Part 501rs – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Maybe Martian?

Good Afternoon,

Isn’t genealogy fun? Who knows what may turn up in my DNA mappings, especially as the technology becomes more and more “sophisticated” and fine-tuned. With the supposed speculation of fossil life in the Martian meteorite ALH 84001, who knows what may be just around the corner in my search for that most distant ancestor?

Okay, okay, I’m not holding my breath, nor am I suggesting that I should follow my roots to Mars… Nor am I looking for that connection. (There I go again with the double or triple negatives…) I am just amazed at how quickly the genetic and genealogy technology is advancing exponentially.

Following up from Part 497, I have now included a 23andMe Autosomal DNA component into my graph/chart. And yes, this is not scientific… It is just my way of visualizing which assists me to understand what the three viewpoints, aka testings, are saying.

As you can see, the three firms: 23andMe, Ancestry By DNA, and Family Tree DNA have all concluded, from their vantage arguments, that my Autosomal DNA is above 93% European in origination. See Part 500rs,and I would presume that that is far back as they can go, up to the current day, with their present techniques.

From my comprehension, and as I try to represent in the graph/chart, I now understand that each firms’ results, as per Megan Smolenyak, “have to do with different approaches being used to do the analysis”. All three have concentrated, the oval area labeled, on “European”. My Autosomal DNA of European origins, albeit ancestry, range from 93% to 97%. Family Tree DNA and 23andMe have similar estimations, approximately 3% to 4%, regarding African origins.

Only 23andMe provides the <1% Asian results. All-things-being-equal, this may mean that Family Tree DNA either did not take that percentage into account in their reporting, or they did not test or examine the corresponding populations. They, Family Tree DNA, did report my results for Europe as 95.85% ± 0.11% and for Africa as 4.14% ± 0.10%. A question I would ask is “If they are that detailed with the result percentages, why would they not “see” any factor for Asian? These two results do add up to 99.99% ± 0.11%.

That is still pretty close to 100%. Per a Family Tree DNA FAQ – “Why don’t the percentages from each population add up to 100%?” Their corresponding response is “Your results may not add up to 100% if you have a small amount of DNA that matches a population. The Population Finder program does not report a match when it is too distant to report with confidence…” So does that mean that Family Tree DNA did or did not see, or report the population match for Asian?

The “blank space” in my graph/chart is that area in the brackets, in my own words… and maybe understanding may be, where the three firms have not analyzed based on their own techniques. Taking a wild guess this is “My Autosome Continuum”. It is in those areas which as time progresses, new and exciting technological developments will reveal more. It would be nice if these tests, and again I am only thinking out of the top of my head, would be able to tell me the “close” geographic origins of my ggg-grandfather James Smith.

Mars, maybe?

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 500rs – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 23andMe Autosomal DNA – Biparental Results

Good Morning,

And this is my 500th Posting on A Genealogy Hunt.

The first draft of my genealogy Autosomal DNA results from 23andMe has been received. And as I understand these results do not include the X and Y, or sex chromosomes. These are the 22 biparental chromosomes or autosomes that I received from my parents. The 22 autosomes are actually pairs; one set of 22 from my father, Smith, and the other set of 22 from my mother, Robertson. (I had to look up a definition of the word – biparental – “Of or derived from two parents.”)

Here is my updated Venn diagram – Smith Robertson Autosomal DNA Test Results.

The 23andMe results, rounded, specific to geographic regions, are: Europe – 97%; Africa – 3%; and Asia – <1%. And how does this compare to my other results as provided by Ancestry By DNA and Family Tree DNA?

Geographic Region	Ancestry By DNA	Family Tree DNA	23andMe
Europe	93%	96%	97%
Africa	0%	4%	3%
Asia	0%	0%	less than 1%
Indigenous American	7%	0%	0%

Remember to note that the Ancestry By DNA tests were taken in 2005, whereas both the Family Tree DNA and 23andMe tests were conducted in 2011.

My next discussion will be to try and understand what Family Tree DNA calls the “Family Finder Illumina Omniexpress Chromosome Brower” and 23andMe labels , what looks the same, as “Ancestry Painting”.

Stay tuned to a next Posting. And, AB is most definitely recovering well.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 499r – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Second 23andMe Results Returned – Maternal Haplogroup = H1a1

Evening,

Part 498 presented the 23andMe testing results of my Paternal Line, the Smiths. Now I have my Maternal Line results from 23andMe. Ain’t Genealogy fun…

The Maternal Haplogroup is H1a1. H1a1 is a subgroup of H1. According to 23andMe the Haplogroup H1 is widespread in Europe, especially in the western part of the continent. It originated about 13,000 years ago, not long after the Ice Age ended.

