Research Progress February 2026

On the 2nd of each month, I share an update on my progress for various DNA research questions. The questions have evolved over time, and it's useful to look back from a year ago to see how some have been resolved, deferred, or are still lingering on my wish list. Since last month's research questions post, there have been some new developments on two of my maternal line questions. For consistency I'll keep the same format as my post from January.

My Paternal Side

1 - Looking for parents of my Irish immigrant 3rd-great-grandmother Bridget. As always I keep this one on the list, and intend to spend more time on it after (virtual) RootsTech.

2 - Analyzing mtDNA connections on the maternal line path descending from Sarah Westall and Elizabeth Thornhill Jones. On my list is a follow-up note to cousin Lynn.

3 - Jones YDNA. This one is also pending another male Jones tester descending from Thomas Jones of Jefferson County, Tennessee.

My Maternal Side

1 - Identifying the link between the Leyva mystery matches and my Mexican side of the tree. This one had a significant breakthrough early in January, following a consultation with genealogist Jarrett Ross, and building a WATO tree to identify the most likely generation of connection. Going forward this question will evolve to looking at the Portillo line and DNA connections.

2 - Analyzing mtDNA matches in the maternal line path of Maria Jesus Vasquez.

3 - Resolving descendancy for the daughters of John Carter (1715-1783). This one has been a collaborative effort with Jacqi Stevens of A Family Tapestry. I think we've made some progress this month but it will take a lot more digging.

4 - Campuzano YDNA. We're still waiting on the upgraded results from cousin Greg's Big Y kit.

5 - xDNA analysis using FTDNA's tools. It is interesting to see xDNA matches in comparison with Sophia's FamilyFinder results, as we can directly link those passing through me to her via my Mom's results, and see which matches are on Allison's side. More work to do now that we have an additional kit to compare.

Allison's side

1 - Awaiting mtDNA results on the maternal line path for Dorothea Sophia Gagelmann.

2 - Analyzing Sophia's FamilyFinder results on FTDNA. Her results arrived last Thursday, and it has already been interesting to see which autosomal transfers appear on FTDNA from Ancestry. As I can see kits and matches in common with Allison's brother, her Mom, Memaw and other cousins on Ancestry, this is really helpful for seeing patterns on FTDNA. 

3 [New] - Looking at xDNA matches on this branch of the tree, and seeing which are inherited from Allison vs the matches in common with my kit and my Mom's.

An epic victory at Pauley Pavilion

Photo by Patrick Jones. IU v UCLA. 31 Jan 2026.

Yesterday afternoon I returned to our old stomping grounds at UCLA to watch my Indiana Hoosiers play the Bruins in a key BIG Ten game. With a ten point lead and less than two minutes ago, this one looked like it was going to send the UCLA fans to the exits early. And yet the Bruins forced overtime. After a tough five minutes, IU forced a second overtime. At the last second of the second overtime, UCLA fouled Hoosier freshman Trent Sisley. He hit one of two free throws, and that ended it, 98-97. 

I've been fortunate to see a lot of basketball games. Yesterday's game may have been one of the most intense I've seen. The section I was in had a loud contingent of Indiana fans. The UCLA students didn't really get going until the second half. Through the end of regulation and the two overtimes, it was so loud. What a game!

Photo by Patrick Jones. Tip off.

Selfie at the end of the game. 

Back on the West Coast

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Los Angeles. 25 Sep 2018.

A bit of fortuitous timing has me back in Los Angeles, allowing an escape from the "snowcrete" and historic cold snap impacting Northern Virginia. In addition to the warmth, I have tickets to two Indiana basketball games happening in LA, a trip to Pauley Pavilion later today for the matchup against UCLA and Tuesday's late one against USC.

Time to fly

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Shoreditch, London. 5 Dec 2025.

Comparing across generations

A new kit result has arrived at FamilyTreeDNA, and I can now see some really interesting patterns of DNA inheritance comparing from my Mom's kit with mine and my daughter's FamilyFinder results. In addition, I can see some match names in common to kits on Ancestry who match with Allison, her Mom, her brother, and their Memaw. There are some fascinating xDNA matches, and because Sophia's results include my cousin Catherine as a match, this will let us triangulate the xDNA segments. There's a lot here to explore further and more to do over the weekend.

I am still in the process of reviewing which matches connect into my Mom's side of the tree, and which ones point to Allison's side.