Ancestry com. (popular in North America) and My Heritage - with a smaller data (popular in Europe), started as small companies helping people build their family trees, and offering genealogy info on migration.
Next, they entered the DNA industry offering genetic testing kits and analysis. ( Ancestry uses saliva sample, My Heritage - cheek swab). That's quite a fascinating industry! They offer paternity tests, ethnicity tests, health screening tests, and more.
In Israel, My Heritage and its partner Billion Graves (collecting cemetery data) are the dominant genealogical companies.
I have some experience with Ancestry com. In 2006, I was trying to locate my grandfather's family descendants in the USA. I started with almost nothing, but I managed to do a good job using data from various sources, mainly Ellis Island and Ancestry com. records.
I have no experience yet with My Heritage, but I often find myself asking questions about its partner , Billion Graves. I suspect the latter buys all the data regarding cemeteries and graves from the relevant state offices, and monopolizes the rights . Unlike in the past, when you could easily find online info, now, you have to subscribe to them, if you wish to get it.
At first, I said to myself, oh, well, it seems they offer work, employ ׂׂyoung people (probably students), and send them to cemeteries to take pictures of the headstones. That's an easy, convenient job for them.
Lately, I'm not quite sure about that. The company has remote control equipment, and uses various gadgets; the people with the camera could well be volunteers, not paid workers (the fine weather here during most of the year, draws people outdoors, and even cemeteries are an option for volunteering or other sort of activity).
I'll have to do some research. Not that it will help me or others much. We have to face it : we live in a capitalist society, in which the State gives away its resources placing them in private hands - cemeteries and their dead inhabitants included. Sad.
Definitely look into that Billion Graves a bit more before subscribing to it. I just googled Find a Grave here and it is something similar and owned by Ancestry.
ReplyDeleteThese services are interesting but carry some risk with using something like Ancestry.com. Lots of secrets can get exposed through them I do believe. I know of a case that did but want to respect privacy of all involved so won't say much more :)
betty
I suppose each major genealogy company has a cemetery data partner: Ancestry - Find a grave, My Heritage- Billion Graves, and so on.
DeleteWell,you're right about risks, but all the services on Internet carry some risk.
You said you were preparing work on the industries that use DNA and you are :) Good stuff, since I had been fascinated by the use of DNA at the time.
ReplyDeleteI won't use private companies, if there is any choice at all. Only state or federal services can be trusted and held accountable.
I'm not familiar with these things in Australia, but here it has become very difficult to get online information without subscribing to these private companies.
DeleteI was trying to find out info on a headstone (probably belonging to my distant family) incidentally seen on the web a few months ago. Well, it has disappeared from Google and from any other relevant site.
Interesting! a blogging friend kindly started my Ancestry journey for me and I plan to take a subscription to go further in the Winter when I have more time.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, winter is the ideal season for genealogy quests. People are more indoors and have more time for that kind of activity. However, once you start, you become addicted and it goes on and on' regardless of season.
DeleteSo much of all of that family tree business was once free with some of it still free but where there is money to be make, they make it.
ReplyDeleteI've done several family trees of mine and my husbands family with help over the years, it's easy to find the information here particularly in Tasmania, Australia.
Yes, these companies probably make lots of money, but the genealogical process itself is fascinating, enriching, even though the people one discovers along it are often frustrating and disappointing.
DeleteI have no idea how all of this works, and I confess to it not being something I give a moment's thought to. Miriam and I have already purchased our plot in the green section of the local cemetery where we will be interred naturally with a wildflower meadow above us. We wish no funeral, no ceremony, no plaque. There will be nothing for anyone to take pictures of, nor to sell.
ReplyDeleteWell, to each his own - as they say.
DeleteOh, they can certainly complicate things..yet some how stay ahead. With all the troubles as of late and workers needed, it seems that many have realized that job doesn't pay enough. That last part you wrote is definitely a truth we have to deal with.
ReplyDeleteRegarding my last paragraph - this is a sad aspect of capitalism. And to think that people in East Europe (where I come from) were dreaming about capitalism all the way!
DeleteI hope you are having a good summer. And not on the Internet too much.
DeleteKind of busy summer, but thank God nothing to do with health.
