Out of Place 3/52

One of my Great Grandfathers is John Colvin Bussey.  While doing research on him I was seeking him in the 1900 Census.  I could not locate him or his parents.  He was born in 1892 so he would have been around 7-8 for that census.  I moved on to try to locate him in the 1910 Census.  I searched Atlanta, Georgia first as this is where he was born and raised.  I found his parents but not him.  

I did a broader search looking for a "John C. Bussey" and found him in Oregon!  He is found in Portland City, Multnomah county, Oregon.  

Year: 1910; Census Place: Portland Ward 6, Multnomah, Oregon; Roll: T624_1285; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0173; FHL microfilm: 1375298

I had no idea he was in Oregon.  I had asked my grandmother about it when I discovered this information years ago and she stated, "I remember him saying something about going out West when he was a young man."  She didn't know why, when, or with who.  

From this Census record, I see that he is living as a boarder in the home of Charles W. Copeland.  There is also a William Bussey from Georgia with him.  John is 17 years old.  They are working at a Box Factory.  

Looking further I found John C Bussey in the City Directory of Portland, Oregon for 1910.

Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Original data:Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information.

I discovered that John's Aunt Lucy Anne Bussey McDaniel McCaw had moved to Portland, Oregon.  I surmise that John moved out to Oregon for work and he had family in the area.  

John was "out of place" of where I expected him to be at 17 years old, which was with his family in Atlanta, Georgia.  Instead, I found him in Oregon, living with what I assume to be a cousin, William Bussey, as boarders in the home of Charles Copeland.  

This discovery now leads to a new research question to add to my ever-growing list of research topics.  Who is William Bussey and what is his relationship exactly to John C. Bussey?  

Another family puzzle to solve! 

Favorite Photo 2/52

 The second prompt for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is "Favorite Photo".  Below is one of my favorite photos.  It is of my younger sister, Amanda Jolene Curran, my great-grandmother Troy Waller Bussey, and myself.  I love how we are all smiling.  

I love that I had the chance to be with my great-grandmother when I was a child, I know that everyone is not afforded that opportunity.  I remember spending the night with her and her taking me on the bus in Atlanta.  I remember the smell of bacon and eggs cooking and biscuits baking in the morning when I stayed with her. I remember her telling me stories about people in our family.  I remember her hugging me and letting me sit in the chair with her.  I'm so blessed to have these wonderful memories.  

#27 of 52...John Colvin Bussey

UPDATED:  24 Dec 2020  Updated links and added information for Esther Alley Bussey Smith

John Colvin Bussey is my great-grandfather.  He is my grandmother Alice's father.  He died the year before I was born so I never got an opportunity to know him in person.  I did hear lots of fabulous stories about him though.  I also was able to hear his voice because my daddy made a cassette recording of him when he was a teenager.

John Colvin Bussey was born 19 November 1892 in Atlanta, Georgia to Samuel T. Bussey and Louella "Ella" Ledbetter.  He was their 3rd child.  His mother was 19 years old when he was born.  The children of Samuel T. and Ella Bussey were:

1). Willis Collier Bussey SR (1887-1966)
2).  Samuel T. Bussey JR (1890-1905)
3).  John Colvin Bussey (1892-1976)
4).  James Jefferson Bussey (1898-1959)

John Bussey grew up in Atlanta, Georgia.  His father was a stable boss for many years.

John spent some time in the Army in WWI.  He was drafted.  Below is a snippet from his service card.

WWI Statement of Service Summary Cards, CLM-396, Ancestry.com

John first married Esther J. Alley, daughter of William and Lizzie (Brown) Alley, 19 December 1919 in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia.  They were divorced 9 October 1928 in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia.  As far as I've been able to ascertain there were no children from this marriage.  Esther married T.M. Smith by 1930 as I found them together in the census.  Unfortunately, Esther died of suicide on, Tuesday 10 Dec 1935.  She was 32 years old.  

Second John Bussey married my great grandmother Troy Eugene Waller 17 August 1934 in Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia.  It was a second marriage for both of them.  John adopted Troy's daughter Cora as his own.  John and Troy had the following children together.

1). Ella Alice Bussey (1935-2022)
2). Colvin Troy Bussey (living)

John Colvin was an artist.  He created stained glass windows in churches in the Atlanta area.  He had a fabulous vegetable garden and kept chickens.  He sustained an injury to his left eye rendering him blind.  He was left-handed.

