Why should I post a pedigree?
How does my pedigree get on the Patriarchs Page?
How do I register or log in to post my pedigree?
How do I find a project's Pedigree Forum?
What should I post for my pedigree?
I can't post my pedigree. Help!
Why should I post a pedigree?
The pedigree is the link that makes it all fit together! A combination of DNA testing and your family pedigree offers the best chance of success in finding your family history. For some, the breakthrough comes quickly, while others may have to wait until the right (and critical) person who can shed light on their family is finally tested and shares his pedigree. You can influence your own success by posting a pedigree on your surname project's pedigree forum.
We encourage everyone who tests to also post his pedigree, even if you don't have very much information,so that participants can compare pedigrees as well as test results. Some interested researcher may see it and contact you.
(Note: You do not have to be a surname DNA project member to post a pedigree on the Pedigree Forum.)
How does my pedigree get on the Patriarchs Page?
After you have posted on the Pedigree Forum, the Project Administrator will post your pedigree on the Patriarch Page of your project. This may take a few days, so please be patient. Most administrators will notify the project members whenever a new pedigree is posted on the Patriarch Page. Please note below the "stripped-down" style we need for the Patriarch Page. The administrator will probably post the contact information for the person posting the pedigree (using the word AT instead of the @ in the email, making it harder for spammers to harvest email addresses from the site) so that others who may have a connection can contact you. In addition, most administrators will correlate the pedigree to the test results by using the code identity number or kit number with the pedigree on the Patriarch Page, and by using the earliest known ancestor to post the test results on the Results Page. Please be sure to post your kit number when you post your pedigree on the Pedigree Forum.
How do I register or log in to post my pedigree?
To register:
- Under the login button in the left sidebar of this page (or any page on the website), click on "Create new account"
- It will bring up a new screen that will have a box that says: "Register - Required Information" .
- You can choose any username and password you would like. If you want to hide your email from the public on the website, click on the box next to the blank for your email address.
- Do a "visual verification" by typing the scrambled letters you see.
- Read the usage agreement below it, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the square by "I agree".
- Click on "Register" below that. You are now registered.
- Make a note of the username and password you chose in case you forget it the next time you visit the forum.
- After you have posted registered and logged in, be sure to click on "Track Project" at the project website, so that a link to the project website will appear each time you return to www.worldfamilies.net and log in.
- If you have already registered and are having trouble logging in:
- Type in your username or password if you know one of them.
- If you have forgotten your password, click on "Request new password" just under the log in box
- A screen will come up saying you didn't enter password. At the bottom of that square is a small line saying "Forgot your password?"
- Click on "Forgot your password?"
- The next screen will give you a choice of typing in your email address so you can follow a link that will be sent to you in an email to reset your password, or you can check the box "Ask me my question" if you chose that option when you registered.
- If you choose to have the link sent to you by email, go to your email account, open the email, click on the link, and you will then be able to reset your password.
- Please make a note of the new password for the next time you log into the forum.
- If you have forgotten your username, go through the same steps as above.
How do I find a project's Pedigree Forum?
- Either Log-In or Register (You must be registered and logged in to post your pedigree.)
- Search for "your surname" by typing the surname in the search box in the upper left corner of the page.
- Find the result for your Surname Project at World Families and click on it.
- You will be taken to the home page of your surname project's website,
- Click on Pedigrees in the black menu bar across the top of the page.
Note: if the page does not appear within a few seconds, click the "refresh" tab on your browser, or click "back" to the project page and click the "Pedigrees" tab in the top menu bar again.
- Scroll down to the last posting on the pedigree forum.
- Find "reply" tab near the bottom right-hand corner.
- Click "Reply"
If you do not see a "reply" tab, click here.
- Post your pedigree (or message) in the big white box
- Click "Post"
What should I post for my pedigree?
Since Surname DNA Projects are primarily concerned with the male line, as yDNA is passed down from father to son, just as the surname is passed down, we use a "stripped down" pedigree. We are interested in your male line in the surname. Start with the earliest known male ancestor.
For each generation, we limit the information to only four items: the man's name, his birthdate, his birthplace, and his spouse's name. If you are missing any one of those pieces of information, you can substitute other information you have about that ancestor.
Suggestions for Posting your Pedigree:
Please :
1. Do Post four pieces of information for each ancestor: Name, birth date, birth place, spouse. [Missing any of the above? Add other identifying information.]
2. Do Begin with the earliest generation
3. Do Use standard abbreviations (m=married, b=birth date, d=death date, c1930= circa (around) 1930, Co = County, VA = Virginia [GA for Georgia, CA for California, etc.])
4. Do Keep to one line per generation.
5. Do Include only generations that have this family surname
6. Do Provide your name and email address (you may have done this when you registered to post)
7. Do Provide your code identity if you have one for the project. 8. Do Be consistent. Either use the surname for each generation of your pedigree, or omit it for all.
Please
1. Do Not Put the surname first
2. Do Not Use all caps for the surname
3. Do Not List anyone whose birthdate is after 1910 (for privacy concerns)
4. Do Not Use numbers for the generations
5. Do Not Try to "format" your posting, as that only makes it more difficult for the Project Administrator to paste it onto the Patriarch Page.
Example Personal Pedigree - Terry Barton [terry AT bartonsite.org]
David, b c1730, Stafford Co VA, m Ruth Oldham
Thomas, b 15 May 1768, Fauquier Co VA, m Sarah Kees
Conway Oldham, b 20 Aug 1805, prob Greenville Dist SC, m Martha John Cox
John Matilda, b 1839/40, ?Columbus? MS, m Emily Cassandra Sneed
Joseph James, b 6 Nov 1865, Milam Co TX m Mary Jane Harlan
John (Jack) Sneed, b 24 Feb 1897, Bartonsite TX, m Josephine Cresap Waddell
I can't post my pedigree. Help!
1. When I click on "Pedigrees" in the menu bar across the top of the project page, I get a blank screen.
If the Pedigrees Forum doesn't appear within a few seconds, click the "refresh" tab on your browser. If still nothing happens, click the "back" button and click on "Pedigrees" again. You should be able to access the page the second time.
2. I logged in, but when I scroll to the bottom of the last posting on the Pedigree Forum, I don't see a ":reply" tab.
If you do not see the "reply" tab when you scroll down to the bottom of the last posting, look to the upper left corner. If you see "Welcome, Guest. Log in or Register" you know you are no longer logged in. You can log in again in two ways:
a. Click the "log in" link at the top of the forum page. This will allow you to log in, but it will take you to the home page for the forum. To find your project's pedigree forum, scroll down to the bottom of the page and find your project's name in the alphabetical listings. Click on the surname and it will take you to your family's forums. To find your project's home page again, you will need to click on the 'Home" link at the top of the page and do a search for your project if you have not "tracked" the project so that a link will appear on the home page when you are logged in.
b. Click the "Home" link to go back to the World Families homepage to log in. Then do a search for your project and return to the project website and click the "Pedigrees" link. You should stay logged in the second time.
3. I've tried everything, but I still can't post my pedigree.
We're sorry for your troubles, and we'll be glad to help. Just send your pedigree (in the form indicated above) to us by email, and we'll post it for you. Click here to send the email.
