Ancestry ThruLines in 2023: Understanding How to Use it Properly and How it Works

[@saraschneider6781]

I WISH I had that many matches.

[@BrownsFaninIowa]

@3:00 -- a nuance I've discovered in my own DNA matches and ThruLines... That 12th child of Charles Booth might actually have one or more descendants who have their DNA in the system. However, if those descendants have not linked their DNA to a tree or if their linked tree doesn't go back far enough, then their connection to Charles Booth won't show up in your ThruLines. I see this phenomena right now in my DNA match list for even very close (1st & 2nd cousin) DNA matches -- they don't appear in my ThruLines because they haven't linked a tree or their linked tree is too sparse for the ThruLines to pick it up.

[@GenealogyTV]

Ah yes... but... If you take that DNA cousin who is showing in ThruLines and find him/her in the DNA cousin list (or drill into that cousin/same thing) and click on the "shared matches" tool, then all those DNA Cousins in the filtered list are either descending from the common ancestor (in my case) Charles Booth...or thru him to a common ancestor higher in the tree (one of Charles Booth's ancestors). If that makes sense. In other words, they either descend from or thru Charles Booth.

[@BrownsFaninIowa]

@@GenealogyTV -- Ah! ThruLines analysis at the next level! Such a powerful tool. Would love to see a video on using ThruLines at a more advanced level like this.

[@AncestryAimee]

Another great video! Thanks Connie! I'm so glad you are out there pointing this stuff out - I always say... Thrulines is only as good as the trees it is using.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks @AncestryAimee. You're the best! Great Genealogy Channel you have, if anyone is reading this.

[@AncestryAimee]

@@GenealogyTV ❤️

[@travelingwithminnievangogh]

I agree, and one thing I do have a question on for both of you regarding Thrulines is: When there are so many trees out there with correct information, why does Ancestry always use the trees with the INcorrect info to connect to my dna match? Is it because there are more with wrong information? I spend a lot of time going down rabbit holes chasing wrong the wrong rabbit. Often times that dna match doesn't have their tree built out so I can't say it starts with them.

[@AncestryAimee]

@@travelingwithminnievangogh haha! That’s funny! I think it’s appears that way because the ones that stick out to us are wrong. Ancestry doesn’t really have any way to qualify trees so it’s really up to us. Rebuild that tree and see if you agree with it when you have an interesting DNA match.

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes! I agree @ancestryaimee.

[@DakotaCelt1]

I have one family with 18 kids. The majority of my tree is not online as it is a huge file and corroborated with research. (Organized by surname and village) I have only the lines I'm still researching online. I have discovered that camera phones are incredibly useful! My rule of them on evaluating trees: 1. Does the name match but I take into consideration if it is the German version and they use the english version. 2. Records, records, records. .... 3. I also like that you put a note on the name citing: researching and hypothesis. I live in a state where record keeping was not standard until the 1920s and religious communities were often serviced by circuit priests. IT makes research entertaining to say the least. Thanks for sharing your talent!

[@shadykatie100]

I have been on Ancestry for over 25 years. Now my entire Thru-lines are messed up. On my mother's side of the family, it is a half-relative on every branch. I never had that before. I have DNA matches to everyone, and now I went to my Thr-lines and everytkhing says half even my close family. There is a glitch in the system. It was never like that until now.

[@stevegilchrist4357]

For me ThruLines is a perfect example of why Ancestry is both the best and the worst genealogy site at the same time. They have an enormous number of users, millions(?) of people's trees to access, and a giant database of records to access. Then they go and make it ridiculously easy to add people to your tree without any evaluation at all, then compound that by giving weight to the majority (who have copied the nonsense). I have had some great hints from ThruLines built from several peoples trees (some of which were hidden) that I could never have found myself, or even thought to look at. But, and its a BIG but, most of the suggestions are pure nonsense, based solely on names being the same, and it continues to throw the nonsense at me with no way to reject it, and it continues to throw this same nonsense at other people some of whom no doubt will just click and collect, and by doing so increase the weight on the nonsense side ! Rant over ! I thank you for the opportunity to vent.

[@grantfahlman1815]

Yes, unfortunately the software hasn't yet got a safety check or some way to reduce the "copy & paste" simplicity!

[@stevegilchrist4357]

@@grantfahlman1815 I'm afraid I think it's worse than that, I think this simplicity is by design and never will have safety checks.

[@sharontabor7718]

ThruLines is only as good as the other DNA matches trees. Don't blame Ancestry for bad information submitted by people who are merely name collectors and not researchers.

[@MarkJT1000]

That's what I've found too. So many people click and accept nonsense Thrulines that they become so prevalent that Ancestry's algorithm ends up believing it must be true. And with the growing number of trees containing that nonsense it promotes it to the top of the suggestions list. Which then means even more people blindly accept it, rapidly spiralling into a vicious circle. Its almost a virus.

[@melaniecarver5719]

It drives me crazy, lol! I have only recently uploaded my tree to Ancestry and still have it private as I am finding I have to go back and add the records I already had in my PAF. I get a bit OCD about it so it drives me crazy to see claims with no sources and people just accept it! Family Search is another one. Oh, and Find a Grave, which has no sources but people (including me) use it as a source. But I use it as a source for photos and burials not as a basis for parentage, etc. I wish people would just read a few basic books on genealogy and how to go about it. So many people are in such a hurry to do anything anymore. Sometimes it makes me not even want to share because it's like there are those who just play around, cut and paste, etc., and don't really care if it's right. They take your work and slap it into their tree and claim it, which is fine, as ancestors belong to us all. But for all they know I could be wrong as well. I remember when I started out doing genealogy years ago and just emailed with people on Rootsweb, etc., and got so much help and collaboration. It was really fun and I learned a lot. Rant over as well, lol. I guess all we can do is keep pressing on and gently asking those people, "excuse me, what is your source for that maiden name?"