He passed away at home of a massive heart attack on Jan 4, 1976, he was 83 years old.

John Colvin Bussey, unknown date, original owned by Alice Bussey Curran

Seriously...WHO are her parents?

I'll get caught up with my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks later this week.  I'm behind a bit, but will be back on track by next week!  Right now I want to work on Lou Ella Ledbetter again!  This is one big ol' brick wall that just stares me down and refuses to budge.  


I came across this article by Anne Gillespie Mitchell, (Ask Ancestry Anne); Ask Ancestry Anne: 5 Tips for Researching the Females in Your Tree -   
I'm going to apply her recommendations to the elusive parents of Ella Ledbetter.
1. Search for her married name in other people’s obituaries.  
I did find this article; a long while ago.
2.  Look at other surnames in the household.

      I have searched The Atlanta Constitution at Newspapers.com and have not found her listed in                       any obituaries other than her son, Samuel T. Bussey, Jr and her brother Eugene Ledbetter.

       Eugene's obit was just an announcement without any family information. 

      A. 28 July 1916  Friday,  "Charges Relatives with Scheme to Secure Savings"
      This article refers to Ella and a charge by Julia Lawrence that a group of Julie's relations were 
      conspiring against her to take her money.  I do not know exactly the relationship between Julia 
      and Ella.  Ella was living in the same household as Julia Lawrence in the 1880 census; with 
      Julia's mother Elizabeth Lawrence. 

     
     I got nothing for this search. I looked at all the census records that contained Ella, starting with
     1880 and the only name that came up was Lawrence in that 1880 census.  
     I can't search for her mother since I have found nothing with her information in it.  

3. Look at neighbors, especially right after the wedding. 
  
    Well, Ella was married in 1886, there is no census in 1890 to look at so nope, not going to help.   Can't         figure out if or where Ella's supposed mother Alice was married; this again doesn't help in this situation. 

4. Look through local and family histories.

    No luck in finding anything that refers to Ella Ledbetter or Elizabeth Lawrence or Alice Mull in any                 location as of yet.  I've contacted a supposed expert in the research of Ledbetter's and nodda.  

5. Check death certificates for all of a woman’s children to see if her maiden name is listed.  

    In this case, I only was able to find the supposed maiden name of Alice Mull by locating Ella's brother           Eugene's death certificate.  Ella's death certificate does not have the maiden name listed of her mother.  

  This article had actually really good tips.  If you are doing regular research these can be very helpful.  I'm just getting no where with my research since it is not normal.  We are dealing with a suspected orphan with no real information about her birth parents nor the actual relationship to the woman she is listed living with in 1880.  Just because she is listed as "grandmother" it does not mean she really was.  

#14 of 52...Troy Eugene Waller...My Mawmaw

UPDATED: December 20, 2020; edited spelling errors, to add links, and to add documentation snips. 

I'm back after a wonderful Spring Break road trip and then a subsequent week of illness. Back to my female ancestors.  This week I want to take a look at one of my paternal great-grandmothers.

Troy Eugene Waller.  Yes, that is actually a female name.  She once told me that she was named after the doctor that helped deliver her.  I don't know if that is true or if I heard the story right or not, but the fact is that her name was Troy Eugene, however, I've seen Eugenia as well.  

Troy Eugene Waller was born 2 Dec 1909 in Campbell County, Georgia to Charlie Henry Waller and Ina Myrtle Brown.

Troy was the second child, oldest daughter of the couple.  Other known children are:

1). William Henry Waller (1908-1986)
2). Troy Eugene Waller (1909-1991)
3). Bobby Gladys Waller (1911-1980)
4). Estelle Waller (1913-1942)
5). Lois Waller (1916-1979)
6). Clara May Waller (1917-1995)
7). Josie Lee Waller (1920-1995)
8). Herbert Albert Waller (1922-1995)
9). Ina Myrtle Waller (1924-1997)

That's 7 girls and 2 boys if you are keeping track. Troy's father Charlie was involved in moon-shining during Prohibition.  I will tell that story one day but not today. Troy helped with the younger children when her father was incarcerated and her mother had to go to work to support the family.

