Random Distant Kin and Stuff

Killer Wench

Some years back I took this ancestry test to learn where my African ancestors came from. Part of the perks was being connected to distant, distant cousins.

Over time, I have been matched to cousins in Haiti, Jamaica, and Barbados which makes sense due to the slave trade. Then I was matched with cousins in the UK and Australia; also makes sense because many slaveholding families were of English stock. I've also been matched with cousins in Italy, Portugal, and Spain; again, another slavery connection as these were the people associated with the original slave routes.

Now, I have cousins popping up in Norway, Greece, Germany, and Russia which are total surprises. I have a few cousins in Canada and Ireland which didn't surprise me.

Because of the messed up policies back in the day, many slave descendants cannot trace their roots beyond their great-grandparents. I'm lucky to go back to my great-great-grandparents. I have yet to match with a cousin in Africa but I am curious about reaching out to my cousins in Europe.

Have you been contacted by some random American (or some other random connection) claiming to be related? Would that be something you would be interested in doing?

WilyCoyote

Hey KW! Most of the Irish people that are interested in family trees are over the 50 mark. That's when they have the time and inclination. As a young man I had no interest in it but as I get closer to meeting the Grim Reaper:D I appreciate the kinship thing.
Best of luck if you have a go.

Killer Wench

WilyCoyote wrote: »

Hey KW! Most of the Irish people that are interested in family trees are over the 50 mark. That's when they have the time and inclination. As a young man I had no interest in it but as I get closer to meeting the Grim Reaper:D I appreciate the kinship thing.
Best of luck if you have a go.

I have had some distant cousins reject my invitation. Some have been surprised to learn about their long-lost (black) cousins.

I was hoping with all of these social media tools that younger people would be interested, but that's not the case. Yet.

WilyCoyote

Killer Wench wrote: »

I have had some distant cousins reject my invitation. Some have been surprised to learn about their long-lost (black) cousins.

I was hoping with all of these social media tools that younger people would be interested, but that's not the case. Yet.

Perhaps you should explain that you aren't a distant love-child and are not after a bit of the farm

R.D. aka MR.D

maybe people are suspicious of your motivations?

how are you contacting them? what are you saying?

i would love to hear from distant cousins and some americans came to my granny's house to visit her because apparently they were related. They brought her gifts and everything, she really enjoyed it.

Killer Wench

It's through an ancestry service, so (presumably) everyone who has joined the site has done so because they want to know more about their ancestry. The primary portal doesn't give me direct access; I send an invitation and they look at my profile and decide whether to accept or not. Through another portal, people provide their email publicly for people to contact them.

Joe10000

What's the name of the service ?

Killer Wench

23andme.

TheJokesOnUs

I have been contact by some long lost relatives who also happen to be royal Nigerian stock. For some reason though I don't think they were the real deal and I also rejected their invitations.

sawdoubters

theres a Nigerian prince that wants to send me millions

we must be related

he keeps emailing me