[@teresacollingwood]

I'm loving the DNA thrulines and hints. By opening up and looking at the records, it has proven to me what I already knew. Especially, from the records and documents, AND information from family. I have found family members that I didn't know were around, and family members (if I know they were into researching family) gave me more information that I didn't already have. I have been able to somewhat break thru a couple of brick walls. These brick walls were illusive for a long time until now. One cousin was able to go back at least one generation, and with her new information and the information that I gathered from the records in the hint sections, and doing the regular searching I've added several more generations back. I just need to convince more family members around my generation to get tested. I think I have convinced my mom to and possibly get a test for my grandfather before he passes. His is one of the brick walls that I broke thru.

[@em4steam896]

Love how you make your videos easy to understand and follow for everyone from beginners to advanced genealogists! Your KZbin channel was the first genealogy channel I came across. And from you having guests on your channel to the suggestions KZbin gives people about other genealogy channels. I have been able to expand my knowledge from that! So thanks for another excellent video! Have a great weekend!

[@GenealogyTV]

Wow, thank you!

[@brendanl8390]

I’m amazed at how many thru lines matches you have. For most of my DNA matches I have to build out trees myself to find the connection. My biggest thrulines has 25 people and that was very exciting for me

[@pvman2]

At least you have ThruLines. My wife has practically zero DNA matches closer than a 4th cousin. Apparently her closer relatives do not seem to have an interest in doing a test. As a result, she has not been able to determine much about her paternal grandfather.

[@WhatEmmaDidNextUK]

Ps would love a video showing your different processes as an overview only obviously. Like what steps do you take when you sit down to do DNA matches for example. I’ve been doing this for years too but I get really caught up in the minutiae and ‘am I doing this right?!’ Love the videos thank you x

[@GenealogyTV]

Good idea. I'll give it some thought.

[@Mistydazzle]

Thank you, Connie! I think that many people, who do not have Ancestry paid accounts, add in suggested ancestors with no sources. They cannot access sources, unfortunately, without that paid subscription. I think this is the only interaction that they are allowed to do on tree formation, barring just typing in information that they already know, themselves. As an aside, last week, I just got a fairly close, new DNA match who had a tree of only her father's name & her mother's first name. I ran with that information, did the searching to see that her line fit in with the nephew of my direct line. I also searched my own, laterally built out, tree for her pertinent names. (Laterally built out trees that include siblings, aunts, uncles, spouses, spouse's families can be a real research plus and immediate tie to DNA matches) I indeed had that nephew just sitting in my tree, waiting for me - name, birth date & birth place. I had no other info on him, so I started the research to correlate on down to the DNA match, her husband's surname & all. Now, within a week later, this brand new DNA match has a thruline to me! And, I know this thru-line is backed up by sources. Love that! AND, this new DNA match was the key to open up a little group of commonly matching DNA matches to which I could not figure out connection to myself! I now know who the Common Ancestor couple is, or goes through, to all these people!

[@matttolmanaz]

I use Thrulines as a research tool as you explain. I will also place a name in my tree I'm researching but not sure of, leave it for a couple of days, and then come back to Thrulines to see if there are any changes, hints, records, or potential DNA matches and then I can do as you say and look at the research and records they have. I did this with my Hodges and Bryan Line. When I put in the parents of Catherine Bryan that I suspected another 3 generations opened up and it connected to another 40 to 50 DNA matches. I love Thrulines as a tool. Great Job Connie. We need to connect again.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks Matt. I hear you.

[@knockshinnoch1950]

I have found ThruLines to be very useful in confirming relationships and in finding the "missing links" in a number of cases. Like everything else, use with caution and check the accuracy of records/data. Cut and paste without verification is the scourge of all genealogy websites!

[@GenealogyTV]

I could not have said it better myself.

[@carlaporath7076]

Thank you for clarifying the dotted lines in Thrulines.....I used to use Thrulines quite a bit, but it has been a very long time since I've relied on it! Great information.....

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ozarkscarguy540]

You're over there with 3 screens and I'm doing everything on my cell phone and pen and paper. I need to up my game.

[@GenealogyTV]

If you have a computer, tablet, you can add computer screen at a reasonable rate. Black Friday is right around the cornder.

[@GenealogyTV]

Here's another idea. If you have a TV with a spare HDMI port... you can add a Chromecast for about $35. Then open your Ancestry account in a Chrome browser on your phone and cast it to your TV. It's not as good as a computer screen but it might work as a cheap alternative. Here is my affiliate link to what I'm talking about amzn.to/496R3Ne I don't think this will work if you're using an iPhone. You'd have to cast it to your TV using AirDrop... I think. KZbin might have the answers for you.

[@welshboo1]

I've loved this part of ancestry. It's like having a check system for your tree.

