About Genetic Genealogy Research
About Us
Mary Henderson is a genealogist with specialties in genetic genealogy and forensic genealogy. Research areas of particular interest include Eastern European genealogy and Jewish genealogy.
Mary Henderson has 45+ years of experience with traditional, document-based genealogy, and 12+ years of experience with genetic genealogy research. Mary uses genetic genealogy in conjunction with traditional genealogy research to help adoptees identify their biological parents, and to help people identify and solve misattributed parentage, and other brick walls, in their family trees. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, and served as the past-Treasurer of the Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County.
Mary Henderson has experience utilizing genetic genealogy with all ethnicities, including Ashkenazi Jewish and African-American, and from all areas of the world.
Mary worked as a genealogy researcher at Legacy Tree Genealogists for three years. While working at Legacy Tree Genealogists, Mary specialized in genetic genealogy and forensic genealogy.
Services
Genetic Genealogy Research and Traditional Genealogy Research
Analysis of DNA test results to identify birth parents, solve cases of misattributed parentage, and break through brick walls in your family tree.
As a genetic genealogist, Mary Henderson has experience using genetic genealogy with all ethnicities, including Ashkenazi Jewish and African-American, and from all areas of the world.
Please send an email to gengenres@gmail.com for all genealogy research requests.
Speaking Engagements
Topics for speaking engagements by Genetic Genealogy Research , LLC include:
- Introduction to Genetic Genealogy
- Identifying and Resolving Discrepancies in Your Family Tree Using DNA Testing
- Excel for Genealogy - Using VLOOKUPS, Filtering, Selecting Visible Cells Only, and More
- Effective Search Strategies for Genealogy
- But How Closely Related Are We? Using Genetic Genealogy with Jewish Endogamy
- Building Family Trees in Ancestry.com – Tips and Tricks
- Mirror Trees – What They Are and How to Use Them
- Practical Applications for X DNA Results
- Using Third Party Tools to Analyze Your DNA Test Results
- Pedigree Thief – A Myriad of Functions for the Genetic Genealogist
- Using Cluster Analysis of Your DNA Matches
- Using GEDMatch.com
Background
What is Genetic Genealogy
Genetic genealogy is using DNA test results, primarily from AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, 23andMe and/or MyHeritage, in conjunction with traditional genealogy research to help identify biological parents of adoptees, and to help identify and solve misattributed parentage and other brick walls in family trees. Genealogy DNA testing can be used to enhance your family tree, confirm or refute family tree lines, and correct misattributed parentage. For adoptees, your DNA results can be used to fill in the family tree lines of your unknown biological parents.
Expertise
Comments from genetic genealogy clients:
"I can’t explain how much it means to me that you helped me find my biological father. Thank you so much, I’m forever in your debt." Ryan N. - South Dakota
"I cannot overstate how impressed I am with the detail of your research." Robert B. - Indiana
"We are forever indebted to you for the amazing service and assistance you have provided to us. We are impressed with all that you have done." Rob R. - Washington, D.C.
"As interpreting DNA results for an adoptee is quite complex, complicated even more because of Jewish ancestry, we consulted with professional genealogist, Mary Henderson, Ann Arbor, MI, who owns Genetic Genealogy Research, LLC, which specializes in genetic genealogy. She's spectacular. And spectacularly smart. Tina C. - Michigan
"Your application of genetic genealogy to this case of a Jewish adoptee was amazing! I am impressed with how you were able to adapt genetic genealogy techniques to quickly solve this case where, with 100% Jewish heritage, endogamy was a big hurdle." Karen C. - Find Your Genes, California
" I am in awe of how you find this because I hit walls and you seem to know how to climb them. I can't say thank you enough." Jeremiah H. - Florida
"I spent 44 years as an IT Director/manager...I've been messing with this over a year and you come up with the most logical assumption in a couple of days!" Larry W. - Michigan
" Wow, I can't thank you enough for your help. Very thorough job." Patrick S. - Massachusetts
"I keep saying thank you because I cannot say it enough. Your help has changed my life forever & I'm so grateful." Shanna J. - Georgia
Thanks so much for all that you have done to bring my family and so many others together! You are such a blessing. Melissa H. - Tennessee
Association of Professional Genealogists member
National Genealogical Society member
JewishGen member
Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and the Northeast member
Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County member; former Board of Directors - Treasurer
45+ years of traditional, record-based genealogy experience; 7+ years of genetic genealogy experience
Favorite Links
Past Speaking Engagements
Intro to Genetic Genealogy; AND Identifying & Resolving Discrepancies in Your Family Tree Using DNA
Saturday, April 17, 2021 - Ohio Genealogical Society 2021 Conference - Columbus, Ohio
Mirror Trees - What They Are and How to Use Them webinar
Tuesday, October 20, 2020 - Lyon Township Public Library 27005 S. Milford Rd., South Lyon, Michigan
Effective Search Strategies for Genealogy webinar
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 - Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor, Michigan https://washtenawgenealogy.org/eventListings.php
Generating Charitable Donations for Your Genealogy Non-Profit Through AmazonSmile
Friday, October 16, 2020 7 PM until 8 PM - Association of Professional Genealogists Professional Management Conference - Portland, Oregon this event was cancelled due to Covid
But How Closely Related Are We? Addressing Jewish Endogamy in Genetic Genealogy
August 2020 - IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy - San Diego, California this event was cancelled due to Covid
Genealogy at Home During the Covid-19 Lockdown
April 26, 2020 - this webinar was presented at the monthly meeting of the Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County.
Introduction to Genetic Genealogy
March 3, 2020 - 7 PM until 9 PM - Dexter District Library, Dexter, Michigan
Hands-On Genealogy Workshop for Beginners
February 1, 2020 noon until 2 PM - Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown Branch, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Genealogy Resources Through Your Public Library - presented by genealogist Mary Henderson
Monday, Oct. 28, 2019 7 PM until 8:30 PM - Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Introduction to Genetic Genealogy - presented by genealogist Mary Henderson
Thursday, July 25, 2019 7 PM until 8:30 PM - Tecumseh District Library, 215 North Ottawa Street, Tecumseh, Michigan
Identifying & Resolving Discrepancies in Your Family Tree Using DNA Testing
Monday, April 1, 2019 7 PM until 8:30 PM - Ann Arbor Public Library, Malletts Creek Branch, 3090 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Introduction to Genetic Genealogy - presented by genealogist Mary Henderson
January 7, 2019 7 PM until 8:30 PM - Ann Arbor Public Library, Malletts Creek Branch
Upcoming Genetic Genealogy Events
Stay tuned for new genetic genealogy events
Genealogy vs Geneology vs Geneaology
A Common Misspelling of "Genealogy"
People frequently misspell "genealogy" as geneology, or even geneaology. And likewise, genealogist is sometimes misspelled as geneologist or geneaologist.
Most of us learned early on that the suffix "-ology" means "the study of", so it makes sense that the study of something relating to genes would be geneology or geneaology.
The correct spelling is genealogy, with the root of the word coming from the Greek word genea, meaning generation, family or race. And the ending does indeed mean the study of, it just doesn't have the connecting "o" before "-logy". Hence, genealogy rather than geneaology or geneology.
When you are searching for a family history on the internet, you might want to try alternate spellings of genealogy. For example, if you are searching for a Leitch family history, in addition to Leitch genealogy, you might want to search also for Leitch geneology and Leitch geneaology.