The essential pathway to common ancestry.
Investigating the origins of my genetic inheritance inspires me to learn about my Genetic Ancestors. I honor them by sharing my discoveries with relatives and fellow researchers alike.
Continue reading “Family Patterns”A genetic mapping concept
There is not a formal way of note-keeping for DNA matches. Most often, notes are jotted down on paper and later discarded. Airtable can be helpful for genealogists, but does not provide a visual chart for genetic lineage. Therefore, I present a unique way to map and document your relationship to Triangulation Group matches. This method applies to long-hand or in Google Docs.
Continue reading “Triangulation Group Timeline”A comprehensive autosomal DNA study
“A DNA segment is a time capsule, containing a genetic puzzle.”
Code Break 23
DNA segment on Chromosome 14 • Measuring 23 centimorgans in total length, it is a fraction of the genome that I inherited from my maternal great grandfather; Temmen Johnson (1895 – 1960). In accordance with genetic genealogy, a segment of this size is inherently much older than larger DNA segments, and therefore regarded as impractical for analysis. On the contrary, there is power in numbers, as I managed to find fifteen DNA matches to form a Triangulation Group within the mentioned segment coordinates.
My closest known cousins matching me within these segment coordinates are Eithun, Larson and Kloster. We share common ancestry through my 5th great grandparents; Peder Pederson Kroken (1768 – 1845) and Steinvor Johannesdatter Reienasis (1768 – 1853) from Rennesøy, Rogaland, Norway.
Triangulation Subgroup A
(Click-view all charts and images to enhance mobile version)
My objective for this Autosomal DNA study is to analyze and interpret the path of shared DNA segment inheritance from the earliest known common ancestor.
2018 visit to Western Norway
The Norwegian Bygdebøker [farm books] are the primary source of family history and genealogy for researchers learning about ancestry in Norway.
Page from the Rennesøy Bygdebok – my 5th great grandfather [5] and 4th great grandfather [c]
The church and census records in Rogaland County date back to the 1600’s, while the court records date back much further. These genealogical records (including the bygdebøker) make it possible to trace Rogaland ancestry back to the 1600’s and earlier. Of the fifteen DNA matches in this study, thirteen of them share deep rooted ancestry in Rogaland.
Rogaland County in Southwestern Norway
After a period of extensive research and collaboration with TG [Triangulation Group] matches, I found a total of three separate common ancestral couples from the 1600’s, shared within my Rogaland County match group. Only one of the mentioned couples; however, is the genetic placeholder in the Triangulation Group.
The lineal pathway of a shared DNA segment, must coincide with the segmentary lineage within a Triangulation Group. Undertaking this genealogical task requires a process of elimination among multiple common ancestors, in order to balance and interpret the alignment of shared Genetic Ancestors.
The following ancestral charts include all of the TG matches, sorted and arranged in an incremental system of individual scales. A format that I refer to as Segmentary Lineage Scales.
Shared ancestral couple #1
Shared ancestral couple #2
While the charts above identify common ancestry with several of my TG matches, I did not find relation of additional TG matches within the ancestry of the mentioned couples. Of the three ancestral couples shared within my Rogaland County match group, only one remains as a placeholder in the Triangulation Group (see next chart).
Shared ancestral couple #3
Jon Austbø and his wife; Ingeborg, were the great grandparents of Steinvor Johannesdatter Reienasis (mentioned in connection with Triangulation Subgroup A). This observation links a subgroup consisting of my closest cousins, to an earlier MRCA [Most Recent Common Ancestor] match group consisting of remote cousins. Thus, forming a new triangulated subgroup.
Triangulation Subgroup B
Concepts of geometry support the methods that led to the convergence of the new subgroup (B). The framework of this genetic alignment calibration, using line segment points, scales and patterns, led me on a refined path of new discoveries, as demonstrated in the following charts.
Ingeborg Bjørnsdatter Løw – MRCA of Triangulation Subgroup B, was the daughter of Bjørn Løw and Anna Wegner.
Triangulation Subgroup C
Anna Tomasdtr. Wegner – MRCA of Triangulation Subgroup C, was the daughter of Tomas Wegner and Anna Thrane.
Triangulation Subgroup D
The majority of my TG matches (nine of fifteen) share common ancestry through Tomas Cortson Wegner and his wife, Anna Christensdatter Thrane. This cumulative pathway was revealed through the ascending order of triangulated subgroups. – A strategy that I developed, which coincides with the ascending alignment of my DNA Assigned Ancestors.
