Walking Back the Clusters, 2020

In 2020, Jim Barlett posted on his segment-ology blog, a process using cluster analysis designed to tease out family groups from shared matches.  You can read about it here.  It was based on the Leeds method, a methodology developed by Dana Leeds that you can read here.

I was inspired to apply the process to my mothers results from AncestryDNA in the hope that it might assist me with drawing conclusions about her paternal line.  I used the application of the process as an opportunity to also run a webinar session on my outcomes.  The session was developed for the DNA Research Group at the Society of Genealogists and can be viewed on You Tube.



At the end of the process, I had 71 clusters, consisting of:

  • 43 clusters - Maternal side 61%
  • 20 clusters - Paternal side 28%
  • 8 clusters - Unidentified 11% - Priority

Of the paternal clusters:

  • 2 clusters - Unclear if connected via Edward Roberts or Abigail Courtney - Priority
  • 5 clusters - Connected via Edward Roberts b1869
  • 7 clusters - Connected via Abigail Courtney b1871 - Priority

The next phase of analysis was to focus on the priority clusters to see if I could identify any common surnames and locations that might assist get clues about George's origins.  A challenge at this point was to encourage the key matches at AncestryDNA to upload their results to a chromosome site to help with further analysis.  My extensive chromosome analysis and visual phasing work would enable me to identify which of Mum's four grandparents passed down each segment of DNA.

28 clusters to be worked through.

Update as at November 2021

  • 3 - Paternal clusters
  • 9 - Roberts-Laundon clusters
  • 9 - Courtney-Paice clusters
  • 7 - Unknown maternal/paternal sides

Update as at ?? 2022

Paternal clusters - 4
  • 36 - Possibly Roberts-Laundon line, Delaporte/Urquart, Cations/Erler (Anderson?) Hull.  Lincolnshire.
  • 37 - 
  • 57 - Goddard-Hitchman - Probably paternal, known Romany couple
  • 67 - Delaporte/Urqhart/Rose/King (probably paternal based on 36)
Roberts-Laundon Clusters - 9
  • 1 - Likely Laundon
  • 2 - Likely Laundon
  • 3 - Likely Laundon
  • 4-  Likely Laundon
  • 31-33 - Likely Laundon, Leicestershire
  • 64 - Likely Roberts
  • 66 - Likely Roberts
Courtney/Paice Clusters - 9
  • 4 - Possible Downey-Beeston
  • 18 - Possible Connelly-Sullivan
  • 19 - Connects to Downey-Beeston Group
  • 39 - Inherited from Abigail Paice
  • 40 - Inherited from Abigail Paice
  • 47 - Bedwell/Aulert
  • 50 - Clare/Carroll; Dyball/Partridge
  • 60 - Hopping/Hull
  • 62 - 
Unknown (Maternal/Paternal) Clusters - 6
  • 38 - 
  • 53 - Winter/Rhodes, Derbyshire?
  • 55 - Ireland (Waterford?)
  • 58 - O'Connell?  Probably maternal
  • 61 - 
  • 65 - 

**********

This blog is dedicated to finding my second great grandfather Arthur 'George' Courtney c1841.   To see a summary of my research click here.  

If you help with any of questions raised in this post, please contact me using the contact form on this blog or send me a private message via Wikitree, Ancestry or Facebook. 

**********


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This blog documents my ongoing research to establish the origins of   Arthur/George/William Courtenay/Courtney   my mothers paternal great grandfather.  I first started seriously researching my Courtenay/Courtney line with traditional research in about 2006 and explored many possible theories as to his identity.  In late 2010 I undertook DNA testing expecting my primary theory to be immediately confirmed.   I'm still searching... . Read my initial post -  The facts about George, or is it Arthur or William? For an overview of my research relating to George, please go to the  Research Summary . For more information about all my family research, please check out my  Genemonkey Website . It is an ongoing 'works in progress'.  Please contact me if you can help, via the form at the bottom of this page. Featured image: By Richard Rixon, 1841 – Saint, A., Guillery, P. (ed.), Woolwich – Survey of London, Volume 48, p. 60. Yale Books, London...
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