Ancestry DNA

Since I was a youngster strangers would ask me if I was from China - high cheek bones and small eyes.  My brother and sister always teased me that I was adopted - they have hazel eyes and fair skin - I have brown eyes and olive skin. When Ellis Island was being renovated many years ago I was able to find the manifest records of both my grandmothers. But my grandfathers could not be found. For my parents 50th wedding anniversary many years ago I put together a digital photo spread using the photos I had of them from childhood to present day. When the grandchildren came around I spent a lot of time creating family trees for them using my “Picture It” software. I haven’t thought about my ancestry much lately - until recently. So I decided to finally take the plunge and order my DNA kit from Ancestry.com. It arrived last week and I followed the instructions - spitting in to a test tube - and mailing the package back to Utah, then registering the specific kit number on the app. Now I am waiting with great anticipation to see what comes of it. I’m not sure there will be any unexpected surprises. But you never know. 

Ancestry DNA Kit and Family Tree

Quite some time ago I was searching for information about my grandparents. It was when Ellis Island was being restored and we made a small contribution. All four of my grandparents came through there in the early 1900’s and I found some interesting items about three of them from the manifest documents. Unfortunately I can’t find my notes that included the maiden names. We even visited Ellis Island in New York when the project was completed. It was very inspiring. Lately I have been bitten by the DNA bug curious to know more about my ethnicity. People have oftentimes asked me if I was from China but I am supposed to be Polish/Ukrainian. So I searched to find out about the best DNA kits out there. I finally bit the bullet and bought an Ancestry DNA kit that is supposed to arrive in about ten days. Of course everyone on earth probably got one as a Christmas present so everything is really backed up now. Great timing! In the mean time I started to work up a family tree but can only go so far without my grandmothers maiden names. I’ll wait until I get the DNA results to subscribe to a free two week trial and search a little more. It is interesting to look at 1940 and earlier census records, applications for social security, death records, etc. The spelling of my father’s father’s last name was changed when he arrived which makes it more difficult to nail down. But he is listed as a “painter” in 1927 and as a “musician” in 1930. Maybe I will learn something that I don’t already know. My siblings used to kid around that I was adopted. This may put an end to that notion. Or will it?