[@hemichallenger3643]

I was extremely lucky when I first started ThruLines. The very first person I looked at had an issue. A person had listed their dad as their great grandfather as well. So I ended up talking with Ancestry about the issue. The guy on the phone said that someone had it like that in their tree. He was able to find the suspect tree. So from then on I was very hesitant using it. From then on, I wrote the name on a paper and went back to the parent in question and just went to town adding sources and verifying each step of the way. I usually have 10-15 credible sources for each person in the last half dozen years. As a side note, I noticed one of your entries you had a "Living Smith" I think it was. That got me thinking. And maybe I am the only person that does this. So I add a person, then systematically work down that line. Gathering from everywhere. Once I get past the 1950 census I move to Facebook as most of those people should theoretically be alive. Using the names from Obit's and the likes, I can almost always find one person, who is usually friends with at least some of the family. And work all of those leads as well. So one particular branch I can go all the way up to the people just born. As an instance, I worked on a line for I'd say 4-5 months. That one person, born early 1800's, I ended up adding close to 200 people once I got all the way to present day with each of that persons offspring. So I guess if I have a question, is that going to far? Where do you stop personally for your tree? I understand its just an opinion, but your opinion is valuable to me.

[@GenealogyTV]

Hemi, that is a personal choice. Funny you ask that, it's on my list of videos to do in the future "How far and Wide do I go with my tree" or something like that. I don't think you went too far. That falls into the "reasonably exhaustive research" that the Board for Certification of Genealogy has in their Genealogical Proof Standards. Good job, I say... Good job.

[@tomask1436]

I have many ThruLines that correctly follow the papertrail but they are actually wrong because they don't follow the DNA trail. For example, ThruLines connect DNA matches through my paternal ancestor although the DNA shared with these matches was inherited from my mother; DNA matches connected through my paternal grandfather although the DNA was inherited from my paternal grandmother etc. This can be caused by the limitation that ThruLines don't check the shared DNA segments at all and go only about 5 generations back. So many relationships are not evaluated at all. For this reason, Ancestry can be very bad for verification of paper genealogy through DNA matching. On the other side, I would like to see ThruLines implemented for grouping my DNA matches. I have many "mysterious" DNA matches that connect in the same ancestor although they are not shared themselves. ThruLines could provide hints that some group of DNA matches share the same ancestral lines and thus I "should" (with certain probability) be related to them through this ancestral line too.

[@theotherside8258]

I have a few people who connect via more than one side of the family and i think this can confuse the cm measure and approximation of the links closeness to you. I also have one where I can see a link in one side of the family but it is too remote to explain the dna closeness and the match due to the paternal maternal split must relate to an undocumented 'liaison ' on another side.

[@richardhoover4471]

Thanks for another excellent video, Connie. I don't know if I've just never noticed the tabs at the top in Thruline or the filters, but I'm certainly going to be paying attention from now on!

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@vzimmer1951]

I did a lot of footwork years ago. ThruLines agreed with my research.

[@traej18]

I love using thru lines. I used it to find my brick wall 3 great grandmother. Using a written letter mentioning her name and knowing her last name. I was able find her father who had connections to my 3 great grandfather's family. I added her father and then her grandfather to see if I got any dna matches and from looking other records was able to see the connection. Without DNA and thru lines I would have never been able to find her.

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes ThruLines can be a huge help in narrowing the long list of DNA matches and does much of the heavy lifting for us. We just need to verify with records. Good work!

[@helenhunter4540]

Yes, it makes sense: I didn’t know before what that DNA sign meant. Thanks.

[@its_jamesanthony5041]

From Australia, love all the tips you teach!

[@GenealogyTV]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@simonsheppard491]

Yes, I also do the genealogy first before looking at Thrulines.

[@christenehoffert4804]

I think thrulines is good for hinting at generation of cousin

[@Sunjoy1]

So complex...you make it easier to understand.. TY

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you.

[@Kptiger82]

Thanks for sharing this video and explaining things

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@charlayned]

Wow, a new thing to go look at. I've seen all the matches, I have no idea how these people connect to me (and it's not always listed), but the Through-lines looks like it will be very useful. I do have people in my tree with no records. I have them as place-holders (usually other kids than my immediate ancestor) and I will go back to collect information on them once I'm sure i have the direct one back.

[@tamouchy]

Excellent video! I use thru lines, but I've always used a hodge podge method (meaning incompete and unorganized). Your handout is as important to me as the video. Thank you!

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you for the compliments and the support of the channel.

[@ValorieZimmerman]

Howdy cousin! I descend through Anderville Booth and his daughter Nancy Jane, my great-grandmother, who married Samuel McBee. ThruLines gives me great hints - sometimes. 🙂

[@GenealogyTV]

Ah... I do have Andervill Booth (1828-1904) in my tree if that is the same as yours.

[@ValorieZimmerman]

@@GenealogyTV Yep, one and the same. Soooo many descendants of this family!

[@CCreedUT]

This is great. Thank you!

[@dalewolf4020]

The only problem I have is, with ThruLines are when a number of coped but inaccurate lines, populate Ancestry. I have a couple Ancestry lines where one poor researcher, years ago, made some assumptions with zero or little record. Four or five other "researcher" copy his lead and Thrulines throws bad suggestions for me to look at when attempting to find accurate lines several generations back in Germany.

[@tammywilliams2035]

WOW..your family has ALOT Of DNA results :). I wish I had more closer family members who do.

[@helenharland6050]

The reason I keep my tree private is because I don’t want any incorrect information just copied and pasted by someone, then another someone, and so on. I’m happy to pass on information with others if they ask, this way I can tell them if I’m not sure of accuracy, or the reasons why I believe a person belongs. I will also ask members if they have documented verification or personal knowledge of a person in their tree before I add it to mine.

