following picture tries to present the three types of DNA being sold on the market.

The first place to start is to define the question you are trying get hold. [From a genealogist point of view.]  Does the question needing to be ask go out the paternal (fathers) branches, the maternal (mothers) branches, or the ancestors on either side of the family tree?  Making this decision will often help you decide which DNA test to order.  Y-DNA is a direct male line back through the ages...mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) is down the maternal branches including those of your father...and autosomal DNA is basically a "travel log" of your ancestors geographic origins. [called ethic groups]  We all have genes...well traveled indeed.

Deciding DNA

Starting my tree climbing experience some years ago, a number of brick walls have been encountered. [Started tree climbing at age 9!] You might imagine with a surname JONES that there would be more than a few brick walls along the way.

Beginning with my family's stories, the adventure started in the Bluegrass of Kentucky.  My maternal side kept many pictures, and the stories were readily passed down through the generations and many family reunions.  My paternal side was somewhat different, and the family stories were fewer.  At any rate, Kentucky was the beginning, and the branches led back to Virgina.  A lot of years were spent digging around this area, and it was not always clear which direction one should attempt.  Finally, the branches led to London, then to the county of Kent, then to Rochester, and finally to an area of Wales outlined in the figure which follows:

The drawing is mine, showing a number of locations that were slowly put together.  It was here, along the Vale of the Dee, where my JONES family started, or at least I believed it to be.  This only took about 30 years or so of various brick walls.

It was some five years back, that all this stuff about DNA became available.  Find your roots, and be certain of your origins.  What if I check my DNA and found out I really was from China???  Not sure I wanted to do this, now some 50 years into the family's story.  Did I trust my genealogy, or did I find out some other story.

Struggling some two years to decide to do my DNA, the "bullet" was finally bitten (as we would say in Kentucky) and that jaw swab was taken.  Sweating some two months for the results, they returned that I was haplogroup R, and haplotype R1b1b. [Now labeled R1b1a2] 

It took a few months to try and figure out what all this DNA stuff  meant. [Being a physician helped]  I put together the following table:

Hmm...Wales...lets see...at the top!  R1b1b [Now R1b1a2] it is!  What a deal!  My 50 some years of genealogy before computers and the internet held true...deciding DNA it is.

Finishing The Task

Genealogy is a way to find our family's past.  The roads we follow to discover this past are often full of curves and bends that seem to block our way.  Family stories give us some direction in this tree climbing process, but they may not always be correct.   My own genealogy experience has followed a lot of family stories told me during my childhood.   One such story was "W.C.". 

The kitchen table was the location of my grandmother's family stories.  She could remember that the first JONES was named W.C.  She did not know what the W.C. stood for, but she was certain that he lived and was buried at the mouth of the Red River.  It would take me some 20 years to find this family cemetery, and discover the "W.C." stood for William Carter.

In 1999, my father and I managed to walk back the road to the ground that contained this cemetery.  It was a rainy day, and my plan to chalk his head stone was dampened by the rain. [My chalk and paper were wet.]  The head stones were buried, and it took a good effort to raise the stones.   The following picture shows me and ground that surrounded our family cemetery.

Lots of grass, lots of dirt, and a cast iron fence kept us company.  After raising the stone, and cleaning its surface, I used my t-shirt to make a impression of this headstone.  This impression now hangs in my library. [Along with several other impressions of grandfather's headstones.]

The following picture shows this headstone as it came up from the ground.

 "Peaceful be thy silent slumber" it reads.  For me, it was finishing the task.

Keeping Things Simple

There seems to be a great deal of commotion about what is needed to actually do genealogy.  What computer program, what computer software...what latest program, what type of laptop, i-phone, and all the gadgets...what's the cost, and what's the start-up time...all seem to be part of the present day equation for "doing genealogy".   Well, keeping things simple has been one of my approaches.