The 23andMe map image shows the locations of Haplogroup H1 circa 500 years ago, before the era of intercontinental travel.

And halleluiah, my 23andMe Maternal Haplogroup of H1a1 correlates to my Family Tree DNA results, also H1a1. Something in the testings pan-out. This Maternal Haplogroup of H1a1 corresponds to my Maternal Line which includes the surnames Robertson, Goodey, Crossley, Parker, and Kendal. Just an fyi, my surname Smith is not, to my current knowledge and research, a part of my Maternal mtDNA.

At this point in time I am not saying where my deep ancestry is actually from, but more or less I am trying to make reason of the various results. This is an exercise in trying, with me as a “guinea-pig”, to understand a good portion of the genealogy technological jargon.

Now on to the Autosomal DNA results… Stay tuned for my next attempt to understand the results.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 498s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – First 23andMe Results Returned – Paternal Haplogroup = R1b1b2a

Morning,

Well the “brain-learnin’” continues. This is an amazing trek trying to pinpoint the origins of my ancestors and my genealogy.

I received the first part of the results from my 23andMe testings. It appears that the results for my X and Y, aka the sex, chromosomes are back.

First of all my Paternal Haplogroup is registering as R1b1b2a. As recorded by 22andMe, R1b1b2a is a subgroup of R1b1b2. R1b1b2 is the most common Haplogroup in Western Europe, where its branches are clustered in various national populations. Per 23andMe, the above map approximates locations of Haplogroup R1b1b2 circa 500 years ago, before the era of intercontinental travel.

The positive factor of this result is that it is the same result and Haplogroup as tested by Family Tree DNA. But this is only the YDNA. I am still awaiting the other results.

This should be the same Haplogroup for all the male Smiths, Landreth-Smiths, Lloydsmiths, Lloyd-Smiths, Malins-Smiths, et al who are descended from ggg-grandfather James Smith of Grenada.

Next the mtDNA and my maternal line Haplogroup, and the Autosomal DNA.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 497 - Smith Robertson Genealogy - I Am What?

Evening,

Following up to my Posting, Part 496, I was/am somewhat confused by the differences on the results of my genealogy Autosomal DNA test results.

Recapping quickly – Ancestry By DNA, in 2005, returned the results that my genetic makeup should be 93% - European and 7% - Native or Indigenous American. Family Tree DNA’s results, in 2011, suggest that my genetic makeup is 95.9% - Western European and 4.1% - African. And my first gut reaction, “What the hell happened?”

Back up a minute, I am an English Teacher, a Treasury Manager, and a Diplomat-of-sorts, by trade, (now retired), and education. But I think logically… I think. How can my “supposed” scientific and gene-technological numbers be different? How did I, within six years, change my ethnic background and makeup? Something didn’t make sense to me.

I then decided to see a quick question to some of my respected mentors. My question was “Do you know of a specific reason why there is a difference between the Family Tree DNA and the Ancestry By DNA results?”

Here are their answers -

From Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak –

The Ancestry By DNA “were the best available at the time, but the new ones would be more reliable. The differences have to do with different approaches being used to do the analysis.”

From Drew Smith –

“Different companies use different methods to test the autosomal DNA. They may look at different parts of the DNA. And ethnicity is identified by saying which ethnic groups are ‘most’ likely to have particular values at particular points in the DNA. In other words, you could test a particular point in the DNA, and say ‘the value you get is most commonly found among African populations’ (which is not the same as saying that it’s never found in European populations.)”

From Katherine Borges –

“One big reason that the results differ is because the two companies are using different databases and data sets to compare your results to. Even if you purchased your Ancestry by DNA test back when Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) was a reseller of the test, your results were still only compared to DNA Print’s database which does not have proprietary access to.”

And with those responses, and further reading in mind, I created the above inserted chart. I am an extremely visual person, albeit logical and I needed a “picture” to help me to understand. This basic Chart represents, in my mind, the different vantage points and testing factors of the two firms; Ancestry by DNA and Family Tree DNA. I have included, in green, a label representing 23andMe; I am waiting for their testing results.

This conversation will continue. Stay-tuned for more… as I pound my thick skull trying to make heads, (no pun intended), or tails of all the information.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 496 - Smith Robertson Genealogy - Autosomal Test Results - Huh?

Evening,

As I have mentioned and written on numerous occasions, I am slowly trying to understand the elements of Genealogy and DNA. My previous Posts have discussed YDNA, the (Y) paternal line, and mtDNA, the (X) maternal line. See Part 492. In order to sea and read my previous Postings and discussions, enter the phrases YDNA or mtDNA in the “Search This Blog” box in the right-hand column.