[@theotherside8258]

I do the same and intend to keep doing it until all the lines i care about are so well documented there is no excuse for incorrect use. I also put extra information on photo/document tags so they cant be used in another tree against the wrong person or information. It would be nice if you could just stop the data being transmitted by hints so people have to actually look for stuff properly.

[@lindashankle9645]

I was wondering why my entire tree has been copied over and over again by several people. I had to remove my tree from the public view because I found errors and I'm unable to fix them until I can crack through my brick wall, and others are barking up the wrong tree. People should never copy trees without verifying the sources. I am also questioning some identical paternal trees and will never use the published info because they are all identical to one another. Sources are important for accuracy and you just pointed that out to us. Thanks, Connie, for another very informative video. You're the best.😊

[@GeraldM_inNC]

Yes, identical patterns in un-sourced pedigrees is a dead giveaway that they were all mindlessly copied from each other. Their agreement with each other therefore does not add to their credibility but rather just the opposite.

[@GaliSinatra]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@OIII-IOOO]

it’d be great if ancestry had an undo function. if they kept a change log that could be used to perform an undo.

[@cruznk9]

There is an activity log in beta at the moment. I'm not sure whether it has been rolled out to all customers yet. If you have it, when you go to your tree you will see an Activity button in the top right corner of your screen. One of the features here is a list of changes. There is also the ability to provide feedback about this feature, so you could request an undo function.

[@OIII-IOOO]

@@cruznk9 thank you for this information. i do see it in the web version, which i don’t use that much. i tend to use the ipad version. but i’ll give it a try and provide some feedback to ancestry.

[@jf86459]

The blue helix badges only show up for me on the direct DNA match when connected to my tree, not through an ancestor connection. What you have is the exact feature I want! Then I can stop wasting time using helix icons as profile images to accomplish the same thing. @GenealogyTV Connie, has your tree always displayed those blue icons on ancestor connections or is that new feature being rolled out? I wonder if it’s new because the left-hand toolbar in your tree also looks more modern.

[@GenealogyTV]

It is fairly new. Plus, it is not perfect. I have other lines that are a thru line to DNA cousins that are not showing the blue helix on the common ancestor. I'm not sure why. I'm patient because this whole DNA thing is still at its infancy.

[@grantfahlman1815]

Connie, thanks so much; your timing with this was perfect. I have recently been thinking of doing some Thrulines review and this will be very helpful. Btw, what's with "only" three monitors?! You need at least one more... and that may be as simple as switching out a video card for one with two connections (relatively low-cost and painless). 😉

[@GenealogyTV]

LOL... well I hear you. The monitor I inherited from my husband is extra wide... so it is kind of like four monitors (almost). :) You're right, I could add another monitor with the adapter I already have (I think) but, I'm trying to be frugal. I think 3 is enough for now.

[@theotherside8258]

What i have found are lines to evaluate that seem quite correct but link to my tree in the wrong place or wrong generation. A new trend I've seen recently are sources attached that are just screen images of search results. Quite annoying that people think that is ok.

[@tennbee679]

I only have one screen but when I'm working with ThruLines I do keep more than one tab open. I don't import anything but will investigate the matches then if valid add the person myself.

[@LanceHall]

Thru-Lines is great for testing DNA theories but I would never blindly accept the ancestor hints.

[@GenealogyTV]

Bravo!

[@davidirwin1549]

Thru Lines has got to be Ancestry's greatest feature. (Just wish the other's could install their version as well). The one thing they say though is you will only get matches on your Thru Lines if the ancestors you have on your tree "have" to also be on their tree as well. The only problem is I have a "lot" of matches on Thru Lines "that do not" have the same ancestor on their tree. Most of the time their tree is very small and doesn't go back to the same ancestor. Does Ancestry on their side "know" something they are not revealing ?

[@GenealogyTV]

It's a machine that is making its best guess as to how things line up in the tree. Use records to verify all connections and DNA as a last confirmation. The only time DNA would be an absolute is with a parent child relationship. Otherwise there are so many different possible relationships, you need to work through all other possibilities. Go to dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4 to see all possibilities for each cM relationship in your ThruLines and go through a process of elimination using all evidence, not just Ancestry's ThruLines. ThruLines is just a hint tool.

[@ponderrosie4975]

Or Ancestry blew up their tree! It's is what happened with photos/images awhile ago and happened to one of my trees. Another reason is I have a master tree. It is where I do all of my pedigree building and dump all raw record information I found in the field. I no longer screen shoot and add to timeline because of how Ancestry keeps blowing it all. But the tree I attach to DNA kits are not my main tree. So It may make sense when you see a tree with no records attached. Send a message or look at that person's profile page to make sure that is their lone tree. It may be a complimentary tree. Ancestry could help TREMENDOUSLY by tagging emails associated with DNA submissions. I at times get messages. And some messages are delayed or apparently never received when I send. If we had the abiilty to shoot an Email it would make it so much easier.

[@RocketRenee46]

Love your show. If, for example, one of my 4th great grandparents is showing Zero Thrulines, does that mean I have the wrong person in my tree?

[@GenealogyTV]

No. It just means that there are no descendants that have tested.