17th Century epitaph painting in Stavanger Domkirke – Norway’s oldest Cathedral. Anna Christensdatter Thrane [standing center] was my mother’s 9th great grandmother. Anna’s husband, Tomas Cortson Wegner (not present in the painting) was the Bishop of Stavanger until his death in 1654.
Anna Christensdtr. Thrane – MRCA of Triangulation Subgroup D, was the granddaughter of Christen Thrane & Karen Povelsdatter.
Triangulation Subgroup E
While searching for DNA matches with the ancestral surname; Thrane at MyHeritage, I found Olsen and Bjørkeng, and to my surprise, they matched me on Chromosome 14. Olsen and Bjørkeng (from the unrelated column) are distant cousins to each other, with deep ancestral roots in Northern Norway. They do; however, share one distant ancestor from Southwestern Norway – Peder Christenson Thrane (1541 – 1622) from Stavanger. Coincidentally; Stangeland, Warland and Espedal (also from the unrelated column) descend from Peder’s brother; Palle Christenson Thrane (1537 – 1584). Peder was the half-brother of Palle and Christen Christenson Thrane (1533 – 1600) – my Direct Ancestor, and of all other matches within the Triangulation Group.
All fifteen of my DNA matches, sharing IBD (Identical By Descent) segments on Chromosome 14
Christen Pederson Thrane, born circa 1500 in Denmark, and father of Christen, Palle and Peder Thrane (mentioned above), is the Apical Genetic Ancestor of the DNA segment that I inherited on Chromosome 14, including for all of my DNA matches mentioned in this project.
Segmentary lineage chart – ascending to the Apical Genetic Ancestor of the Triangulation Group
| (Last) Name | Shared segment cM’s | Genetic relation |
| Eithun | 15.9 | 3rd cousin, 1R |
| Larson | 8.3 | 5th cousin |
| Kloster | 22.7 | 6th cousin |
| Harestad | 19.6 | 9th cousin |
| Finnesand | 7.4 | 8th cousin, 1R |
| Marwick | 22.7 | 9th cousin |
| Gangenes | 7.7 | 7th cousin, 3R |
| Ellingsen | 11.0 | 9th cousin, 2R |
| Vik | 8.6 | 8th cousin, 3R |
| Kleveland | 10.4 | 13th cousin |
| Stangeland | 21.6 | 12th cousin, 2R |
| Warland | 17.8 | 13th cousin, 1R |
| Espedal | 12.9 | 14th cousin, 2R |
| Olsen | 15.3 | 14th cousin |
| Bjørkeng | 9.5 | 12th cousin, 2R |
“The crane holds a stone (a symbol of vigilance). If the crane drops the stone, the stone splashes into the water – alarming the area”. Suggesting that the family is closely guarded.
A DNA discovery of this magnitude has substantial hurdles and therefore, I must address the complexities in my conclusion of this study.
My conclusion in this DNA study was formed upon two (pandemic era) years of extensive research, including: Pedigree triangulation, segment data mapping, cross referencing records, collaboration with DNA matches, building mirror trees with integrity, and utilizing every genealogy tool to the best of my ability.
“Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.”
Albert Einstein
How I used Y-DNA analysis in tandem with autosomal DNA to solve a distant family mystery.
1918 – John and Betsey Johnson (on the right) were my mother’s great grandparents
John Paul Johnson (my mother’s great grandfather) was born out of wedlock and was by far, the most challenging ancestor to research. Nothing was known about his parents.. Who were they? Where did they come from? In 2014, the floodgates opened when I took a DNA test.
My origins at Family Tree DNA
In December of 2013, I, Devin Flato, took the autosomal DNA test with Family Tree DNA. On January 14th, 2014, my results appeared in the FTDNA database. The next day, someone contacted me with the following message…
Hi, You match me, my sister Victoria, and my mother Helen, on a DNA segment which is associated with cousins who descend from common ancestors; Lars Bjørnson Ekrene (1780 – 1822) and Marta Larsdatter Nordbø (1786 – 1876). They came from Southwest Norway- Rennesøy, Rogaland. Unfortunately, I have limited information about them, to the disgust of my cousins on my mom’s side, but if you are interested I could probably ask someone who might know more.