Troy married John Henry Waller (he's related somehow, but I have not pieced together the relationship as of yet) sometime before 1928. He was 17 years older than her. She moved to Alabama with him where he was a brick layer.  She gave birth to a daughter named Cora.  In 1929, John was killed in an accident at the work-site where he was employed.  Troy was a widow with an infant daughter at the age of 20.

 

The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama) 10 Oct 1929, Thur Page 3, Accessed Dec 20, 2020

The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) · 10 Oct 1929, Thu · Page 26 Downloaded on Dec 20, 2020

The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) , Fri 11 Oct 1929,•  Page 32 Downloaded on Dec 20, 2020

Below is Troy E. Waller listed in the 1930 Census.  Along with Troy is daughter Cora and "cousin" Louise.  It is my understanding that Louise is her cousin as well as her step-daughter.  Louise's father was Troy's deceased husband, John Henry Waller. 

Year: 1930; Census Place: Militia District 1348, Fulton, Georgia; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0162; FHL microfilm: 2340093; Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
Original data:United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. [accessed Dec 20, 2020]

Troy married John Colvin Bussey 17 Aug 1934 in Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia.  He too was 17 years older than her.  Together they had two children.  John Bussey also adopted Troy's daughter Cora as his own.

• Cora Mae Waller Bussey (1928-2017)
• Ella Alice Bussey (still living)  **my grandmother
• Colvin Troy Bussey (still living)

Troy Eugene Waller and John Colvin Bussey
photo owned by Alice Bussey Curran

My Mawmaw was a tough lady.  I knew her and she made a huge impression on me. I have many, many memories of her that I cherish.  She lived in Fulton County, Georgia not far from the Federal Prison and the Lakewood Fairgrounds.  When I was little, around 4 or 5 I spent the night with her and she took me on my first bus ride.  We caught the bus right up from her house and went to Candler Drug Store for ice cream.  She was proud of me, telling everyone I was her great-granddaughter.

She passed away 2 Oct 1991.  The time leading up to her death was trying.  Alzheimer's Disease is devastating for everyone involved.

#6 of 52...Thomas J. Bussey

Continuing on with the Civil War Ancestors let me introduce you to my 3rd Great Grandfather Thomas J. Bussey.  Thomas was born 15 Aug 1818 to Malachi Bussey and Martha A Frazier.  Thomas married Lucy Anne Livingston, daughter of Taliferro Livingston and Catherine Anglin Whatley 22 Feb 1846 in Pike County Georgia.

Thomas and Lucy had the following known children:

1). Willis M. Bussey (1845-  )  * it would appear that Willis was born in Dec 1845 and his parents were not married until Feb 1846.
2). James Whatley Bussey (1849-   )
3). Lucretia Celestia Bussey (1851-    )
4). Catherine Savannah Bussey (1855-   )
5). Samuel Thomas Bussey (1856-1914)  **my great great grandfather
6). Marietta J. Bussey (1859-   )
7). Alfred H. Bussey (1860-  )  
8). Lucy A. Bussey (1863-1923)
9). Martha J Bussey (1868-   )

Thomas and Lucy were listed in the 1860 Federal census for Zebulon Post Office, Pike County, GA.  The value of the real estate owned for Thomas was $1000 and personal estate being valued at $6765.  In the 1860 Slave Schedule for Pike County it is shown that Thomas owned 8 slaves and had two slave houses.  Mr. Bussey was not a poor farmer as many of my other family members were, Mr. Bussey had some money to his name.

I do not have a military record for Thomas Bussey, but I did find his application for Indigent Pension in 1885 and the following years until his death.  Indigent meaning he was poor.  He states in the records that he served about 10 months in Co H, 7th Regiment of the Georgia Militia.  He was discharged and paroled in April 1865 in Macon Georgia by the Yankee authorities.  He says he was a farmer until 1885 and then his health began to fail.  He states that in 1891 all his land was sold to cover his debt and he is now completely dependent upon his children for care.  He states that his wife is also infirm. He did receive his pension for his service to the cause and to help support him in his old age.  He was an interesting looking man as this is a photo of him below.  I'm not sure if that is a pinky ring or if it's a scratch on the photo.  Either way, he's a fine-looking fellow.  Look at his long hair and seems to have a bit of a curl to it.  He has on a fine striped suit. Mr. Thomas J. Bussey died 11 Dec 1908 at the age of 90.  