DeleteIt would be a pity if billion graves can own the rights to cemetery records. I do Ancestry. Originally I just wanted to know my ethnic make up. Then I discovered that my grandfather was not born in Germany. He was born in 1878. The German connection was about two more generations back. I've enjoyed the mysteries and this week I feel grief for the 15 year old 2nd great aunt who obviously died sometime shortly after her marriage in 1860. I'm sort of housebound due to the health of several people I take care of and the genealogy has been fun.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, everything is monetized. I guess it is the nature of the world. I have a sister who has had a stroke and needs help. Shortly after she started home health care, we both got phone calls to buy her house cheap of course. It has been a bad experience with learning how low down people can be. I don't think capitalism is at fault but human nature.
You cannot trust human nature. I have also experienced things that left me amazed at 'how low down people can be'.
DeleteAs for my genealogical quest , a friend has warned me. 'They should be looking for you', she said. They've got the archives, the documents, the connections. They are not interested in finding you or their ancestors' background. She was right about the people, nevertheless, the process gave me much satisfaction, and I felt like a good detective.
Good luck with your research!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Not in the near future as I'm kind of busy, but it is on my mind.It bothers me how things that belong to the public fall into private hands.
DeleteOne time, someone stole our credit card number and used it on ancestry dot com.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, things ended well for you. Ancestry is very popular, and people find its stuff (genealogy, DNA) very exciting; It touches everyone.So,they'll even steal to get access to Ancestry data.
DeleteI like the thought of doing a DNA test and finding exactly where my ancestors were from. But, I'm afraid that all the DNA that they get will be used for nefarious purposes in the future. The police departments can already get a court order for familiar DNA in order to find someone's family member who committed a crime by using someone who gave DNA. So I don't know how it will be used in the future but I don't trust it.
ReplyDeleteAsk someone who has done it before, and you'll feel more confident. I personally haven't done it, so I can't advise you on that.
DeleteIt's probably not cheap, and it's associated with Police, but lots of people do it.
My family tree is on myheritage and my dna was through ancestry (but also transferred the ancestry dna file to my heritage. I've had a little success finding people. Most of my research is on familysearch.com which is completely free and has access to huge volumes of data and books. In the states I have good luck with findagrave.com but I'm not sure they are international.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! So, you've done your DNA! Kudos to you!
DeleteI was interested mainly in information as it was an interesting story, the emigration of my grandfather's widow mother and siblings, to America. but I managed to find descendants, and that was quite exciting considering the fact that I started with very few details.
I think Ancestry company is popular with many here in the UK, but not something I would want to do at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I can understand that; people have priorities. I've done only what seemed to me most urgent. I intended to visit my grandfather's grave in Romania, and I wanted to be able to tell him that I found his family.
DeleteThe DNA testing is a bit sketchy. I'm not sure I trust it!
ReplyDeleteCould be. But nothing is perfect or safe in this world. That's why people came up with this simple idea - No try, no win.
DeleteOh I would love to do an DNA test one day Ancestry has the best one. Exciting isn't it to trace your heritage
ReplyDeleteMy mum has a family tree and I found out that my Dutch best friend was in the same tree and my mums grandpa was married to someone in her husbands tree Amazing
Agree. Both, family trees and DNA testing are fascinating genealogy stuff! People make a lot of discoveries during the process, including discoveries on human nature.
DeleteVery interesting post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing 😍😍
Regards:)
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
DeleteThis is so interesting. I have relatives here in the US that I don't know anything about. My grandmother's two brothers emigrated in 1911. I met one of them when I first came to the US. He was old then, lived in Brooklyn with his wife, and bought me Manhattan drinks, which made me quite drunk. I've never tasted one since, Still good memories.
ReplyDeleteFrom the comfort of your chair, you could plunge into an adventure, and find out about your grandmothers' two brothers, and their descendants, using Ellis Island, Ancestry com, and other sources.
DeleteSatisfaction guaranteed.
This is very interesting and sad! I agree! Good luck Duta! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteGood Luck to you too! Hugs and Blessings!
DeleteHi Duta, Wow you certainly know how to search out a matter! I must say I have no experience on any of the above! Blessings on your search. I pray all will find the Truth and the Truth will set you (meaning all who are seeking ) free!!!💕Much love!
