Ancestry DNA Kit: Finding My Roots

I am one of fifteen siblings and I love my family’s diversity and differences. I want to learn more about who we are and where we came from. With the purchase of Ancestry’s DNA kit, I hope to uncover some of these answers.  After all, isn’t that the ultimate question: Who am I?

The DNA Kit Process

The price for the kit is $129 plus $60 in shipping, but I would watch for sales. I purchased my kit at a low rate of $59 plus shipping. With this purchase you will receive a free 14-day trial to Ancestry’s data base to help build your family tree. Keep in mind it will take 3-4 weeks to receive your kit and another 4-6 weeks to get your results online.

I received my kit in four weeks and the instructions included were easy to follow. In a matter of minutes, I had my saliva sample collected in the tube supplied and repackaged in the pre-paid return mailer, provided in the kit. While I waited for my results, I continued to work on my family tree.

My 14-day trial ran out, so I agreed to pay for a subscription from one of Ancestry’s membership options:

1. Monthly: All Access $39.99
2. Semi-Annual: World Deluxe $131.94
3. Annual: Word Deluxe $299.40
4. Annual: All Access $379.99

My Family Tree

The Canadian Census records, offered in Ancestry’s database, told me a great deal about my family’s history. These records provided details on age, place of birth, current residence, nationality, ethnic background, religion, occupation, marital status, and a list of household members with their ages. These details told me that my family immigrated from Scotland, England, Germany and Africa. I wondered if the results from my DNA test would tell me the same.

Building a family tree is made easy with the multiple types of records found on Ancestry’s database. Along with the census records I  mentioned above you will also have access to the following:

• Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates
• Military Draft cards
• Ship Passenger Lists
• Immigration Records
• Adoption/Orphanage Records
• Voter Lists
• Boarder Crossing Record
• and more….

Based on the data you enter for each name in your family tree, Ancestry will give you results or hints that are identified as a green leaf that will bring life to your trees branches.

My Father’s Side

When I was a teenager, I heard a story about one of my dad’s ancestors. It was about a daughter of a white plantation owner in the Southern States falling in love with an African slave. The lovers ran away together with the help of the plantation owner. He wanted to make sure his daughter was safe as the couple made their way North. This story always intrigued me and made me feel proud of my heritage. I wanted to learn more.

Using my sister Lorrie’s family tree research along with Ancestry’s database, I was able to learn the two names in the story were Jane Shoare and John Grinage. Their story took place in the late 1700’s, Maryland where they became my great-great-great grandparents.

Both of my dad’s parents have ancestors listed as African or mulatto slaves in the southern states of Tennessee, Virginia or North Carolina.  Over time they made their way North through the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania or Michigan, before finally settling in Kent county, Ontario in the mid 1850’s. With the Civil war looming the safest option was to escape and it is quite possible they did so using the Underground Railroad.

I grew up in Chatham-Kent county, just outside a small town called, Dresden. Dresden is home to the historical site of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which commemorates the life of Rev. Josiah Henson and his work in the Underground Railroad. I am amazed to learn how rich my history is and how little I actually knew. The next time I am in the Dresden area I plan to visit this historical site and hopefully add to my story.

My Mother’s Side

I knew my grandfather was Scottish, since, the last name McColl kind of gives that away. My grandmother’s side was not as clear. Whenever I asked her about our family background she would say they were Pennsylvania Dutch. Being a little girl, I didn’t know what that meant.

While building my family tree on Ancestry.ca, I was able to confirm my grandfather’s family were in fact, from Argyllshire, Scotland and Surrey, England. My grandmother’s; however, varied from Scotland, England, Germany and France. I eventually learned the term Pennsylvania Dutch referred to Amish and Mennonite’s who emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in the 1700-1800’s. This was validated with the documents provided in Ancestry’s data base showing my Great-Grandmother’s descendants are Mennonites from Germany who immigrated to Lower Salford Pennsylvania. These Pennsylvania settlers decided to move north to Waterloo, Ontario, around the time of the American Revolution.

Building my family tree was an informative and interesting journey into my family’s history. A journey made easy with the access to Ancestry’s Data base. I highly recommend purchasing a membership with Ancestry.ca. Without this membership I wouldn’t have found the details I learned and remember you do get a free 14-day trial to try it out.

My DNA Results

With my tree complete, all I had to do was wait for my DNA results. I received an email notification saying my results were back and I couldn’t wait to uncover how they compared to my family tree.

I was pleasantly surprised at how accurate my DNA results reflected my family tree’s ethnicity.

On my mother’s side I found evidence in our family tree that ties us to England, Scotland and Northwestern Europe, that being France and Germany. I also liked that Germany was specifically mentioned, even though it was only at a 3% marker.

My African roots on my father’s side are also identified at the 11% and 6% markers. This result is what held my curiosity, since it was impossible to find any records prior to these ancestors enslavement in the United States.

These results are an estimate and they can change with more members joining Ancestry’s database. I am happy with my results and I recommend this DNA kit to anyone else who is curious in finding their roots.

Elise Robbins

My name is Elise, I am a Bucket List Blogger, who inspires and helps others complete their own adventures by sharing my experiences and recommendations.