My Resources Part 2 – Ancestry.Com

This is my number one tool.  Ancestry.com quickly became one of my most valuable tools when I began researching genealogy. It’s a powerhouse of historical records, family trees, user connections, and DNA analysis. Over time, I’ve explored most of its offerings, so here’s how I use it and what I’ve learned about its subscription levels, hints, and DNA features.

Subscriptions and Access

Ancestry isn’t free. I had to choose from one of their paid subscription plans, each offering different levels of access:

• U.S. Discovery: This is the entry-level paid plan. It gives me access to all U.S.-based records, like federal and state census data, birth and death indexes, military records, immigration info, and more. If my research stayed domestic primarily, this would be sufficient. This is the plan I started with. It worked well until I started looking for my immigrant ancestors and trying to find their families.

• World Explorer: This plan includes everything in the U.S. Discovery tier, plus access to international records. This upgrade became essential when I started tracing my Irish and German roots. I gained access to European civil registrations, parish records, and immigration logs not included in the U.S.-only plan.

• All Access: This is the top-tier plan and includes full access to Ancestry’s databases plus premium services like Newspapers.com Basic and Fold3, which cover military records in depth. I chose this plan when I was digging deeper into the Civil War and trying to locate old obituaries and news articles. I have now migrated to this plan as my research has really expanded.

Each plan is available as a monthly or 6-month subscription, and prices vary depending on the plan and region. A key thing to remember is that Ancestry doesn’t include everything—some partner content (like full Newspapers.com archives) still requires separate or upgraded subscriptions.

Hints and Tree-Building

One of the most helpful features for me is Ancestry’s hints system, often called “green leaf hints.” As I build my tree, Ancestry constantly scans its massive record collections and user-submitted trees to suggest potential matches for each person. These hints might point me to a census record, a marriage certificate, or even a photo uploaded by another user. I’ve learned to treat them as clues, not facts—I always verify the records before attaching them.

Ancestry’s tree-building tools are intuitive and visual. I can add facts, sources, and media files to each individual. I also love how it lets me link people together, note alternate names or spellings, and track relationships easily. I can even invite family members to collaborate on the tree.

I can create multiple family trees on Ancestry.com, and I’ve done this a few times when I’ve wanted to explore different branches or research projects separately. To start a new tree, I go to the Trees tab, click on “Create & Manage Trees,” and select “Create a new tree.” It’s quick and gives me a fresh workspace to build from scratch.

When I want to duplicate an existing tree—maybe to test out a theory or clean up a branch—I download my tree as a GEDCOM file and re-upload it to start a separate copy. It’s a bit of a workaround, but it works well for managing different versions without losing my original.

Ancestry doesn’t provide a built-in tool to automatically split one big tree into multiple smaller ones. If I need to do that, I have to manually create a new tree and re-add the people I want. This can take some time, especially if the original tree is large.

DNA Testing and Features

I also decided to take the AncestryDNA test. The kit was simple—just a saliva sample I mailed in—and after a few weeks, I received an ethnicity estimate and a list of DNA matches. The ethnicity estimate broke down my heritage into percentages (Irish, Scottish, German, etc.) and showed migration patterns, which added a new dimension to my paper-based research.

The DNA matches are where it gets really interesting. Ancestry compares my results with those of others in their database to find potential relatives. I can see how closely we’re related, whether we share a common ancestor or even group them into clusters based on shared connections. Ancestry also integrates these matches with my family tree using Thru Lines, a feature that suggests how I might be connected to DNA matches through known ancestors. It’s not always accurate, but it’s a great way to explore possible relationships.

Security and Privacy

Security and privacy are always on my mind when I’m sharing personal and family information online—especially when it includes DNA. I’ve spent some time reviewing Ancestry.com’s security practices, and overall, I feel comfortable using the site because of the control and protections it offers.

When I build a family tree, Ancestry gives me options to keep it public or private. If I set it to public, other users can see my tree and any non-living individuals I’ve added. But if I mark it as private, only I (and people I explicitly invite) can view it. Even in a public tree, Ancestry automatically hides the names and details of living people, so others won’t see that information unless I give permission.

For account security, Ancestry uses password protection and offers two-step verification, which I use to add an extra layer of protection. Every time I log in from a new device, I get a code sent to my email or phone, so no one can sneak into my account unnoticed.

When it comes to DNA, Ancestry stores my raw genetic data on secure servers. They use encryption and strict access controls, and they don’t share my DNA with third parties without my consent. I can download or delete my DNA data at any time, and if I cancel my account, I can request that Ancestry destroy my sample.

I also appreciate that Ancestry allows me to manage my sharing settings—I can choose whether or not to share my DNA matches, connect my DNA to a family tree, or allow others to see my ethnicity results. I stay in control the entire time.

While no online system is 100% risk-free, I feel that Ancestry has put serious thought and safeguards into protecting my data. And knowing I have the tools to adjust my privacy settings gives me peace of mind while exploring my family’s past.

Summary

All in all, Ancestry.com plays a central role in my genealogy research. It’s not cheap, and some features require thoughtful investment, but the depth and breadth of the records, the ease of building a tree, and the integration of DNA tools make it well worth it for me. I’ve uncovered stories, discovered distant cousins, and confirmed relationships I never would have found on my own.