ReplyDeleteWell, you've got time to experience things; you're still young.
DeleteIndeed, finding the Truth sets one free ; beautiful and true idea!
Love to you too!
Sabbath Shalom!
Interesting concepts you bring up, I didn't know that companies were using remote control equipment to gather information. It seems that's the wave of the future. We even have commercials that have been popping up about pizza being delivered in a driverless car, it's frightening to me to think of that.
ReplyDeleteRemote control is something I've read about somewhere. I haven't got into it, yet, so I'm not sure of things.
DeleteThe only thing I'm sure of, is the tendency of these companies like Billion Graves to get monopolistic hold of the data on cemeteries and the headstones.
I didn't know this! I haven't had any urge to trace family history or records, although I know that my grandfather commissioned a historian to look up and map out our family tree once. it was interesting, and I think my parents have a copy? I guess I have that to review if I ever need it, so I don't need the modern sights luckily.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend ahead of you! It's a fun one here with kids birthday parties :)
Away From The Blue
Well, now you know; it's good to know about these things - family trees and DNA tests - as they've gained much popularity. One never knows, you may want do that someday.
DeleteHappy birthday celebrations!
I did some work myself and made a family tree (both paternal and maternal) It is time consuming and requires a lot of patience. But I should say that I successfully managed to complete it. So it starts from my grandfather up to my grand child. It means four generations I suppose. Talking to people whom we never knew existed but are related to us is the funny (and exciting) part. But once they know that it is genuine, then they are very helpful in parting with information. The important part over here is that I made the tree WITH PHOTOS. The final tree was in the form of a video, a one click video. So you just click the start button and sit back and relax. It takes you through the complete tree !!
ReplyDeleteSounds very interesting, especially the tree with photos, and the final tree in video format!
DeleteThe 'funny' part in my story was that I came to my grandfather's grave, in a very remote part of Romania to report to him of my findings. After lighting a candle and saying a prayer, I said: 'Look grandpa I found out about your family'. I've never known him, yet I felt they should have looked for him and his romanian family. One of his nephews was a mayor and senator in a major city in Midwest America; a niece owned a radio station, the others were in prosperous restaurant businesses.
People said that take a while and effort to grow the family tree. Then we see, the fertilizations for the tree are not free anymore, even you find any fertilization from somewhere but it might not for your tree. Doing research is a great contribution :)
ReplyDeleteEffort and fertilization are needed to grow any tree, natural or virtual. We should see to it that fertilization stays free and available to anyone.
DeleteI've just always relied on the stories told to my late brother and me by our grandmother on the history of our ancestors, and not bothered seeking information from other sources. The stories we were told have always been enough for me. I know my heritage is Scottish (Highlanders) and Irish...Northern Ireland...from County Armagh area. (I'm second generation Irish on my paternal side).
ReplyDeleteTake good care...I hope all is well, DUTA. :)
Hi, Lee. That's OK to rely on stories told by close family members. That's the best source! and it's quite enough.
DeleteScottish and Irish - that's a serious heritage!
Have a great new week!
I've often thought of exploring my family tree, but the time, effort and money that would be involved made me put it all on a back burner. Still, I'm curious about family members from way back in time. Hope you're doing well, and sending lots of hugs, RO
ReplyDeleteYou're right about time, effort, money - and yet, for me, in my specific project (trying to locate the immigrant family of my grandfather in the USA), it has been a fascinating experience, worth all the above three factors.
Deletenow days, free online resources to be commercialized .... unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately. I see it daily, and I'm worried. There seems to be no one to stop that.
DeleteI very much value free online resources; it helps a lot in various ways. Now, who knows what's gone happen?
There are some no cost sites available and I have used them with some success. The most helpful one has been www.familysearch.org. Also our local library, when it was open pore-pandemic would let library users access a genealogy program at no cost on the library's computers.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that, but it probably depends a lot on where you live. In the USA, there are more free possibilities and options than in my country.
DeleteRight. We are not happy to give away private data to these companies, on the other hand we're happy to be able to satisfy our natural curiosity about our ancestors.
ReplyDelete