The next series of results are my Autosomal DNA.

The above image is one that I created which may logically explain, with the use of Venn diagrams, the results of my current sets of Autosomal DNA testing.  A Venn diagram is a representation of circles to represents sets, with the position and overlap, or non-overlap, of the circles indicating the relationships between the sets.

An autosome is a chromosome that is not either of the sex chromosomes, that is the X or the Y chromosomes. In humans there are 22 pairs of autosomes.  Including the sex chromosomes, we have, that is those of us who are classified as human, 23 pairs of chromosomes.

There are now publicly available and continuing to evolve, Autosomal testing which attempts to determine the “genetic percentage” of one’s ancestry. This is sort of like trying to determine from which continent/region/country/people or tribe my ancestry may have originated. There are quite a number of detailed descriptions, both elementary and extremely detailed at various and many sites on the Internet. (And if you do not trust the Internet check out your local library.)

Well anyway, I had my first Autosomal DNA test done in 2005 by a firm called Ancestry By DNA. Their results of my autosomes were presented to me as 93% - European; 7% - Native or Indigenous American; 0% - East Asian; and 0% Sub-Saharan African. Okay, not a problem, pretty straight forward, for the time.

Most recently, I decided to purchase the Family Finder product from Family Tree DNA which includes as a part of the testing package an autosomal test under the subtitle of Family Finder Illumina OmniExpress Population Finder - Beta. My results have been returned. According to Family Tree DNA results, I am 95.9% - European (Western European); 4.1% - African; 0% - Central or South American; 0% - East Asian; 0% - Middle Eastern; 0% - Oceania, that is, Melanesian or of New Guinea; and 0% - South Asian.

Well, what happened?  Why are the test results different?  Why are their differences in my ethnic ancestry?

I am waiting for the third set of results of a different company 23andMe. Once they are received I will include them in my image.

Confused? Stay tuned for further discussions and Postings.

Hear's to a Happy Celebration tomorrow... and a very speedy recovery for AB.

Enjoy,

Jim

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My Tangent - Searching A Genealogy Hunt - DNA Updates

Evening,

It’s been a hectic couple of past days… and between each breathing moment I try to work on my genealogy and ancestry. Yes I am obsessed with genealogy.

I have received a number of emails asking questions regarding inter-connections and possible links regarding all eight branches of my Family Tree. I welcome the inquiries, questions, and requests. I try to answer all, and I mean all of the questions and your comments, as soon as I can.

For anyone with questions regarding a surname or some word reference that I may have included in my Postings, I have provided the “Search This Blog” box in the right-hand column. A surname can be typed into the “Search This Blog” box and the “Search” button can be pressed or clicked on. All-things-being-equal, the Goggle Blogger’s functionality searches through the Postings on A Genealogy Hunt and should return the number of Postings that may include that which has been typed into the “Search This Blog” box.

In the center column is my “Most Recent 20 Postings” list of links. The number 1 link should be the immediate previous Posting to the current one that shows up initially and at the Home position of A Genealogy Hunt. I attempt to update the “Most Recent 20 Postings” almost immediately after entering and displaying a brand new Post. I try to ensure that a live link is in place, so that a reader can click on the link and be immediately transported to the Post that is being referenced and titled.

Please be aware that I do not post or provide any gedcom files of my database in A Genealogy Hunt. In this wise I can almost guarantee that I am not providing any information or details concerning or about any living relatives or family members. I am sure that you will appreciate the confidentiality.

I invite comments, questions, thoughts, and ideas to my genealogy work and research. I am also open to suggestions on how others may believe that I can always improve A Genealogy Hunt.

Apart from the main thrust of the ancestral search and research, I am continuing with my Transcription Project of the Grenada Registers of Records. This of course has an explicit desired outcome of which is the search and scrutiny of any hint or clue to the origins of my 3-times great-grandfather James Smith.

The other work is my DNA Project of which I am currently stumbling through trying to understand the detailed results provided and offered by the relevant vendors. I am now awaiting the results of the extended Family Tree DNA Y-DNA111 Marker Tests for the Smith, Robertson, and Brunhammer paternal lines.

I have received the first wave of test results from the Family Tree DNA Family Finder and Walk Through The Y products. I will state categorically that I, in no way, am a geneticist nor a DNA expert. There is a ton of technical, theoretical, and scientific data that would take me eons to read and comprehend. This exercise is elementary and at the throes of the beginnings of the sciences. If there are any experts, or perceived experts – pro or con, I certainly would appreciate the layman’s version of the techno-jargon.

