Part 914sr – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Another DNA 111 Marker Match

Good Day,

I just received news from Family Tree DNA that my Smith Y-DNA has another 111-Marker match. This time with a 9 Genetic Distance. The match is one John Faree Follis. This now makes that I have 8 relatively close 111 Y-DNA marker matches.

And the surnames of the individuals realizing the match are Fallis/Follis, Robinson, Seymour, and Ware. Not one Smith. 3 Fallis/Follis; 1 Robinson; 3 Seymour; and 1 Ware.

Does this mean that there is possibility that my Smith name may have been something else in a time long ago and faraway?

According to the Family Tree DNA Y-DNA TiP Report, and using the information of matching the latest John Faree Follis there may be a probability of 82.61% that in 12 generations, (that’s 12 generations backwards) we, John Faree Follis and myself, Jim Smith may have shared a common ancestor.

And how long is a generation?

From a male perspective it may be a “generational interval of 31 to 38 years”. (ISOGG, “How long is a generation? Science provides an answer”, by Donn Devine). 

If I use the average of about 34 ½ years my calculation would be that about 12 generations back or about 414 years in the past John Faree Follis and I may have an 82.61% chance of sharing a common male ancestor. That means that maybe around 1603 there may be a Follis who could have been a Smith or a Smith who could have been a Follis. (I think.)

And in our Y-DNA 111-marker matching, between John Faree Follis and me there is a 9 Genetic Distance, according to the tests as provided by Family Tree DNA.

The definition of Genetic Distance used by Family Tree DNA “is the number of differences, or mutations, between two sets of results. A genetic distance of zero means there are no differences in the results being compared against one another, i.e., an exact match.”

From my results I have noticed that there is one Jeffrey L. Smith and we match at the 37-Marker test of our Y-DNA. According to Family Tree DNA there is a probability of 89.16% that 12 generations back, about 1603, we may have shared a common ancestor. I wonder if Jeffery L. Smith has ever considering completing the 111-Marker test?

Currently and according to the FTDNA results there are 25 Smith matches at the 12-Marker testing and only two others, excluding myself have completed the 111-Marker testing. All-things-being-equal a possible matching to these two other Smiths falls away considerably as neither of them match my results at the 10 or less Genetic Difference.

If you are a Smith and you may know that you descended from Great-Great-Great Grandfather James Smith please feel free to contact me at jsmith58@gmail.com if you are thinking about testing your Y-DNA.

And if you know of anyone else in the family who may be interested in receiving my updates regarding the search please let me know their email mail so I can include them. Who knows, more than my two eyes and my one aging brain definitely may help with this continued search.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 901sd – Smith Doret Genealogy – Doret? Maybe. Maybe? Let’s Hope So!

Good Day,

Thank you, Peter, for keeping me in mind with your genealogy research. The image you sent me of the page of the document entered into the Grenada, Supreme Court Registers of Records, 1764 – 1931 may have an iota of a clue that we may need into the research and discovery of my GGG-Grandmother Mary Ann (née Doret) Smith.

The document was penned the 18th of August 1788 and entered 14th of November of that same year. The document is in French which means that I will have to transcribe and then translate.

But here’s the hopeful part. One the first page of the document, which begins on page 340 of the Register concerned there is indicated the name of one “Jean Doret”.

And of course, I jumped at the reveal. The lines where the name of Jean Doret first appears are –

“Et du Coté de la future épouse Le Sieur Jean Doret
Commis Réprésent Le Sieur Tou∫sain Josset pere
de la ditte future épouze…”

And translated –

"And of the side of the future wife The Mister Jean Doret
Clerk Representative The Mister Tou∫sain Josset father
Of the future spouse ... "

Here’s the image of page 340 –

And what does this mean? Well, this may be a hint, a clue to a connection to GGG-Grandmother Mary Ann (née Doret) Smith.

In the opening of page 340, the locations referred to are –

“…Hâbitant au quartier desSalines de cette Isle Grenade…”

and translated –

“living in the Saline district of this island of Grenada…”

Jean Doret, as mentioned in the first page of the document is “the Clerk Representative” on behalf of one of the parties drafting the document.