To do genealogy is to "think", and to "thank".  Who am I, and where did I come from usually, starts things off.  Who were those before me who left their mark upon my flesh and bones.  That random combination of Y and X chromosomes that survived down through the ages helped form me.  A "thank you" to those folks who came before and lead the way, with a name added, is one factor to keep the generations connected.

For me, doing genealogy is as simple as a three ring notebook, blank paper, and a pencil.  Nothing fancy, just functional to provide a record of my tree climbing.  The picture shows some of my notebooks.  One inch, to 1/2 inch, to heavy duty, to any thing that will hold my hunt.  Easy to store, easy to find, and easy to use.  Nothing to plug into except my brain.  Keeping things simple...a goal of genealogy.

For The Serious Genealogist

You know your a GENEALOGIST when:

You can't drive past a cemetery without wondering if your ancestors are buried there.

Your neighbors think you are crazy, your friends wonder, and you know you are.

You have to watch the credits of a movie to see if any of the surnames are ones you are researching.

The mailman can't believe that you got this much mail from someone you don't even know.

Your fear of snakes and bugs is overshadowed by the need to get through those brambles to that old gravestone.

You worry about the roof's leaking only if the drips threaten your genealogy section.

When you read the New Testament in Sunday School and find yourself comparing the pedigrees in Matthew and Luke.

When you find your ancestor's executions by hanging or burning at the stake, far more interesting than the mass-murder that just took place next door.

You move to a new town and the first thing you look for is a historical or genealogical society in the area.

submitted by: Mary Jones, MD

Copied from: The Jones Genealogist, Vol.XII, No. 4, Nov/Dec, 2000.

BWP(18) : A Concept

Genealogy is much like working a 5000 piece puzzle. The post "The Picture on the Box" of December 7, 2010 discusses this concept. If interested see:

http://thejonesgenealogist.blogspot.com December 7, 2010.

BWP(12) : Point of Reference

Many factors impact our lives. What makes us do what we do and why? What forces affected the lives of those who lived before us? These, and other issues like these, become a point of reference for our tree climbing.

Let's begin!











These references I have used over the many years. You might want to comment on references that you have found most helpful.




















Staples to the rescue! Mead's Neatbook seems to be available on line, but you can use any form of graph paper. Over more than 50 years of tree climbing I have used many, many, different types of paper!















Remember this was written just as the Internet was getting started. I still feel that every item determined as a family "story" needs to be verified. Documentation is fundamental to genealogy.

BWP(9): Methods

The following section introduces the methods to brick wall destruction. Please follow the instructions closely, and complete each section in order.

Time and Space analysis, what a deal!

I have included a picture of the materials contained in my first publication. You will need to get these simple supplies at any "dollar general". The markers are pink, blue, and yellow.

Remember that the graph paper will be different from the ones now available, but you will following the same methods.

Let's get going!

BWP(7): We are the Chosen

To genealogist everywhere.





Genealogy for generations.

BWP(1) The Brick Wall Protocol

Frequently, "brick walls" present themselves to the genealogist. How to go around or demolish them becomes quite a task. Having faced many such "brick walls" in my 50 some years of doing genealogy on the surname JONES, I have come to accept them as part of tree climbing.

The following blog will present what I have used to help get over and around these proverbial "brick walls". It is intended to be a help to those who wish to continue their genealogical experience in spite of facing a wall. It is called The Brick Wall Protocol. It will be presented as I have developed it in a "work book" approach. The pages of the work book will be presented as if you are using the actual protocol intended.

The pages and text will be published as designed. Each post will have a number identified as "BWP(#)" so that a reader can following in order. This is BWP(1), meaning "Brick Wall Protocol, reading #1. Post will follow in sequence so that the reader will be able to utilize the information as intended.

The pages will be presented in order and hopefully make sense to the frustrated genealogist. They should be used in sequence to be most helpful.


Please make any comments or suggestions using the comment space at the end of the post.



The first three figures show the title page, purpose, and copyright. First published in 1989!


The next post will describe "Step 1".








I trust this protocol will be helpful to genealogist for generations to come.