Regarding Autosomal DNA I am now in the process of comparing the results of two of the three firms that I have received testing. I have received the results from Ancestry by DNA and Family Tree DNA. The third, 23andMe has proposed that their results will be available in about a month and a half.

As a note, I am fully aware that all the genealogy DNA results are based on conjecture, theory, and applicable databases as well as previous scientific study and documentation. I rest on the fact that the information of the results received in no wise will definitively provide me with a fixed and unchanging ancestral result of matching ancestors. I stand by the statement that the result information MAY provide a POSSIBILTY of a PROBABILITY of a common ancestor between two test results. The information, details and the results are certainly food for thought that is something to keep my grey matter functioning.

Oh and I just discovered a new tool, Panopreter Plus that is available as a free download in Microsoft at the 2003 level. This product/tool allows my PC to read back, that is, it converts text to speech. This is a good tool especially when I am proofing and working on a Posting or a document.

Enjoy your spring, in the snow or by the pool.

Jim

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Part 495r – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Final Resting Place – Agnes Harriett (née Robertson) and John Morgan Davies

Evening,

Eureka, another key piece in the puzzle of the Robertson Genealogy.

Helen and Kevin have also located and photographed the headstone of the grave of grandaunt Agnes Harriet(t) (née Robertson) her husband granduncle John Morgan Davies. Thank you ever so much for sending me the images. Grandaunt Agnes Harriett was one of our grandfather Frederick Henry Robertson’s elder sisters.

You will note that I have added a second “t” in parentheses. The gravestone has grandaunt Agnes’ middle name engraved as Harriet whereas the spelling of the middle name on her 1883 Birth Registration and in the 1911 Census is with a double “tt”, "Harriett". See Part 67r.

Their burial site is in the cemetery grounds of The Parish Church of St. Lawrence Little Stanmore alias Whitchurch.

The following images, including the satellite view are of St Lawrence Little Stanmore Whitchurch which I found via Google Maps.

Thanks again to Helen and Kevin. If any family member, relative, and connection may have some images pertinent to our Family Genealogy and with today’s technology please send them to me for the Family Collection.

Thank you to those family and friends who have sent me emails regarding A Genealogy. If you have any comments, thoughts, and ideas to share feel free to contact me.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 494r – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Final Resting Place – Alexander Pirie and Elizabeth Charlotte (née Merrifield) Robertson

Morning,

There is a feeling of success when a piece of the puzzle of the search for an ancestor falls into to place. This, to me is one of those moments.

Helen and Kevin have located and photographed the headstone of the grave of great-grandparents Alexander Pirie and Elizabeth Charlotte (née Merrifield) Robertson. Thank you ever so much for sending me the image.

Great-grandmother Elizabeth Charlotte (née Merrifield) passed away 20 June 1926 at the age of 70 years. Great-grandfather Alexander Pirie Robertson died 20 October 1939. He was 84 years old. From the records I have been able to gather they had lived at 96 Alexandra Park Road, Wood Green, Edmonton in Middlesex, England.

See Part 80m for an image of the 1926 Certified Copy of An Entry Of Death for great-grandmother Elizabeth Charlotte Robertson. Also see Part 493r for a copy of the 1939 Entry of Death for great-grandfather Alexander Pirie Robertson.

Their burial site is in the cemetery grounds of East Finchley Cemetery, London. The distance today from the Cemetery to 96 Alexandra Park Road is about 2.4 miles or 3.9 kilometers.

The following images, including the satellite view are of East Finchley Cemetery originally called St. Marylebone Cemetery which I found via Google.

East Finchley: St Marylebone Cemetery: The lodge & entrance gates (Nigel Cox) / CC BY-SA 2.0

East Finchley Cemetery Chapel in distance, August 200. Photo - S. Williams

Thanks again to Helen and Kevin. If any family member, relative, and connection may have some images pertinent to our Family Genealogy, and with today’s technology, please send them to me for the Family Collection.

Please note that the work presented in A Genealogy Hunt is always under construction based on the information and data received. I am constantly updating my genealogy as new details are provided. If you have "family-related stuff" that you would like me to include in A Genealogy Hunt as a part of our Family History and Archive, please provide me with as much detail and corresponding information as you can.

Thank you to those family and friends who have sent me emails regarding A Genealogy Hunt. If you have any comments, thoughts, and ideas to share feel free to contact me.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 493r – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1939 Death – Great-Grandfather Alexander Pirie Robertson

Evening,

I have located the Certified Copy of An Entry of Death given at The General Register Office. This 1939 Death Registration is the recording of great-grandfather Alexander Pirie Robertson’s passing.

