dynastyDB is a genealogical tool that aims to marry standard geneological data and yDNA data to form a record of a single surname family over hundreds of years. It attempts to take raw data from standard genealogical data sources, tries to marry events to a particular individual and the individual to other individuals with at little human interaction as possible. That leaves the human aspect of any project to concentrate on checking and verifying the output. Simple aim, difficult to achieve!
The late addition to the project of the yDNA data is to overcome the ‘paper trail’ barrier that nearly all genelogist face eventually. By collecting yDNA data from individuals in different branches of the same surname families, links between different lines can be determined to before records where introduced. The lessons learned from such studies could be used to assist historians and geneologists in communities where family records were a late introduction. The aim is not to collect DNA samples from every family member but from selected volunteers to use yDNA to determine the links, if any, between the families.
The application does not aim to be an authoritive source of family information. Whilst the resultant data will be useful to ‘one name study’ genealogists, a starting point for those researching their ancestory (pedigree) or descendancy of a family line, further research will be required by the family historian to create family trees. For example, the female data collected is restricted to spouses and siblings to the time of marriage. The proof requirement for genelogical events is limited to the bare minimum such as date and place.
dynastyDB is still under development and progress and other genealogical issues are discussed on this blog.