AncestryDNA Hints - Proving Family Connections

I took the AncestryDNA test in 2012, a long time ago, and I have largely been disappointing. It hasn't lead to any revelations about my dad's father's birth family (my dad was adopted, not me).

The other day I saw that a 1st or 2nd cousin connection appeared and I didn't recognize the name, so it wasn't on my mom's side of the family.  What is often frustrating about AncestryDNA is the person who has taken the AncestryDNA test either doesn't have a family tree or doesn't share it.  So, I can't see how this person is related to me. 

I messaged them and they did get back to me quickly.  Turns out she is my grandmother's brother's daughter...is that a 2nd cousin?  It was good to see that AncestryDNA was able to prove a closely related person that I had previously not been aware of.  Unfortunately, it didn't provide any further hints to my dad's biological father.

What occurred to me was that AncestryDNA was a nice proof point of the fact that the documented family members and the biological family members matched up.  What do I mean by that?  I have been reading a little bit recently that DNA research has uncovered a surprising number of children who aren't the children of the father they believed to be their biological parent.  Not something we probably think about too much.  However, it appears that being descended from the milkman wasn't just a joke, but in some cases a reality.

Which brings me to AncestryDNA hints.  These are interesting, because not only do they indicate that you are related, but will show your common ancestor. This is only possible if you and the other AncestryDNA user have built out your family trees to the point where you both capture those people you share in common.

By seeing DNA matches to people you share an ancestor with it does help to reduce the possibility of a 'milkman" situation in your family tree research.

Of the 16 AncestryDNA matches with hints (only 12 made their trees public) it was interesting to see that the following showed a DNA connection (of course, these could be wrong and we could be relates through unknown relatives, but with multiple DNA connections with the same ancestors, that seems unlikely). 

In 3 of the 12 AncestryDNA hint matches I can see we shared the common ancestors of Moses Godfrey and Deborah Cooke.

This was significant because Deborah Cooke was the granddaughter of Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower.  Further proof that I am a Mayflower descendant.

If you haven't looked at your AncestryDNA hints, check it out as it may lead to some interesting information.

Will Wednesday - Moses Godfrey Will 1741/1742

Moses Godfrey was my 7th great grandfather. He was born Jan 27, 1667 in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. He married Deborah Cooke about 1700. He died on April 16, 1743 in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The will was written in Feb 1741/1742.

In the name of God Amen, I Moses Godfree Senior of Chatham in the County of Barnstable and Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England yeoman being aged and knowing a being appointed for all men do constituted appoint and ordain this to being my last will and testament, first of all I commit and recommend my soul unto almighty God that gave it hoping through the mends of Redeemer and receive the full and free pardon of my sins. My body I commit to the earth to be decently buried after my death believing in the Resurrection thereof and therefor worldly endowments wherewith shall please Almighty God in his providence to endow me with all I hereby dispose of in the manner following

Firstly, I will that all debts and dues lawfully owed by any person or persons together with funeral charges be first paid out of my moveable and real estate

Impormis I give unto Deborah my true and well beloved wife the use and improvement of my whole estate during remainder of life and then

Item I give and bequeath unto my seven sons as namely Samuel, Moses, David, George, Benjamin, Joshua and Richard my housing lands meddows and moveables both within Docy and without they paying and allesing out the whole the legacy hereafter allowed to each person prescribed. Viz.

Item I give and bequeath unto my deceased son Jonathan’s children of namely Caleb, Jonathan and Rebeccah each of them thirty shillings apiece and

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Desire wife of Nathan Rider with what she hath already had twenty five pounds in moveable or they may be acquired –

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary wife of Caleb Nickerson with what she hath already had twenty five pounds moveable or shall be acquired –

Item I give and bequeath unto Deborah the wife of Thomas Bassett what she hath already and twenty five pounds in moveable or acquired.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth wife unto Benjamin Bearse worth of what she hath already had twenty five pounds moveable or acquired.
And Finally I hereby appoint and ordain my son Samuel to be the executors of this my last will and testament declaring and renouncing all others to be null and void
In testimony where of I recounts set my hand and seal this the day of February annoque Domini 1741/2

Signed sealed & pronounced in presence of : Ann Sears, Hannah Buek, Sam Stewart

Moses Godfree