In the search and recreation of my Family Tree and genealogy, I am looking for all documents, data, and information that just may have something to do with any ancestor.

Here is the image of the Certified Copy –

My transcription –

CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY OF DEATH --- GIVEN AT THE GENERAL Register OFFICE
Application Number COL3388967
REGISTRATION DISTRICT Edmonton
1939 DEATH in the Sub-district of Wood Green in the County of Middlesex

No. – 235

1. When and where died – Twentieth December 1939, 96 Alexandra Park Road, Wood Green 4D
2. Name and surname – Alexander Pirie Robertson
3. Sex – Male
4. Age – 84 years
5. Occupation – Formerly an Accountant
6. Cause of Death – 1 a) Pneumonia Certified by P. Quim M.B.
7. Signature, description and residence of informant – V. E. Robertson, Daughter, Present at the death, 96 Alexandra Park Road Hornsey
8. When registered – Twenty first December 1839
9. Signature of Registrar – A – Perkins, Deputy Registrar

Certified to be a true copy of an entry in the certified copy of a Register of Deaths in the District above mentioned.
Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE, under the Seal of the said Office, the 5th day of September 2007
DYB 648436

Here also is an image of the General Register Death Index 4th Quarter 1939.

And my search for documentary information regarding my genealogy and ancestors continues.

And now to continue with my research and postings.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 492 - Smith Robertson Genealogy - Trying To Understand DNA Test Results

Good Afternoon,

Well, the results of my most recent genealogy tests, and I mean my most recent DNA tests, are slowly filtering in. All I can say at this immediate moment of time is… I am confused. It appears that I need to go back to school and take some courses in elementary Mendel Genetics plus.

My two new testings are with Family Tree DNA: "Family Finder" and "Walk Through The Y". I can see where I'm going to have to sit myself down and investigate and research the meaning of the results. So you'll have to bear with me as I begin this journey into the realm of some sort of technological and plain elementary understanding.

I will be journalizing and blogging my confusions, my perceived understandings and my "Aha" moments. I will ask a lot of questions and if you have any questions and ideas that may help me along the way please either make a comment or e-mail me.

As a side, I'm also awaiting for the results from the 23andMe test results. My vial of saliva has been sent to California.

From Family Tree DNA "the Family Finder traces all of your ancestral lines. It uses your autosomal DNA to identify confidently relationships for five generations. This is different from the mtDNA and YDNA tests. They trace clearly and exclusively the direct maternal and paternal lines." Also "Family Finder detects your near and distant Cousins by comparing your autosomal DNA with that of other Family Tree DNA Customers. If two people share identical segments of DNA then they may share a recent ancestor. When the Family Finder program finds matching segments, it determines if the segments are Identical By Descent (IBD). If they are determined to be IBD then the Family Finder program calculates the relationship based on the shared segments’ number and size."

And here are a couple of definitions from Family Tree DNA.

Identical By Descent (IBD) – This means the DNA Matches because it comes from a common ancestor. IBD can refer to a single mutation or to a segment of DNA. If a mutation or segment of DNA is IBD among a group of people, it comes from a common ancestor.

Mutation – A heritable change that occurs in genetic material. It may lead to a different number of repeats of a certain sequence or a change in one of the bases sequence.

And this is just the beginning… My, that is, at the moment, mtDNA and YDNA results and related surnames are:

YDNA ---

Smith – Confirmed Haplogroup = R1b1a2a*; Shorthand = R-L23. I believe that the “*” means that there is a further subgroup that has yet to be defined.

Robertson – Predicted Haplogroup = R1b1a2; Shorthand = R-M269.

mtDNA ---

Robertson – Haplogroup = H1a1.

Related surnames of which I am currently aware should include Smith, McNeice, Goodey, Crossley, Parker, Kendal, Elder, Pecht, Hartman, Allen, Gatchell, Vernon, Stevens…

Smith – Haplogroup = J. It is possible, but not as yet confirmed, that the further subgroup is J1b*.

Related surnames of which I am currently aware should include Abraham, Olton, Vogt, Titus, Emery, July, Merle, Castex, Charbonnier, Chevalier, Clergeau, Clopath, Rénier, Brebner, Salmon, Ham, St. Philippe, Beulah…

I am always updating the surname listings as I begin to understand the actual relationships and descendancy and ancestry patterns.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 491rm - Smith Robertson Genealogy - 1880 Marriage - Alexander Pirie Robertson and Elizabeth Charlotte Merrifield

Good Early Morning,

One never knows what one may find if one just takes the time and looks… I suppose this is the credo of the great majority of persons who are and consider themselves obsessive genealogists. All-things-being equal I didn’t just “click on a leaf.”