Risa farm in Rennesøy, Norway
The message was from a predicted ‘second to fourth cousin’ named Julianne. Her revelation was intriguing yet, baffling to me at the same time. My mother’s paternal grandmother’s ancestry was from Sogn og Fjordane County, which is far north of Rogaland and out of the realm of possibility. Without a doubt, the relation would certainly come from my mother’s paternal grandfather; Temmen Johnson (1895 – 1960). Temmen’s maternal side of the family (the Erickson’s) have deep roots in Rogaland. The dilemma with this query is that the names and place that she mentioned are not found in my Rogaland ancestry, which is well documented through the 1700’s and beyond. In Julianne’s second message, she wrote…
Dear Devin, both my mom and I have also tested at 23andMe, where we both match a cousin whose most obvious connection to us is through common descent from that couple [Lars Bjørnson and Marta Larsdatter]. I descend through their daughter Marta and through her daughter Stine Johnson who married John Ludvig Larson. My cousin descends through their son, Rasmus Larson Hauske (1815-1900), Rasmus Hauske (1860-1925) and Mabel Hauske. She shares another segment match with us on Chromosome 2 and matches us on the same segment we match with you. I know we are looking at the same half of the chromosome pair because both of you match my mother.
Chromosome browser at Family Tree DNA
After exchanging a few emails, Julianne sent me an invitation to view her family tree at Ancestry.com. While searching for clues in her family tree, I noticed a mutual place of interest. Her Norwegian ancestors settled in Fillmore County, Minnesota (the same county where my Norwegian ancestors settled). Another interesting clue is that the island of Rennesøy is less than two nautical miles southwest of the island of Finnøy, where Kirsti Kjellsdatter (John P. Johnson’s mother) was born and raised. Then it dawned on me, could Julianne’s family be the missing link in John P. Johnson’s paternal ancestry?
Rogaland County, Norway
John Paul Johnson was born in 1858 in Wisconsin. Nothing was known about his parentage until in 2011, when I randomly found John and his mother in an 1870 Iowa census record; However, the identity of John’s biological father remained a mystery.
1870 Forest City, IA. John Johnson (age 12) with his mother (Christy) and step-father; Paul Ryerson and half-siblings
Julianne’s great great grandmother was Stine Marie Johannesdatter (1843 – 1909). Stine, along with her brother (Peder) and her mother (Martha) immigrated to America in 1862. Stine had two older brothers; Lars and Sivert, who immigrated in 1853 and 1854. Upon arrival in America, all of the brothers changed their patronymic name of Johannesson to the surname of Johnson. Could one of the older brother’s be the biological father of John P. Johnson?
While searching for more answers, I found a descendant and family historian of the Johnson/Rennesøy family named Rachel Gibson. Like Julianne, Rachel is also a descendant of Stine Marie Johnson and has been a tremendous help with her own research and knowledge of the family. We learned that Stine’s eldest brother; Lars, settled in Minnesota in 1855, long before the birth of John Johnson in the State of Wisconsin. Suddenly, the scope of possibility was narrowed down to one brother; Sivert Johnson.
In the following months after taking the DNA test, four more descendants of the Johnson/Rennesøy family tested at Family Tree DNA and the results confirm that I am closely related to all of them. One of the testers; Phillip Johnson (great grandson of Sivert Johnson) took the Y-DNA test, which traces the paternal “father to father” line exclusively. My mother’s first cousin; Larry Johnson, agreed to take the Y-DNA test as well. In July of 2014, the results were in, and confirmed that Larry and Phillip Johnson are Y-DNA cousins! Now we have proof that our Johnson lineage descends from the Johnson family of Rennesøy!
Y-DNA genetic distance report at Family Tree DNA
It has been concluded that Sivert H. Johnson (1836 – 1896) was the biological father of John P. Johnson. The extent of Sivert and Kirsti’s relationship continues to be a mystery. I suspect that Sivert remained close to Kirsti until the time of John’s birth for one reason in theory.. If Sivert and Kirsti parted ways shortly after conception, then Kirsti would have likely named her son: Kjell (after her father). Instead, she named her son: John, in homage to Sivert’s father (Johannes). This pattern is traditional in the Norwegian naming system.
Sivert H. Johnson, circa 1870 – Biological father of John P. Johnson
We may never learn the reason as to why John P. Johnson’s biological father was never mentioned in family lore. Regardless of the matter, it is truly fascinating that with genetic testing and conventional genealogy, our 156 year old family secret was officially solved!
“There are no secrets that time does not reveal.”
Jean Racine