[@afromystik4365]

My own thrulines stopped with certain ppl at 4 to 5 kids. My mom connected to 9😃

[@gutsbiker]

ThruLines is predicting a couple as my 4th great grandparents but I can't find any documentation. Other people have them in their trees, but with no documentation. Looking at the 4th-5th cousins the cM runs from 8 to 17. I have some cousins with higher cMs but it because of other family connections. Everytime I ask for help, as soon as I mention ThruLines, all I get is criticized for using ThruLines. I tell them the DNA matches have to have some meaning and I'm only using it as a tool. I did use ThruLines to help break one long standing brick wall. Additional DNA work with the suggested family proved my close connection. Unfortunately the brick wall I'm working on now, I believe is because of a illegitimate child 6 generations back. I'm not sure there's a way to overcome that.

[@GenealogyTV]

You'll need to use ThruLines like a hint... but verify with records or other evidence.

[@melaniecarver5719]

My husband and I have sent our tests in. Now we wait, lol. I am so excited to see what the DNA does so it really better do something or I'm gonna be super bummed. 🙃 I'm thinking of getting a test for my brother to do and possibly my mother's brother, as he is the only male left in her family. Would something like that be worth it? Anyone's thoughts on that would be appreciated! Really been enjoying your videos.

[@GenealogyTV]

I would test your mothers brother for sure. You might consider getting him to do a YDNA test at family tree DNA as well. Super important for your future research. If your brother is a full sibling, you will have similar DNA and using the combination of your DNA with him. May give you a little bit extra DNA of your ancestors. That’s a little more in depth DNA study.

[@melaniecarver5719]

@@GenealogyTV Thanks! With my brother I was thinking since he is the direct line male it might help to get past my brick wall, which is my 3rd great-grandfather? I'm trying to learn about DNA but am still getting confused. I was under the assumption that a female's DNA won't be as helpful for finding direct paternal ancestors?

[@cruznk9]

We need a way to accept or reject ThruLines, to get better ThruLines. When viewing ThruLines, there is a link in top right corner of the screen to provide feedback about ThruLines. Please use it to request the ability to accept/reject ThruLines.

[@mlspencer25]

Why is it that when I have a potential ancestor (Who I am certain belongs in my tree) in Thrulines--after I add them, they disappear from Thrulines. Other DNA relatives are still showing but these four people keep disappearing?

[@pvman2]

Question regarding "evaluate": You say it sorts results by the number of records connected to that person's profile in another member's tree. Do manually added records (with proper source and citation) count in this total?

[@GenealogyTV]

That's a good question. I'm not sure it adds anything but records found on Ancestry now that I think about it. For example, if you add images, I don't think that is reflected in the count on the other member trees in ThruLines.

[@LogicAndReason2025]

Ancestry really should use it's AI to make a single reference tree that is as accurate to the paper data as possible, then put thrulines on top, and/or compared, to that tree. This way we can search for the lines that don't match due to reproduction out of the marriage records. There are so many mistakes by users that it makes it hard to tell which is the cause of a non-matching tree.

[@GenealogyTV]

Interesting idea

[@sandramoore8903]

I have a problem if clicking on an Icon not knowing what it stands for or misunderstanding what it means, and it ends up saying import to tree...I don't know how to undo them.

[@sandradave1220]

As of 6.18.23 I notice either an error or change to thru lines. Every day I search Unknown and Common Ancestor to see if any new matches are there. I am getting more than usual, but when I click through to Thru Lines, it does not show any common ancestors. That’s weird and has never happened before. When I look at the persons tree, I usually see at least one green surname.

[@GenealogyTV]

Interesting. It is constantly updating with new data... keep watching. Maybe something will connect.

[@mah6183]

Hi, Connie. I just found your channel and this video was very helpful in understanding ThruLines. A question... I have a 4th GG husband/wife potential ancestors in ThruLines with zero (O) DNA matches. I'm a bit confused since they're "potential" and zero, both. Is this telling me that in someone's tree they're listed as an ancestor, but the DNA does not bear this out for me?

[@GenealogyTV]

Instead of looking at Thrulines, go to your DNA matches and search for the ancestral couple there... and see if anyone pops up with the ancestor in their tree. Check various spellings too. It might be that ThruLines can't determine the best path to pick.

[@mah6183]

@@GenealogyTV Good idea, thank you. 🙂

[@swanqueen454]

My frustration is that I know without a shadow of a doubt a particular person in my tree, when I descend from, yet it has 0 DNA connections in thruLines. I do not understand why

[@GenealogyTV]

It depends on the distance, but you don’t always inherit all branches of the tree. With autosomal DNA each person inherit 50% from their father and 50% from their mother thus leading behind 50% they didn’t inherit therefore you can have big sections of your tree that you don’t have any DNA in common. Great question.

[@michelewood925]

I wish there was a way to trace back or narrow down an unknown father of an ancestor. No one has him in their tree but I’m sure there must be dna matches.

[@GenealogyTV]

If you don't know how to group your DNA matches along family lines, see this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6O6eYx5gc-drq8

[@christinekotenko7669]

Hello, I contacted Ancestry about this but they could not answer me. They just kept going in circles and didn't seem to have knowledge of Ancestry DNA. I would like to know what happened to "View more possible connections" on shared matches, under Common ancestors. Thanks

[@GenealogyTV]

I don't recall that since the list seems to be endless. As you scroll down, it continues to add more matches. There was at one time the DNA Circles, but they eliminated that and put ThruLines in instead.

[@Texashog11]

I wish ancestry would spend time building better programs for printing options.

