DNA? Don’t forget traditional genealogical research methods.

It seems that lately almost every genealogical newsletter, journal, magazine and blog post I read has a feature on DNA testing. And every email discussion list has daily comments about the use of DNA in finding ancestors or tracing ancestral lines.

That’s all well and good, I guess. DNA can be a valuable tool in determining familial relationships. I have found a few cousins myself through DNA databases. None that we have had contact with, or recognize as being part of our families, have been further distant than third cousins, though. I am not sure why that is. We have tried to contact them through the DNA websites and email but have had no responses. One wonders why they tested if they don’t want to hear from any potential family members.

I am trying to get basic data shared with all “DNA relatives” and get other family members, close and distant, to get a test done, but have just not found the time to really dedicate myself to the pursuit. There is a resistance, or perhaps non-interest, in doing so. But that’s a subject for another post.

What is, or might be a concern is that the idea of DNA testing is or will be the end-all and be-all of future genealogical research. More and more, especially during holiday seasons and special commemorative dates we are bombarded (and I use that term intentionally) with promotions and advertisements for DNA tests or upgrades. Blog posts and newsletters repeat these ads.

It almost seems as if the commercial database companies are intent on finding a new profit-centre as the numbers of new digitized collections of documents are falling and customers are no longer flocking to take out subscriptions. Family history societies, too, are trying to cash in on DNA, using it as a headline subject for seminars and conferences.

James Tanner, in his blog Genealogy’s Star, often laments the fact that the future of research is threatened by family historians (Ten Threats to the Future of Genealogical Research – 7 November 2018) who are increasingly focused on the Internet for their data. The shift to online sources, I believe, is also tied to the use of the tool of DNA tests. As James says, both are beneficial, but not attending to the vast storage of undigitized documents in record offices and archives will leave family stories and ancestral history lacking in fact and detail.

There is no substitute for well-documented genealogical research, based on real records that confirm relationships. Even DNA gurus like Blaine Bettinger say that any relationship indicated by DNA results still needs to be confirmed with actual BMD or other records showing how the people are related. Shared DNA can certainly bring people together and indicate they are part of the same familial line, but in order to put them into a family tree, more definitive information is required. And the only way to get that information is to look at historical records and documents.

As the editor of the journal of a family history society, I dedicated an entire issue to the subject of DNA back in 2012. The subject had just started to receive more attention. One result was that the society started up a Special Interest Group for those interested in DNA testing and analyses. That was exciting and I felt that I had some small contribution to the cause. In the intervening years the subject has exploded with opportunities to test and make contact with others who have tested.

There is the rub, of course. I still have a brick wall or two that I hope might be broken down by finding distant cousins through DNA testing. The lack of documents for these family members and the commonality of their names make a genetic connection probably the only way we might ever learn who that line of ancestors is.

In the meantime, don’t forget to follow the traditional genealogical research methods or let your attention to finding actual documents wane. They are still the most important part of demonstrating family relationships.

Birthdays

Occasionally the day you write a regular blog post happens to fall on someone’s birthday, in this case, mine. So, it can be a day of reflection about how you got here and what is the meaning of life.

None of us may be able to fully explain the second statement adequately, but I do know how I got here.

In 1945, my father was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. From 1943 to 1946 he was posted to a number of air bases in Canada. But, between 21 January 1945 and 10 April 1945, he was in Calgary, having come home from Mount Hope, Ontario. In April he was sent to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. While he was home, there is no doubt that he and my mother enjoyed each other’s company, in every sense. I am evidence of some of the fun they had together.

Dad was not home for my birth; in fact, he did not get here until over three months later, which is close to when the photo with him below was taken. The one of me with Mom (aged about two)  is one of very favourite pictures.

The meaning of life seems unclear to many, although I don’t think it’s complex. Simply put, two people in love want to raise a family together. I am convinced that is meaning enough.

The same explanation was true for my parents. They were here because their parents fell in love, got married and wanted children. And so on, and so on…

We can speculate all we want about the existential question, but it really just comes down to families. The timing of children may be accidental in most cases, but their existence has meaning primarily for the parents.

Genealogical research is just trying to put the pieces together about all the loving couples in past generations.

I can confirm that the days lately keep piling up more quickly it seems. At this advanced age (our children would call it that) I am just as busy as I have ever been, although I no longer have to do yard work. Climbing a ladder to get a box down from a high shelf is the most exertion I might experience most days. The alternative to growing older, however, is less than desirable.

We do tend to watch movies and TV programs that feature older people – well, at least people our age – as they reflect the experiences and pains we can associate with. More emails containing jokes about aging seem to be arriving these days, too.

Anyway, it’s good to have birthdays. And especially good to be able to celebrate the birthdays of children and grandchildren.

It gives meaning to life!

Thanks Mom and Dad.

Cooper Family Soldiers

I have not found any of my direct family line, outside of my father, who had involvement with the military. There were several uncles, aunts and cousins who served during some various war periods between the 18^th and 20^th centuries, in Canada, the United States and Britain, though. Their records have not all been found, or available for inspection yet.

My father joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943 and served until 1946. My wife, Linda’s father joined the Canadian Army in 1941 and was discharged in 1945. Neither saw direct action in theatres of war, perhaps fortunately for us.

Linda’s maternal grandfather, Alexander Cooper, was a career army man with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). I wrote about him in my blog post last November (Alexander Cooper – Colour Sergeant, Cameronians, Scottish Rifles). He served in Scotland, England, India and South Africa during a 23-year career, retiring from service in 1908. Two of Alexander’s sons also served in the Cameronians, one in the Great War and one in World War II. Alexander died in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1927.

Alexander Cooper Jr., born in 1895 in Lossiemouth, Morayshire, Scotland, joined the Cameronians in November 1914 and was assigned to the 5^th Battalion.  He may have seen action in the Second Battle of Ypres and/or at the Battle of Loos in 1915. His full record does not appear to have been preserved. Alexander certainly fought on the front lines. He died of wounds received in action in France on 4 April 1916 and is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, France.

Harry Hilsdon Cooper, born in 1914 in Glasgow, Scotland we believe joined the army when he was about 14 years old, possibly as part of the Cameronians Band; he was a trumpet player. We do not have information from his military service record yet so cannot confirm dates and postings. We do know he served with the 1^st Battalion in Burma during WWII. The battalion saw heavy fighting in the Burma retreat of 1942, and later as part of the famous Chindit campaign in 1944. He did come home safe and uninjured. Harry married in 1945 and with his wife raised a family of five. He died in Liverpool, England, in 1996.

Another of Alexander Sr.’s sons, John Walker Cooper, served with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals during WWII. His rank was Signalman as shown on his 1941 marriage record when he was posted in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. We do not yet know any details of his service record. John and his wife had three children. He died in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1987.

Alexander Cooper Jackson, was born in Govan, Scotland, in 1898. In spite of the similarity in his name to Linda’s grandfather, he was only a first (once removed) cousin of the man. Alexander Cooper Jackson came to Canada in 1912, aged 14, to live with an aunt in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Alexander joined the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force in July 1915. He was part of the 78^th Battalion Canadian Infantry, 100^th Winnipeg Grenadiers, and shipped out to France in May 1916. He was in France on 8 August 1918 when he was killed. The circumstances stated on his service record indicate “He was with his battalion following up the general advance on the morning of August 8^th, 1918. On reaching the village of Hangard the enemy dropped a barrage of heavy shells instantly killing Private Jackson and six others.” He was buried in the Caix British Cemetery, France.

Today we remember and appreciate all those who served and sacrificed.

Bethune Town Cemetery and Caix British Cemetery, France