On an impulse I thought I would see if I could find any document relating to the 1880 marriage of my great-grandparents Alexander and Elizabeth Charlotte (née Merrifield) Robertson. The past couple of days my focus has been on this generation of my Robertson Branch in my Family Tree.

Previously, in Part 80m, I had posted images of the record of the Banns of their 1880 Marriage which noted that the Banns had been published April 11th, 18th, and 25th consecutively. In the far right on the page there was a written note that I was not too sure of my transcription. I wrote, at the time “St. Pauls of Shoreditch”. I'm still not certain of the writing.

The subsequent “Certified Copy of An Entry of Marriage”, also posted in Part 80m, which I received from the General Register Office has recorded that the “Marriage solemnized at the Parish Ch in the Parish of Holy Trinity Hoxton in the County of Middlesex”. Also from the Certified Copy it is recorded that my great-grandparents were “Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, by ---- or after Banns by me, Bradley Hurst Alford”.

From Page 244 from the London Metropolitan Archives, Holy Trinity, Hoxton, Register of Marriages, P91/TR1, Item 012 the same two lines are recorded

Marriage solemnized at The Parish Church in the Parish of Holy Trinity Hoxton in the County of Middlesex” and “Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church by ---- or after Banns by me, Bradley Hurst Alford.

The above inserted image is of Holy Trinity Hoxton, 3 Bletchley Street, Hackney, Greater London, England. It is possible that this is the Church at where great-grandparents Alexander and Elizabeth were married. The second image is of Holy Trinity Hoxton taken from Alford Place, which of course just happens to be the same name as of the person who married great-grandparents.

And just one other point, the signatures the appear in the Registration appear to be possible actual signatures of each party concerned, including great-grandparents Alexander Pirie Robertson and Elizabeth Charlotte Merrifield. One of the witnesses signatures appears to be that of great-grandaunt Harriet Ann Merrifield, one of great-grandmother Elizabeth's sisters.

Who knows what I may find, when I look?

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 490m - Smith Robertson Genealogy - Updated Merrifield Descendant Chart

Good Afternoon,

In attempting to keep up with my genealogy "house-", or should I say "blog-keeping", as I have updated my Robertson Descendant Chart, see Part 489r, it falls in place that I should update my Merrifield Descendant Chart.

The new additions are highlighted in red.

I will also be updating menu choices and entries as listed to the Header Labels at the top of the page. And now back to the drawing board and the mountains of files and reams of papers I am investigating.

Stay tuned always for updates. If you have any questions and comments, please do.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 489r – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Updated Robertson Descendant Chart

Good Afternoon,

With the most recent discovery of Grandfather Frederick Henry Robertson’s two elder siblings, John Merrifield and Alexander George, I have updated and included them in the Robertson Descendant Chart.

The two new additions are highlighted in red.

Sadly both, John Merrifield and Alexander George, according to the respective 1883 and 1885 General Register Death Indexes passed away in infancy. The following are the images, as downloaded from Ancestry.co.uk and my transcriptions.

ROB] DEATHS registered in January, February, and March 1883. 294
ROBERTSON, John Mirrifield.
Age. – 1
District. – Shoreditch
Vol. – 1 c.
Page. – 69

ROB] DEATHS registered in July, August, and September 1885. 230
ROBERTSON, Alexander George.
Age. – 0
District. – Shoreditch
Vol. – 1 c.
Page. – 58

Please note have granduncle John Merrifield Robertson’s middle name is entered on the Index – “Mirrifield”. I have transcribed it as such; it is what I see and I will not change my transcription. I will note the difference in spelling as well as cite my source. The recording on the Birth Index and the Parish of Holy Trinity Baptism Register, (see Part 487r), both register the middle name as “Merrifield”. Lesson learned – One document may not be enough…

Enjoy,

Jim

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My Tangent – Woodpecker Dunce & Blue Jay Revenge

Good Morning,

Walking the Pack most recently and in the early hours of the morning is at time a strain on the wee functions of my brain.

The Rats believe that every possible squirrel, bird, and human is, or are the focus of their most required greetings. It’s like trying to harness, literally two speeding wires which have never in their doggy lives experienced the front of their house. All comportment of dog school training is down the drain.

And the morning follies even extends to the clueless woodpecker who keeps on insisting on tap-tap-taping the top of the metal street lamp. I think that it may think that, as it, the light has been switched off, that his continual on-metal tap-tap-tapping might just trigger some soul at the Tampa Electric Company to turn it back on again. And of course, Bella, even though she is a dog, and a very small one at that, has the propensity to stalk up on every squirrel or bird that just so happens to be in her line of vision.