[@GenealogyTV]

Yeah.. This is not the first time I've heard this.

[@pacassa]

Wow, you have a Wm McFarland Smith on your father’s side of the family. Do you know anything about the original Will Mc? I have members in my family line named after the original Will Mc as well.

[@GenealogyTV]

My notes say that he is a weak link to his father, Jefferson Bachus Bowen. There is not enough evidence that I have found to prove the link as of the last time I looked at this ancestor.

[@pacassa]

The original Will Mac went around starting towns. Somewhere along the line he became a good friend of Samuel S. Lewis and they were part of a group that moved to Texas. Lewis named his youngest son after McFarland, and McFarland named his youngest son after Lewis. I don't know all the details of McFarland's life, he was a surveyor on the Lewis land grant in East Texas. I Will Mac's last known residence was San Augustine, Texas.

[@WhatEmmaDidNextUK]

Yowsers!! I have so few TL matches and practically no trees.. 😢

[@sewmom17]

Here's a conundrum: based on this video, I went to ThruLines and looked at a couple who are brick walls. They both show the same DNA matches, through my 2nd great grandfather. When I look at the DNA matches down the line, it shows a sister for me (I do have a sister) but also shows she has a son who might be my nephew - she has no children. It also shows that same person as a 5th-8th cousin, with an error that further research needs to be done because the relationship the tree is showing is not possible. It can't be both. How do I correct this in the ThruLines or is that possible?

[@GenealogyTV]

ThruLines is not perfect. You outlined several separate issues. Take each one and research them separately. Don’t try to correct ThruLines. Make sure your real tree is as accurate as possible.

[@sewmom17]

@@GenealogyTV I understand that it is not perfect. I am concerned about what it has presented to me. The issue that I explained leads me to believe I want nothing to do with ThruLines because there is no reliability there. My tree at that point is absolutely correct - I have one sister, she has no children. In fact, I have NO nieces or nephews so the way ThruLines has presented this is baffling. - a possible 5th-8th cousin is my nephew?

[@sandramoore8903]

Another problem I have is when you were talking about looking at official records to verify parentage... what about people who have had affairs....What about women who were raped? What about people who were adopted? Only DNA can tell what the true story is.

[@GenealogyTV]

True. In those situations, the paper trail does not always tell the truth or the whole story. Heck, paper records are not always right in any situation. This is why we look for all evidence (including DNA) and correlate that evidence giving appropriate weight to each piece of evidence for its validity.

[@karenchilders2449]

I made 2 different trees for the 2 sides of my family. Is there any easy way to combine them into one????

[@GenealogyTV]

You need a third party software like Family Tree Maker or Roots Magic.

[@carolynesimpson6070]

Most of mine incorrect

[@dusterowner9978]

Why does my thruline look nothing like what she is show on her screen . Was trying to follow along but nothing matches

[@GenealogyTV]

Humm... I'm not sure. If you're outside of the U.S., sometimes other locations have a different look.

[@lucielou7745]

Holy cow! Here I am overjoyed I just found 10 matches through one 4th great grandparent couple 😂… 180!!! I just wow. I guess my country (Australia is 13x smaller).

[@GenealogyTV]

That is awesome!

[@afromystik4365]

I recently tested my mom. Her thrulines seem to extend further back. It’s so many matches coming in with smaller cms connected to siblings of children of the ancestor couples. Idk if they’re really accurate. How do I even begin to research! Lol

[@GenealogyTV]

Focus on researching the cousin matches, not on Thrulines. Thrulines is just a hint feature that may or may not be correct.

[@kochy8535]

Do you think the ethnicity estimate is accurate? Many of my ancestors were German and nothing from Germanic Europe was found

[@GenealogyTV]

I think they are estimates and subject to change. They are based on reference panels and are updated every fall.

[@user-sc3dn7qi4r]

Be careful and do the records research because Incorrect information in other people's family trees does skew ThruLines into suggesting family ties that don't actually exist. ThruLines knows who your DNA matches are, but sometimes it struggles to figure out how you are related. If someone way back when invented an ancestor (no proof) and others simply copied it to their tree, then ThruLines cannot distinguish between made up and real ancestors and it will frequently show that invented ancestor as an in-common ancestor for you and your DNA match. Another thing to watch out for, those in-common ancestors you find in your list of DNA matches comes from ThruLines.

[@jordynalice1]

You're so right my half cousins put information of my family on her tree and it automatically connects It's not even their family Ancestry is a joke It's all about a Tree Lol

[@annamariegolden2867]

I must half to be in a laptop or PC and not the mobile app....I'm only getting my mother's side and my app does not look like this. I'm trying to find my father...and had a half sister pop up on the paternal side....I had no idea lol 😂😊 so now I have all these people I have no idea I had as cousins . I didn't k own....I didn't know my father

[@bozomonster]

Wouldn't you have to have a DNA sample of Charles Booth in order to prove a DNA relationship with him?

[@GenealogyTV]

Well if we have proven links using traditional genealogy to his descendants and you have a dna match one of those proven links, then no. Of course the stronger the DNA connection the better.

[@alisoncooper1421]

When I look at my tree the through line symbol shows up for several generations, then it stops and I still have people in that line. Does this mean they shouldn't be included in my tree, have I made an error when I have checked the records. As a safely measure I only look at the through lines that have the DNA symbol by them, am I short changing myself. I would appreciate your interpretation. Thankyou

[@GenealogyTV]

Everyone in a ThruLine is a POTENTIAL family member. Please use records to verify the connections. ThruLines is putting that possible tree together based on other member trees and DNA connections. If other member trees are wrong, then it might be the ThruLine is wrong. Always verify with records. You can go as far and wide in your real tree (not the ThruLine view) as you wish.