Wordless Wednesday...Christmas Past

I know it's a week after Christmas, but I just now was able to get these uploaded and wanted to share them.  I don't know the specific year, my daddy and grandparents can fill me in later.  I took these scans when I was back in Georgia over the summer.  These feature my daddy, Kenneth Curran, and his parents, Alice Bussey Curran and Donald V. Curran.

Kenneth and Alice Curran

Kenneth and Donald Curran
Looks like someone called their name and snapped a photo.  So cute

Check out all the vintage toys!  The little gun and holster, the tractor, the wagon, the train and cars.  Awesome haul, little Kenneth!

What a handsome little man!  Kenneth Curran

Wordless Wednesday...They do favor, right?

Alice Bussey Curran is in the top two photos and the lower right photo; her Great Aunt Lucy Bussey McCaw is on the lower left.  Photos of Alice copyright Alice Curran.
Photo of Lucy Bussey McCaw courtesy of Sierra Walker

Wordless Wednesday...with a few words. Troy Waller Bussey

Troy Waller Bussey (1909-1991)
My Maw-maw (Great Grandmother)

This is one of those photo booth photos.  My grandmother has the original and I took a scan of it during one of my visits back to Georgia.  This is my great grandmother Troy Eugene Waller Bussey.  She told me once that she she was named after the doctor that delivered her.  She was the second of the nine children born to Charlie Henry Waller and Ina Myrtle Brown and the oldest of the girls.  I remember her very well.  She lived in Southwest Fulton County near the Lakewood Fairgrounds.  She took me on my first ever bus ride.  We took the bus to Candler Drug store where she could show me off as her great grand daughter and to buy me a milkshake.  She told me lots of stories about her childhood, that I wish I could fully remember.  I miss her all the time.  She passed away when I was 14; she had Alzheimer's disease.

Veteran's Day...Remembering the Veterans in our Family Tree.

I'm proud of the long history of military service that my family contains.  I'm listing below the direct line members of my combined tree that I have discovered that served in the military.  There are likely many more that I am not aware of as well as uncles and cousins.  As I learn more I will add their names here.

I'm starting first with recent service since I have photos of these.  Then starting with the Revolutionary War and working forward.  Thank you for all your hard work and sacrifice!

Presently in the Military

LT Cody Schaal, US Navy,  my husband
formerly US Air Force

Elmer Jack Laycox, US Army and then US Air Force; Cody's grandfather

John C Schaal, US Army (my father-in-law)

Donald V. Curran, US Army (my grandfather)

Revolutionary War

James Todd Livingston (1754-1812) 5th Great Grandfather

Samuel Whatley (1762-1826) 5th Great Grandfather

John Niswanger  (1729-1788) 6th Great Grandfather

Richard Tennant (1744-1823) 6th Great Grandfather

Peter Haught SR (circa 1720-post 1810) 7th Great Grandfather

Thomas Forshey (circa 1751-1836) 6th Great Grandfather

Martin Dial (1744-1844) 6th Great Grandfather

John Ephriam Mayo (1759-1842) 6th Great Grandfather

Civil War

David R. Laycock (1826-) Husband's 3rd Great Grandfather {TN}

Philip Schaal (1825-1866) Husband's 3rd Great Grandfather {Missouri, USA} 

Levi (Doc) Marlow (1830-1907) 3rd Great Grandfather (VA)

Thomas J Bussey (1818-1908) 3rd Great Grandfather (GA)

William Lewis Thomason (1835-1912) 3rd Great Grandfather (GA)

John Fields Chapman (abt 1841-1905) 3rd Great Grandfather (GA)

John Edgar Allen (abt 1833-?) 3rd Great Grandfather (GA)

World War 1

John Colvin Bussey (1892-1976) Great Grandfather 

Disappointment and Frustration in Genealogy Research...Brick Wall: Louella Ledbetter Bussey

We all have them...the dreaded Brick Walls. Dead end. End of the line.  Nothing more to be found.  The end of the paper trail.  If we are lucky, our brick wall is several generations back, may be even in the 1600's but some of us have a one or two generation brick wall.  These are the ones that we really do have an opportunity to break through; since the records, in theory should be there.