Well this time Bella goes wild over a Blue Jay… not of the baseball variety, but the winged type. She’s bouncing and screeching, and screeching and bouncing at the Blue Jay as he keeps himself just out of reach, clinging and hopping on the trunk of a pine tree. This goes on for a short bit… and then it happens. The Blue Jay at its wing-length teasing, poops right on top of Bella’s head. He takes a look, and then flies off. And Bella is all proud that she chased away the ferocious blue feather thing.


My morning walk begins with mayhem, and yelping, and tears streaming down my face. What a wonderful thing Nature is… And all three of the Pack sit quietly as I dish out their morning repast.

Enjoy. I now return to my genealogy research.

Jim

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Part 488r – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1884 Birth & 1885 Baptism – Alexander George Robertson

Morning,

As I mentioned the surprise is tremendous; the thrill of the search has produced another new result in the genealogy of our Robertson Family Genealogy. The record of another brother of Grandfather Frederick Henry Robertson has been found, Alexander George Robertson. Thank you Helen, once again for another lead and find.

This time I have located the Birth Register Index – Births registered in October, November, and December 1884. The pages included in the image are 448 and 449.

I have also included cuttings of the headers and the actual listed entry for granduncle Alexander George Robertson.

My transcription –

ROB] BIRTHS registered in October, November, and December 1884.
ROBERTSON, Alexander George
District – Shoreditch
Vol. – 1 c.
Page – 73

The source of this information is from the Free BMD, England & Wales, FreeBMD Index, 1837-1915 available through the General Register Office, England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London, England.

The next document I traced down is the page of the Parish Register which includes the Baptism Registration of granduncle Alexander George Robertson. Source Citation: London Metropolitan Archives, Holy Trinity, Hoxton, Register of baptisms, P91/TRI, Item 002. The following is the image of the Parish Register Page.

And my transcription –

Page 288
BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Holy Trinity, Hoxton in the
County of Middlesex in the year 1885
When Baptised. – 1885 Feb. 15 –Nov 4/84 No. 1902
Child’s Christian Name. – Alexander George
Parents’ Name.
Christian. – Alexander Pirie & Elizabeth Charlotte
Surname. – Robertson
Abode. – 11 Parr St.
Quality, Trade, or Profession. – Warehouseman
By whom the Ceremony was performed. - W. Ett. Sotheby.

All source information is available and obtained through Ancestry.co.uk.

And again I continue,

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 487r – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1882 Birth & Baptism – John Merrifield Robertson

Good Afternoon,

Wonders of wonders… who knows what information can be found when family members and relatives work together in the pursuit of a common genealogy.

I received a call last night from England. A new discovery… actually more than one, had been made. This discovery is pertinent to my, our Robertson Family Line. Grandfather Frederick Henry Robertson did have a couple more siblings. Thank you, Helen for the lead and the information.

I would like now to introduce to you John Merrifield Robertson. He, based on the Robertson Family Tree structure, is both Helen’s and my granduncle. The uniqueness of this find is that granduncle John’s middle name is his mother’s, great-grandmother Elizabeth Charlotte’s, maiden name, Merrifield.

The first image is of the pages 448 and 448 from the Birth registered in January, February, and March 1882. If you have any difficulty in viewing and enlarging the image I have inserted cuts of the headers and the actual listed entry for granduncle John Merrifield Robertson.

My transcription –

ROB] BIRTHS registered in January, February, and March 1882. 448
ROBERTSON, John Merrifield
District – Shoreditch
Vol. – 1 c.
Page – 76

I then discovered the Parish Registration of granduncle John Merrifield’s baptism. Per the document, Page 184, he was born 17 January 1882 and baptized 12 March 1882.

Here is the image of the Register Page. The Source citation is the London Metropolitan Archives, Holy Trinity, Hoxton, Register of Baptisms, P91/TRI, Item 002.

And my transcription –

Page 184
BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Holy Trinity, Hoxton in the
County of Middlesex in the year One thousand
eight hundred and Eighty two.
When Baptised. – 1882 March 12 – Jan 17. No. 1472
Child’s Christian Name. – John Merrifield
Parents’ Name.
Christian. – Alexander Pirie & Elizabeth Charlotte
Surname. – Robertson
Abode. – 11 Parr St.
Quality, Trade, or Profession. – Warehouseman
By whom the Ceremony was performed. - W. Ett. Sotheby.

All source information is available and obtained through Ancestry.co.uk.

