Category Archives: Genealogy

The curse of two John Smiths

Posted on June 20, 2023 by Phil Grass

Introduction As a genealogist I spent much of my time looking at how my DNA results can enable me to build a more-complete picture of my ancestry. Recently I spotted a DNA relative that was a “Shared Match” to a … Continue reading →

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200 “documented” DNA Matches and Rising

Posted on April 11, 2023 by Phil Grass

Recently I hit the count of 200 documented DNA matches. To celebrate this I though it worthwhile to write a little about this and how it has helped my genealogy research. Firstly it’s important to understand what I consider an … Continue reading →

Posted in 23andMe, ancestry.com, GEDMatch, Genealogy, Genetic Genealogy, MyHeritage.com | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Common Ancestors of the Bainbridges of Middleham

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Phil Grass

For genealogists with British ancestors the period before Civil Registration (in 1837) and useful Census (starting with the 1841 census) records can be a challenging period. There are, for most parts of the UK mainland, Parish Registrars. The brevity of … Continue reading →

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The DNA-Secret that went to the grave too early

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Phil Grass

Combining traditional and genetic-genealogy to find an unknown family connection. Continue reading →

Posted in Autosomal DNA, Genealogy, Genetic Genealogy, Highlights, Ulster | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The last Will and Testament of Marmaduke Wetherell, in the Parish of Croft, Gentleman in manner

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Phil Grass

This is the last Will and Testament of me Marmaduke Wetherell of Dalton in the Parish of Croft in the North Riding of the County of York Gentleman in manner. Continue reading →

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How to improve your DNA matches with your German relatives at Ancestry.com

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Phil Grass

Use these two simple tricks to help connect with your DNA relatives back in the “homeland”. I’m sorry, I just got carried away with writing click-bait titles. I have just got my wife’s DNA test results back from Ancestry. Her … Continue reading →

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Genealogy in a time of Covid – A personal review of 2020

Posted on January 3, 2021 by Phil Grass

Introduction 2020 has been a year like no other – well unless you lived in AD 536. On a personal level we (my family) have been very lucky to live and work in a low Covid-risk environment. At a personal … Continue reading →

Posted in 23andMe, ancestry.com, FamilyTreeDNA, Genealogy, Genetic Genealogy, LivingDNA, MyHeritage | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

On the Origins of the Grass family Surname in the Brandon Area of Suffolk

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Phil Grass

A short guide to the six families with the surname Grass, found in the Brandon area of Suffolk in the early nineteenth century. Continue reading →

Posted in East Anglia, Genealogy, Highlights, yDNA | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Researching the Smiths of Great Ayton

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Phil Grass

Introduction When I first stated to write this (August 2020) the genetic genealogy world was at war with itself over a decision by Ancestry to remove some distant matches from peoples DNA Match List results. It’s all rather sad and … Continue reading →

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Health, Death, Genetics and the Genealogist.

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Phil Grass

 Introduction As the market for DNA tests for genealogists matures, it has been natural for the genetic genealogy companies to leverage their customer base into further DNA testing. Recently genetic genealogy companies MyHeritage, LivingDNA and Ancestry have all announced DNA … Continue reading →

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