[@pearlmcdow-Mccormick3711]

Try to watch these videos because kind of learn about this we waited 65 years for my husband to out who the father was so we can finally did DNA test not one but two two different and what I've learned about him is we wish we hadn't done it because my sister-in-law is did this for years she was supposed to check on my husband's mother's surnames instead because she's being a member with my ancestry for years she made him a tree so every time we try to save something in his name on his mother my ancestry wipes it out not fair to somebody that waited all these years that she don't believe the DNA and she says she's right it keeps the tree up on their my heritage and family search so we cannot look up nothing for his mom are for his self and if we do save it they they take it right back Tired for 3 months but they did give a lot of matches and then you got people not and I forgot to say you are lying they just put his mother's side not the father's because it's unknown

[@williamhutton6688]

Since around Christmas my Family Tree Maker 2017 stopped connecting with Ancestry. The help site said they were aware of the problem (also happening with 2019) which they said was fixed and either wait for the 2017 fix or upgrade to 2019 for $59. Any body got any idea if there is a fix in the works or is this a clever way to push the $59 upgrade?

[@GenealogyTV]

I'm using 2019 (on rare occasion) and it is still showing an orange sync issue. I don't use it for regular research much anymore because Ancestry is so good... and in combination with my own research notes methods, that I don't really need it. I do like it for trip planning though. I can set task in ancestor profiles by location so the next time I'm going to XYZ archive, I can print out a list of records to seek. Here is an update from Mackiev (FTM owner) about the 2019 version and fixing the sync issues. support.mackiev.com/747822-Free-Update-242-for-FTM-2019#:~:text=MAR%202023%20%E2%80%93%20Version%2024.2.,Click%20here%20for%20more%20information.

[@cruznk9]

I'm using the 2019 version and it has an orange sync status. It's still syncing without problems. You could always create another tree for the syncing in case there are any problems.

[@woodturner1954]

Hope you don't mind a question. I have a man who died in born 1838, died 1924 (Death Cert) yet he shows up in a 1930 census, correctly named aged 79 (wrong dead or otherwise) as head of house, widowed (actual wife died after him) with a daughter and grand-daughter. Locations and the rest of the census data are correct for him and the kids. (As best I can tell) What would you do?

[@GenealogyTV]

Look for all evidence of death, not just the death certificate. Burials, cemeteries, obituaries, etc... prove to yourself the actual death date. It shouldn't be that hard since it was so recent. For whatever reason, the census might be wrong. Perhaps there was a financial reason the widow said her husband was still alive... or the census taker just got it wrong. In 1930, if there is a "Wife-H" next to her name in the relationship column, it indicates she was the "homemaker". Thus, she was likely the informant, just FYI. Knowing the informant in each document helps you understand why the information is what it is.

[@Tangoisinthesouth]

Will I be able to watch later ?

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes

[@crystalwilson3466]

I have a question. My mom was adopted in 1941. Thrru Ancestry we found her birth mother and half sibs. But we can't find any info on a potential father. Thru your helpful Thru lines tutorial, I did the paternal side and no hints whatsoever. Is this normal or is there another explanation?

[@GenealogyTV]

if it is what I think you did, that is a good strategy, find the birth mother, group those DNA cousins on the birth mothers side, then all those not grouped are likely on the father's side. Ancestry will likely come out with a new division of matches to the grandparent level later this year. That will help do what you can do manually now.

[@crystalwilson3466]

@@GenealogyTV Thanx

[@user-uu5ni3re3n]

I have found ThruLines very frustrating. It makes it easy to add to your tree however it also makes it very easy for people to copy other peoples bad research incorrectly. I have a situation where a number of people have copied a family into their tree missing a whole generation. However I cannot use Thru Lines in that part of my tree because I am descended from the missed generation The son has the same name as his father. So the son's daughter has been added as daughter of her grandfather. I have included copies of wills and comments from Ancestry as evidence to clearly prove this but that does not change ThruLines. And I have found people will most likely ignore it rather than try to fix their tree.

[@sandramoore8903]

I have another question. I am female, so I inherited an X from an egg donor and a X from the sperm donor's mother. If a website shows I have a match at the X chromosome, could that be either egg donor or sperm donor, or is it just the egg donor?

[@GenealogyTV]

Good question. I believe it could be either. Unless you can confirm one x to be on one side of the family, then you can assume the other x to be on the other side.

[@cmccloskey56]

I have gone through my DNA matches and attached them to people on my tree. So I have a little helix badge by the matches to show which ones I have connected to my tree. I'm looking at the thru lines for my 3rd great-grandfather, David. On the thru lines it only shows the people on my direct line, that is, my great grandfather, his children and his descendents. Fair enough. I know that David's other children are also DNA matches, because I've resolved that match. So these would be descendants of David's other children. But they don't show up on the thru lines under David. They are in my tree, in my matches, connected to my tree, but not showing up. Why? Private trees? unconnected trees? I want to see the people that I *don't* know about - your dotted-line people - as new leads for me to review. Why don't I see the dotted-line tribe?

[@GenealogyTV]

There might not be enough data to deliver that line to you. In other words there might not be enough other trees to resolve a definitive line.

