About PA Ancestors

PA Ancestors is an independent business launched in 2019 by Denys Allen. The mission of PA Ancestors is to help people discover their Pennsylvania ancestors through history + genealogy + methodology.

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About Denys Allen

I created PA Ancestors in 2019 to take everything I learned and help as many people as possible discover their ancestors in Pennsylvania. I've created what I wish I had when I started my research on my ancestors.

You deserve to know everything you possibly can about your ancestors.

My life’s goal is to understand everything I can about my seven generations of ancestors who called Pennsylvania home. I’m curious and daring, and I go on adventures to find new genealogy records. I will be your guide and coach and help you discover everything possible on your ancestors.

Everything I publish here or on my YouTube channel is based on hundreds of hours of independent research and study. I also take courses with people I consider top of their field. Here is a list of recent programs I’ve completed::

  • Pharos Tutors: Mapping Strategies (2022)
  • Pharos Tutors: One Name Studies (2022)
  • ProGen 53 (2021–2022)
  • Research Like a Pro with DNA, by FamilyLocket (2022)
  • Salt Lake Institute for Genealogy (SLIG): Writing for Peer Review with Karen Mauer Jones (2022)
  • Ship 30 for 30 with Dickie Bush and Nicholas Cole (2021 & 2022)
  • Gen-Fed (2021)
  • Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR): Irish Research with David Rencher (2021)
  • Building a Second Brain, Cohort 12, with Tiago Forte (2021 & 2022)
  • Family History Academy: Case Studies with Tom Jones and Harold Henderson (2020)
  • IGHR: Military Records 3 with Michael Strauss (2020)
  • ISBGFH: British Institute (2020)
  • National Institute for Genealogical Studies (NIGS): U.S. Court Records (2020)
  • NIGS: U.S. Migration Patterns (2020)
  • NIGS: Religious Records, Part 1 (2020)
  • NIGS: Religious Records, Part 2 (2020)
  • SLIG: Advanced Research Methods with Paul Graham (2020)
  • Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP): Tackling Tough Research Problems with Kimberly Powell (2019)
  • GRIP: Confusion to Conclusion with Harold Henderson & Kimberly Powell (2019)

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