One of my most stubborn brick wall ancestors is Louella Ledbetter Bussey.  Better known as Ella Bussey, my great great grandmother on my paternal grandmother's paternal side. I have nothing definitive about who her parents were.

Louella Ledbetter is supposed to be born 10 December 1872 in Georgia.  Her Family Bible lists this as her birth-date and it corresponds with the census records as well as her death certificate.  Where in Georgia is in question.  There is family lore that she was from Rabun County, Georgia; but I have nothing that proves that.

The first place that we think we have located Ella Ledbetter is in the 1880 Census. She is listed living with an Elizabeth Lawrence in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia.  Ella is named as Louella and is 9 years old and is listed as Granddaughter to Elizabeth.  Also listed is her brother Jene (Eugene).  Both were born in Georgia, with parents being born in NC.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Gainesville, Hall, Georgia; Roll: 150; Family History Film: 1254150; Page: 10C; Enumeration District: 132; Image: 0355.

There is a bit of family lore about our Louella Ledbetter.  Her mother is supposed to be named Alice (my grandmother was reported to have been named after her). She was orphaned and was mistreated by relatives.  They "scalped" her (cut off all her hair).  These are stories that were passed down to her grand daughters that have passed them to me and my cousin.  Mr. Bussey, (Samuel T. Bussey) that she married "found her" and they were married.

Louella Ledbetter married Samuel T. Bussey 30 December 1886 in Fulton County, Georgia.  This would make her just barely 14 years old and Samuel 30 years old.  Family lore again alleges that she was 12 years old.  I have found the image of the marriage book confirming that they were married.  I recently sent for the marriage application from Fulton County Probate Court, but received the reply that they couldn't find anything (of course they couldn't; it stated that they searched from 1979 to present; though I specified on the form to do a search prior to 1979 AND gave them the date).  I know that there had to be someone to sign for her since she was under-aged, but have yet to find any information. It seems that the state of Georgia did not require applications for marriage licenses until the 1920's.  This is where frustration really starts to seep in, strong.

Ancestry.com. Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

Original data:

County Marriage Records, 1828–1978. The Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia.

My cousin and I have tried to find any information about the church, 7th Baptist Church, with no luck.  We did find some information about the Rev. W.R. Dale that was pretty interesting.  While this information was interesting, it did not bring me any closer to finding out any information about my great great grandmother. 

1887 December 19 Ella and Samuel T Bussey's first son is born, Willis Collier Bussey.  She is about 15 years old and they have been married just short of one year.  

1890 January 7 Their second son, Samuel T. Bussey JR is born.  Ella is about 17 years old.

1892 November 19, Their third son, John Colvin Bussey is born.  Ella is almost 20 years old.  This is my great grandfather. 

1898 March 13 Fourth son is born, James Jefferson Bussey.  Ella is 25 years old. 

1900 Census--I have not located on this census, suspect it to be indexed incorrectly.  

1905 May 15   Son Samuel T. Bussey JR dies of meningitis according to a newspaper article.  He was 15                               years old. Ella was 33 years old. 

1910 Census--Ella is listed as living with her husband Samuel T and son James.  She lists her birthplace as being GA and both parents in GA.

1914 November 9  Ella's husband Samuel T. Bussey SR dies.  He was 58 years old and Ella was 42 years old.  
1916 July 28 Ella is named among many in a lawsuit by "a relative" Julia Lawrence.  Ella is 44 years old.  We have realized that this Julia Lawrence is one of the people she lived with in 1880 in Hall County, Georgia.  This Julia is a daughter of Elizabeth Lawrence that was listed as being Ella's grandmother in that census.  I have not been able to successfully prove this relationship.  

1920 Census--Ella is listed as Head of Household, living with son James and running a boarding house.  She again lists her birthplace as GA and both her parents as GA.

1929 Dec 4  Eugene Ledbetter dies at her home.  It is supposed that this is her brother "Jene" from the 1880 Census.  His parents are listed as Alice Mull and John Ledbetter and the informant is Ella's son James.  We have searched extensively for an Alice Mull and a John Ledbetter that were together but have found nothing.  
Also we have not been able to locate Eugene Ledbetter in any census record.

1930 Census--Ella is listed as head of household, living with son Colvin (listed as Culvier and this is actually John Colvin, my great grandfather).  Again she lists her birth place as GA and both her parents as being born in GA.  

