Yesterday I watched a YouTube video by Larry Jones of DNA Family Trees called “How to Cluster Your DNA Matches With Ancestry’s New DNA Matches Beta.” It reminded me of my failed attempt to do the Leeds Method on Ancestry.com using Blaine Bettinger’s Chrome extension. The main issue, though, was that we could only use one colored dot per person. Ancestry has recently solved that issue by offering us the capability of adding up to 24 colored dots per person! So, I’ve been working with Ancestry.com’s “colored dots” today using basically the same steps as the Leeds Method. If you […]

Many of you have asked to see a video of me teaching the Leeds Method. And, now you can… and it’s free! RootsTech just released the rest of the videos they are sharing from RootsTech 2019. And, my PowerHour session with Diahan Southard and Christi Jacobsen is now online. RootsTech PowerHour Session These PowerHour sessions were a new format where three speakers spoke on one topic; in this case, DNA. In this presentation, we covered the following three topics: Christi Jacobsen spoke on “Do: Take the Right Test” where she shared about the three major test types: mtDNA, YDNA, and […]

I have made some improvements to the Leeds Method that make it faster and easier to use. If you are new to this method, you can read the original steps on my Color Clustering post. These steps are still correct, I have just added a few more! Improvement #1: List all DNA matches through 3rd cousins. Instead of just listing the 2nd and 3rd cousins (below 400 cM), we can list all of the DNA matches through 3rd cousins. In other words, list the immediate family, close family, 1st cousins, and higher 2nd cousins. This makes it easier to work with […]

The Leeds Method uses a spreadsheet to sort your DNA matches into groups based on how the matches are related to you. The spreadsheet is called a Color Cluster Chart as seen below: However, not everyone is comfortable using spreadsheets. And, some people would just prefer to use paper and pencil – or a worksheet and colored pencils. Fiona Brooker at the Memories in Time website recently created a worksheet for the Leeds Method. Leeds Method Worksheet Below is an example of a worksheet that has been filled out with the same information as the original example shared above. This chart […]

A reader just asked me if, as an adoptee, she shouldn’t also be using those closer matches. And, yes, she should! And, you should, too! But, I’ve never written about how to include them in the Leeds Method. Adding Closer Matches to the Color Cluster Chart Round 1: Create a “regular” Color Cluster chart. You can add the 1st cousins and higher 2nd cousins at the top of your chart, but do NOT include them as part of your original sort. In other words, they do NOT get a color during this first round. (Note that I wrote them in […]

If you’ve been wanting to see me explain the Leeds Method in a video – step by step – now is your chance! My presentation from the International Genetic Genealogy conference in December is now available for only $10 at www.i4GG.org! You can also buy the entire set of conference videos for $99. Let me know if you get a copy!