Interesting experience and sure one which many of us will look to do at some point.We’ve just ordered DNA kits from Ancestry UK. We’re both curious about our heritage, I’ve don’t a bit of my paternal family tree and there’s both Scottish, which I knew as my dad was Scottish, but also Irish. I came unstuck when I got to the Irish bit and couldn’t get any further. With the price of the kit I got three months free subscription to Ancestry UK, which I have used before, so will continue a bit more and see if in the last few years anything else will turn up. There’s absolutely no one left older than me to ask now about the family but when I first started it my auntie was still alive, my dad’s sister, and she was oblivious to everything I found, lots and lots of secrets and illegitimacy. She was shocked to the core as she thought they were a pious God fearing Catholic family! It’s all good fun but quite hardwork and stressful at times.
We only have a small extended family and a family occasion coming up soon may trigger some research and I know I will be likely tasked to investigate further ( mind you I would prefer to do the actual detective work myself but ancestry could be a really good starting point.
Most of my relatives will be border reivers so living on both sides of the border and stealing sheep from both sides so guess a few have met sticky ends.
Anyway good luck with your investigations