[@cmccloskey56]

@@GenealogyTV Ahh... you're right. My DNA cousins don't have that ancestor (David) on their tree, so they don't show up at that level. I've shared my research proving that generation; it is up to them to use it ... or not.

[@2_thumbs_up_baby]

Question. If they have 10cmg shared with you then aren't they possibly a relation? Or because its only 10 you are sceptical of a link at all?

[@GenealogyTV]

When you start getting that low in cM the odds of false positives increase. This is why Ancestry cuts off DNA cousins at 8cM.

[@2_thumbs_up_baby]

@@GenealogyTV i understand Connie but I do think Ancestry should let people decide for themselves regarding lower than 8cmg matches. Have a note regarding false positives... As i mentioned I have a 7cmg match with someone and my Father has 100 with that same person.

[@manxkin]

ThruLines is a good tool but I have found obvious mistakes.

[@Holy_Moley]

Does Ancestry auto fill the DNA matches. Because on the Android app, I needed to add them one at a time, before they would come up on Thru lines.

[@GenealogyTV]

I'm not clear on your question.

[@Holy_Moley]

@@GenealogyTV Oh, Sorry. When I first went into Thrulines, it didn't come up with anything, just the relatives that I put in. It didn't come up with DNA matches. I had to go through each of my DNA matches, and manually connect each one to my tree, as I could. Then Thrulines would show DNA connections. But you made it sound like it was automatic. Did Thrulines automatically check other peoples trees for you and connect them? Because my experience was, that Thrulines didn't work, without first manually extending my own tree to manually add the details from my DNA matches, into my own tree, and then "Connect to Tree" on those DNA matches. Then once I went through that whole long process, Thrulines worked.

[@tancyjohnson3833]

Is there a way to delete a person on your thru lines that I have proved is not an ancestor?

[@2_thumbs_up_baby]

Good question

[@GenealogyTV]

No. Just ignore it. Remember this is a suggestion... a hint feature. Just like looking at a list of possible records, you would only accept those that are correct and pass by those that are not. Think of ThruLines as possible ideas as to how the relationships MIGHT lay out.

[@GenealogyTV]

BTW, there is no ignore button... just forget about it. :)

[@swkrissie]

ThruLines fooled me into thinking my birth certificate father was my BF for almost a year, I didn't understand how it works, obviously. I had DNA matches with many of his family, but in later generations. I share no DNA with his son (my now step brother) or granddaughter, who shared their DNA results with me. I am an MPE, it turned out my BF was also an MPE, I have been trying to ascertain who his father was following DNA matches, one is a half first cousin, 1st cousin 633 cM | 9% shared DNA. He wouldn't tell me who his father was, doesn't have a tree, he's a dead end for me. He said his grandfather was a specific person in my tree, whose age and residence fit. I don't know who to put down as my BF father. I have a person down, but I know it is a supposition. I made my tree private as I wade through this mess. Who can I go to for help?

[@GenealogyTV]

You need a genealogy coach who specializes in DNA. I would suggest Your DNA Guide www.yourdnaguide.com/ref/6/ (affiliate) They have coaching. They also have some really awesome classes. It is taught by the famous Diahan Southard. She has made it her life's mission to understand and help develop DNA for family history.

[@MissSilencedogood]

Yeah for me thru-trees is less than helpful. It literally has my full-blooded sister as a half sister LOL. I can not and have never been able to get it to work successfully. I agree with you they need to evaluate the records and maybe if ancestry didn't cite "hints" but "potential connections" the term "hints" is too suggestive to mean "hey this info is something you should add" then people add the info. :/

[@Fingerchisel]

I had a big tree so now have it split into three trees. My thru lines are connected to one tree only, but I cannot remember how I did that. Is it possible to change the tree that the thru lines are connected to? Thank you

[@GenealogyTV]

support.ancestry.com/s/article/Linking-an-AncestryDNA-Test-to-a-Tree?language=en_US

[@terrybrown7601]

Dare I say it? EVERYBODY WANTS A CHROMOSOME BROWSER !!!!!! WHATS IT GONNA TAKE ? DO WE HAVE TO LEAVE IN DROVES ?

[@sandramoore8903]

I have a problem with what you stated at 46 13:23, "what through lines does, it takes your DNA matches, and other people's trees, and your tree, that's your real tree, not your DNA tree, your real tree and other people's tree". I'm sorry, but your DNA is your biological ancestors. You wouldn't be here without them. Your real tree, is your legal family, people that you might know in your life, siblings, parents, aunts/uncles and possibly grandparents. But you don't necessarily know farther back, especially if the have the surname of Smith and Jones which I have on my mother's side of the family. Maybe I am mis-understanding the term DNA tree. Is that where you are trying to match up all of your cousins?

[@GenealogyTV]

What I was referring to was the ThruLines tree. People often assume that the ThruLine view/tree is their tree and it is not. It is a suggestion of what the possibilities could be as a path between you and DNA cousins. Perhaps I could have said that better.

[@debbie6125]

MyThruLines disappeared.

[@Borntobeawhovian]

the crazy amount of numbers you have for people in thrulines... meanwhile i only have less than 10 for any of my ancestors... guess thats the downside of living the uk?

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes... the US has more DNA kits out there than anyone. You can always target and approach descendants to take a DNA test. The common strategy is to offer to pay for it.

[@saraschneider6781]

Yeah but records can lie... DNA doesn't.