1940 Census--Ella is listed as head of household, living alone.  She still lists her birthplace as GA.  Nothing is asked about parents on this census.  

1962  Ella passes away at age 90.

COLLATERAL RESEARCH ALREADY COMPLETED

Located brother, Eugene Ledbetter, death certificate.  He died at Ella's home and her son was the informant.  Parents listed as John Ledbetter and Alice Mull.  We can presume that Ella told James the information, but cannot be certain. 

The Mortuary Notice in the newspaper for Eugene Ledbetter did not offer any family information at all. 

Still unable to locate Eugene Ledbetter in any census records.


LAWRENCE CONNECTIONS

Julia T. Lawrence--died 12 January 1921.  Death certificate has no family information.  She is presumed to be Ella's aunt.  Her obituary lists her three sisters (also presumed to be Ella's aunts) Miss Ella Beavert (who we know was not married, had two daughters and was "adopted" and took on the name of Beavert), Mrs. C.S. Brown (this is Stasy, she married Clinton Stephen Brown in 3 Aug 1881 at age 15 in Hall County, Georgia) and Mrs. M.I. Fretwell (this is Maud that married George Pearson Fretwell in 1883 at age 20) and one brother C.L. Lawrence (this is Carson). 

Ella Lawrence (Beavert)--Her death certificate is filed incorrectly.  It lists her name as Elizabeth Lawrence and her mother as Mary Ella Lawrence.  It should be the other way around.  She was born 16 May 1850 (according to the death certificate) and she died 10 Feb 1925.  The informant was Mrs. DR Burrell of Rabun Gap, GA.  Her birthplace is listed as Burke County, NC.  

FURTHER RESEARCH TO GO

Further analyse the court case between Julia Lawrence and Ella Bussey to see if the family relationship is mentioned.  

Find Death Certificate for Elizabeth Lawrence--it may provide her parent's names and would help to figure out where in NC she was from and trace her family back further.  

Find Death Certificates for Maude Lawrence Fretwell--see who her father was and where she was born in NC.

Find Death Certificate for Carson Lawrence for the same information. 


If you read through all of this, bless your heart and have a drink!  We are at a loss in trying to figure out what way to go next in getting back further with Ella's family.  We have been in contact with a descendant of Elizabeth Lawrence but he has not been able to figure out if Ella Ledbetter Bussey was related to his family or not.  There was no family stories about her passed down.  We have requested that he take a DNA test to see if he matches to me, my grandmother and a cousin to help us determine if Ella was indeed related to Elizabeth Lawrence and not just a person that took her and Eugene in when they were orphaned.  If you have any ideas on how we could further research please leave me a comment.  We are open to anything at this point.

Wordless Wednesday

Lucy Bussey McCaw my 3rd Great Aunt
Photo courtesy of Sierra Walker, cousin

What ya gonna do with all that DNA?

I am self-confessed DNA freak.  Okay, I should make that more accurate, I love the Ancestry.com DNA test.  I've taken it.  I had my husband take it.  Then I gave it as gifts to my paternal grandparents.  Then I got my Dad to do it.  And my maternal aunt.  Then my son wanted to do it.  I got my husband's parents to do it. And now my younger son has done it.  We adore finding out what % of whatever we are.  I enjoy connecting to other cousins with family trees.  I look at it as a way to kind of verify and validate that our family trees are accurate--or if they are wrong we are all wrong together.

Now what to do with this new data?  I am not at all versed in DNA sequences or chromosomes or anything technical at all. I finally got around to loading my raw DNA data from Ancestry.com up to www.gedmatch.com   Now, I just did this today and I've only loaded a few of my kits since it takes a while for each one to process; but I've had some fun with making sure none of my subjects have parents that are related.  I didn't expect them to be, at least not closely, as the family lines branch back in different directions with little to no surnames in common.

I've played around with the eye-color predictor and so far it's been mostly correct.

But back to my question.  What am I to do with this DNA data?  I've used Ancestry.com cousin matches to locate cousins and actually connect with them.  I've used it to try and do a descendant line trying to desperately figure out if my great great grandmother Louella (Ella) was actually a Ledbetter; but I've not really gotten very far with that.

What do you do with all of this DNA data?