Thanks to Forensic DNA

 Beautiful little angel 

 The other day, my son and I were talking about San Francisco history and he was telling me how the cemetery just outside of San Francisco in the city of Colma started. 

It then struck a memory with me - a few years ago, I read about a San Francisco family with 2 young girls of their own, who were doing some renovations to their home in the Lone Mountain, district of San Francsico, when contractors discovered a coffin.  When the coffin was found, they called out the city's medical examiner. They found a little girl, around 2 years old in a tightly sealed glass coffin that preserved her remains. She was holding a red rose in her hands. The little girl had long blonde hair and was wearing a long white lace dress - she had a cross made of flowers laying on her chest. 

She was buried there - before it was a backyard, of course - 140-150 years ago. All the residences in this neighborhood were built on the former site of a cemetery, owned and operated by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The cemetery accepted burials from 1865 until about 1902. The interred were exhumed in the early 1930s and transferred to Greenlawn Cemetery in Colma, CA. 

For unknown reasons, this precious little girl was left behind. 

The search started as to who this little girl was - did she have any descendants that were still alive? 

The media and public gave her the name Miranda Eve and after all the necessary legal paperwork and DNA samples were taken care of, she was reburied in the Colma cemetery. 

Once they were on the right trail, they found the DNA of family members from both sides of her family. One family member agreed to give a DNA sample to match her blonde hair. Strands of hair were obtained from “Miranda Eve” before her reburial for DNA testing. Analysis of nitrogen isotopes, conducted at the University of California, Davis, revealed that she began experiencing undernourishment approximately 3 months before her death. Funeral home records indicate the cause of death was “Marasmus.” Marasmus was a term used in the 1800s for severe undernourishment, a condition which could have had a number of underlying causes, unknown or not fully understood at the time.

Given what is known today about late 1800s urban living, an infectious disease is the most likely cause of her marasmus. 

She has a Name - 

Analysis of nuclear DNA, which is inherited from both parents, confirmed that “Miranda Eve” was a girl (no Y chromosome DNA fragments are present), and suggested ancestral origins in Western Europe. Her complete mitochondrial DNA (inherited only maternally) was assembled, and it was found that “Miranda
Eve” carried the I1a1e haplotype, most common on the British Isles. An analysis was performed comparing the DNA extracted from the hair sample with that obtained from the living male descendant of the second candidate, Edith Howard Cook. Those samples provided a clear match.

Edith’s grand-nephew. Peter Cook is a direct descendant of her older brother, Milton H. Cook. He lives in the Bay Area. DNA was extracted from the “Miranda Eve” hair samples in the clean room facilities at the university’s Paleogenomics lab using standard ancient DNA techniques. 

Amazing work. 

Bless her sweet heart, she is at rest now. 

https://rooted-by-blood-and-dna.blogspot.com/2017/05/miranda-eve-edith-howard-cook.html

DNA

 

It's that time again

The fires in my area are almost gone - still, some smoke in the air as we move into my favorite time of the year, Autumn. This is the time of year, I like to start digging into my genealogy. The break gives me time to go back and reevaluate my findings.

My half-brother showed some interest in our father's lineage so I started a facebook group for just our families - it is their INTRODUCTION to our Family Tree. It's fun for me to share, but I am afraid they are not as passionate as I am. Only one of my nieces has done her DNA. Her father manages it and she has not updated the newest Ancestry Data that just came out.

I updated mine - and things did change. The updated one matches more of what I knew; with the exception of Norway.  (Still can't figure that one out) The Scandinavian is hidden within Ireland and Scotland and Northwest Europe.

The older one:

I remember being shocked - Italy and Greece and the Iberian Peninsula???





I'm pleased. Many are not. What about you?




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the gift that keeps giving (to me)

This past Christmas, I gave my children, the gift that keeps giving (to me) They each were given their Ancestry DNA kit. I knew if I left it up to them, I'd be dead before they would be interested.
And yeah...it is mostly for me.

My step-daughter sent hers in already, however with my sons I will have to practically sit on top of them to get their spit! They are interested in their heritage and nothing else. I guess I am going to have to get them over here with the promise of a home-cooked dinner before I can get their DNA.

So I wait...




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X in DNA

I have to admit when it comes to the DNA and the X and the Y and all of that - I seem to have a mental block. I read it, and read it yet still it doesn't stick in my head. Maybe it's my age -

Men inherit only one X chromosome, from their mother, while women inherit two Xs, one from their mother and one from their father. In turn, their parents inherited their X in a specific way as well. All ancestors don’t contribute to the X chromosome.

I do find it all terribly fascinating and I wish my pea brain would retain it, so I could fully understand it all. I took the basic DNA test through Ancestry. Honestly, that only wet my whistle! I want MORE information, but they are so doggone expensive. I know this month, they are having specials on the more advanced kits - This year, I am a day late and a dollar short. Maybe next year.









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Why are so many people checking into their DNA ethnicity?

Good marketing and people are curious. Many who are not interested in the Genealogy part of it, just want to know, what exact ethnicity they are. Gone are days, of referring to yourself as a "Heinz 57". Many want to only confirm, whether or not the "stories" they heard growing up, that Aunt Gilda was Jewish or Grandpa Peck was Cherokee.  DNA can prove ethnicity sure, but only what you received from your parents. No two siblings will have the exact same DNA.  So forget about trying to save the cost of ordering 1 kit for 3 siblings! Only identical twins share the same. You still could have some Cherokee - or Ashkenazi. You just didn't inherit that particular DNA from your parents. One sibling could have a trace - and you didn't receive any.  I think it is worth it, for all the siblings of one family, to have it done. Unfortunately for me, my only sibling has passed. I have to rely on first cousins and that takes some deciphering.