I will be updating my Ancestral Charts shortly. Stay tuned for the next find.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 486s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Smiths of Nottingham – New Descendant Chart – John Smith – Part E

Afternoon,

As I have written, it appears that at times the search for one’s genealogy is a process of elimination. Allegorically the exercise can be likened to the effort of “plucking petals of a flower”.

“Not my Smith, not my Smith… maybe my Smith, not my Smith.” And I just keep on searching.

The 6th son, John Smith is the topic of this posting. As with his five elder brothers I have created a Descendant Chart based on my data and information from Easton’s The History of a Banking House… and various other websites, including Wikipedia.

Here is the 5th Chart: John Smith of Nottingham – Descendant Chart – Part E.

This is my last Descendant Chart of this specific Smith Family… for now. There does not seem to be any immediate connection or lead thereof from the gathered data and information to ggg-grandfather James Smith.

I will now continue with the Indenture transcription work.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 485s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Smiths of Nottingham – New Descendant Chart – George Smith – Part D

Morning,

The fifth brother is George Smith, and here is the 4th Chart: John Smith of Nottingham – Descendant Chart – Part D. This is number four of the series of five that I have drafted.

This George Smith was most definitely pre-occupied with other commitments and didn't want additional responsibilities to take away from his family. The "?" in the Descendant Chart represent those of his children which were not identified in the text.

Abel Smith’s fifth son, George, resided at Selsdon, Surrey, being Member for Wendover, 1806-30, and subsequently for Midhurst. He married Frances Maria, daughter of Sir John Mosely, Bart. It appears that he was offered a baronetcy, but in consequence of having a large family of fifteen children did not consider himself justified in accepting that honour.

(The History of a Banking House, Harry Tucker Easton; London; 1903. Pages 23-24.)

Please note that the source of my data and information is Easton’s The History of a Banking House… and various other websites, including Wikipedia.

Brother John, Charts Part E, will follow.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 484s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Smiths of Nottingham – New Descendant Chart – Samuel Smith – Part C

Afternoon,

Following up with Part 480s and Part 481s here is the 3rd Chart: John Smith of Nottingham – Descendent Chart – Part C. This is the third in a series of five that I have created.

The inserted portrait is of Samuel Smith. It was downloaded from Easton's book, The History of a Banking House...

This Descendant Chart – Part C is exclusive to the descendants of the fourth brother Samuel Smith.

Please note that the source of my data and information is Easton’s The History of a Banking House… and various other websites, including Wikipedia.

Brothers George and John, Charts Part D and E, respectively, will follow.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 483s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Smith YDNA Confirmed Haplogroup Updated

Almost Afternoon,

Last night when I checked my Family Tree DNA account I discovered that my Smith YDNA Haplogroup had been updated. The Smith YDNA confirmed Haplogroup is R1b1a2a.

Previously it had been reported predicted as R1b1b2a. It is now, based on the most up-to-date testing, R1b1a2a. The “drilling-down” just keeps getting more and more exact.

I use the term “drill-down”, which of course I am not the author, because it helps me to understand that I have to keep examining genealogy and genetic data and information at a deeper level. Wikipedia gives a summary definition.

In information technology, to drill down means to move from summary information to detailed data by focusing in on something. In a GUI-environment, "drilling-down" may involve clicking on some representation in order to reveal more detail.

And from IBM WebSphere Dashboard Framework Glossary to drill down is -

The action of navigating from higher-level data or dashboard visualizations to more specific information in a hierarchical structure.

And that is what is happening in the search and pinpointing of my Smith ancestral origins. It is sort of what I do in my document research trying to discover the origins of ggg-grandfather James Smith.

In the above Y-Haplotree images the green codes are confirmed Haplogroup tests. It means that my YDNA tested positive at these levels. The red codes in the drill-down are where I tested negative. The orange code, specifically [L150 !] means that tests are available and in my case they are being conducted. The next two images provide, diagrammatically, those subgroups of my Haplogroup of which I do not belong. It is a process of elimination… Didn’t I say that genealogy is an exercise in elimination?

In the top image, at the bottom, is my Haplogroup Info. It present my Haplogroup coding of R1b1a2a and what appears to be a formula called “Tests”. The formula, at this point is

P25+ M343+ M269+ M207+ M173+ L49+ L23+ U198- U152- U106- SRY2627- P66- P312- P311- P310- P107- M73- M65- M37- M222- M18- M160- M153- M126- L51- L151- L11-

It is the combination of tests results that produce my Haplogroup. Each code is followed by a “+” or “-“. The “+” means that I tested positive. A “-“ means that the test result is negative.

And so I continue. The pending results for the “Family Finder” and “Walk Through the Y” tests are expected April 4 and 20, respectively.

Stay tuned, and enjoy.

Jim

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