The story from my family - Grandma had Cherokee. The family swore up one side and down the other. She was adopted by some relatives and down through the years, no one knew exactly what her original surname was. She took on the surname of the cousins that raised her. After many years, I have yet to find any proof, that Grandma was Cherokee plus it did not show up, in my DNA. Bummer! When I was a teenager, I "related" to being Cherokee - some said, I even looked Cherokee (in the summer, with a good tan)

What did show up in mine was shocking. Scandinavian!  That is my predominant ethnicity by a lot! Now,  where the heck, did that come from? No one in the family EVER talked about Scandinavian roots. Then it occurred to me - My dad's side is from Scotland and England. HELLO! The Vikings conquered those areas - and I hate to think about it, but way back - quite possibly some Viking had his way with a female ancestor. WHO KNOWS?  My search continues - not that I will find any Vikings - that just goes back too far but it revealed how far back DNA can go. AMAZING.

Besides Ethnicity, there are other compelling reasons to test; to find long lost cousins, who may have the answers, to the other side of the story. I tested through Ancestry - and I linked it to my family trees. I have so far, linked to 1,086 4th cousins or closer. Besides the shocking Scandanavian, I also have DNA from Italy/Greece and the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain)

If you haven't "tested" yet - TREAT yourself. The more people get tested, the bigger the database, and the chances of finding distant cousins and family is greater.




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Ancestry introduces DNA genetic communities

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Here are the 11 NEW Ancestor Discoveries

So here they are - Next week I will go over them. The first one, John Brigham Young - Young is my maiden name - however, he is more likely to be a cousin to one of my gg grandfathers. From what I could tell, he is no relation to the LDS Brigham Young and this one never left Tennessee. I guess Brigham was a popular name back in the 1860's when he was born. and not to insult any LDS, when I was a kid, and we studied all of that in school, kids used to make fun of me, saying I was a distant relative of the Brigham Young. I'd say probably THAT was the moment in time when I started getting interested in genealogy. Mid 1960's - Mom told me, there were many Young's who are not related. But because of the surname connection, I have read a lot about Brigham and his many wives and children over the years. If there is a family tie, it would not be a direct line.

Now the really exciting and mysterious part is that the other 10, I have no idea which part of my family, they come in under.

Overwhelming. I do need to move on, from the Hasenstab's for awhile. The rest of my family tree is waiting to be discovered.

DNA Matches and Circles (Disappointing)

Since I did my DNA and got my results - I am more confused than ever. I'm a bit disappointed, too. So many of the DNA matches, don't want to communicate. I mean, what is UP with that? We don't have to be best friends. Come on now. Many of them, do not post their family trees or have linked their family trees. I thought it would be easier.

Most, people just want to know what their ethnicity is. They care nothing about connecting with distant family, that share some DNA. For me, I am the only one left from my birth family - I welcome anyone who is part of the family. Of course, I 'm not reckless - I won't be rewriting my will, ask them for money or wanting them to move in with me. So what is the big deal?

Family Reunion 1963

I did not grow up with my cousins - from about age 5 on. We moved to California. We would go back every few years, for BIG family reunions. The age difference was large - so some cousins were already married and had children of their own when I was a young kid or teen. We just didn't have anything in common.

Plus, there was bad blood with my dad and his family. No doubt, some of the cousins, just heard things said and developed their own issues toward us. My sister and I included. Not fair, but human nature.

Plus I am finding out, my DNA Matches and Circles, keep changing. I had more...what happened to them?

Rooted by Blood, DNA and a lot BS

I am finding out the hard way, many of the "family stories" were just that - stories. No evidence to substantiate. Therefore, I have to go with the lack of evidence and go toward the direction of what is true, according to records. Disappointing to say the least. I basically grew up, believing I was part Cherokee. I also never knew I had more Scandinavian than anything else. Even though, the many Swede's I have known throughout my life, always said, they were convinced by looking at me, that I was Swedish. I still don't know what part of Scandinavia my Ancestors came from. Doesn't much matter anymore.

I am the only one of my birth family, still alive. My sister, left me in Sept. 2015. Killed me. I wanted her and me to investigate more into our family. We never got a chance. I would have loved to have found out, what DNA, she got from our parents. I always assumed, siblings would get the same DNA from our parents, but that is not so. It would have completed the whole picture for me - I am one who enjoys the science of all of this, more than anything else.

For the BS stories, look for the labels that say BS. If said BS Story is found to have some evidence, then I will change it. Until then, the Cherokee in my family is a big, story of bull-shit.

My DNA results

Time for Recording Ancestral, Ethnicity and Family History

Just thought it was time, I start recording everything I have on the Genealogy of my family. I am 63 and have been working on genealogy as a hobby for many years. For the last 9 years, I have been on Ancestry. Last year, I had my DNA checked and was surprised to find out a few things, I will go into in another post.

I love my sons, and while at this time, they are only mildly interested - perhaps one day, they will enjoy all that I have found out about "The Family."