Does this mean that GGG-Mary Ann Doret is/was related in some way to Jean Doret?

Stay tuned for a further development of our search and research. And if you have any thoughts, comments and or notes, please contact me at jsmith58@gmail.com.

Thanks, and enjoy,

Jim

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Part 899sd - Smith Robertson - Autosomal DNA Results

Good Day,

And my Autosomal DNA or Ethnicity tests are all in.

I had them done by the 3 major companies - Family Tree DNA, 23andMe, and Ancestry. Whatever flair and marketing substance each individual corporation present here are my results, summarized by major region/area and ethnicity.

Family Tree DNA --

Africa - 4.0%
The Middle East - < 2.0%
European - 80.0%
Jewish Ashkenzai - 13.0%

23andMe --

Africa - 3.7%
The Middle East - < 0.1%
Europe - 85.8%
Jewish Ashkenzai - 10.4%

Ancestry --

Africa - 4.0%
The Middle East - 0.0%
Europe - 83.0%
European Jewish - 13.0%

My major highlights are the British Isles and Jewish Diaspora They are as follows, respectively -

Family Tree DNA - 62.0%; 13.0%
23andMe - 50.8%; 10.5%
Ancestry - 67.0%; 13.0%


For further detailed information regarding Autosomal DNA please check the International Society of Genetic Genealogy Wiki at https://isogg.org/wiki/Autosomal_DNA, especially the section of "Accuracy of tests".

Autosomal DNA tests can be used to confirm relationships with a high level of accuracy for parent/child relationships and all relationships up to the second cousin level. For all relationships other than parent/child relationships additional contextual and genealogical information is required to confirm the nature of the relationship.

And if you know of anyone else in the family who may be interested in receiving my updates regarding the search please let me know their email mail so I can include them. Who knows, more than my two eyes and my one aging brain definitely may help with this continued search.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 898sd – Smith Doret - Searching For The Origins of GGG-Grandmother Marie Ann (née Doret) Smith

Good Day,

I remembered that France's archives for 100th Department, the one I used to find the documentation regarding our July family may be up online. The 100th Department is d'Outre-Mer. I thought that if I was able to use it for French Guiana why could I not use it for Martinique. And sure enough, I was able to find the links to the Archives Nationales d'Outre-Mer  -

A couple of things about using this site and most important it does not work with Google. It does work with Firefox.

Here is the link to the first part of the Birth Registration of Great-Grandmother Catherine Marie Antoinette July, 4 January 1861 in the Goree, Senegal Registration books -

http://anom.archivesnationales.culture.gouv.fr/caomec2/pix2web.php?territoire=SENEGAL&commune=GOREE&annee=1861&typeacte=AC_NA

Hoping we will be able to find something similar in Martinique for GGG-Grandmother Marie Ann Doret. Who knows?

I have begun searching through the documents and registration as available on line. It will be an arduous search as I will have to go town by town.

This Archive may also help in tracing my grandson's mother's portion of their family line of Parisé to the Quebec and the Gaspe Peninsula circa 1697.

The Outre-Mer Department encompasses all those lands and countries that did and still do fall under the auspices of the French Empire.

And if you know of anyone else in the family who may be interested in receiving my updates regarding the search please let me know their email mail so I can include them. Who knows, more than my two eyes and my one aging brain definitely may help with this continued search.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 857ja - Smith Robertson Genealogy - July and Abraham - Île de Gorée, Sénégal

Good Day,

I'm not back from my genealogy search and research respite, but I just read an interesting article, in The Washington Post, dated June 28, 2013.

What Obama really saw at the ‘Door of No Return,’ a disputed memorial to the slave trade

Île de Gorée, Sénégal is where Great-Grandmother Catherine Marie Antoinette (née July) Abraham was born in 2 Jan 1861 and her parents, Great-Great Grandparents Jean Jacques Alfred and Catherine Cora (née Merle) July were married on 2 May 1860.

Here a couple of postings on A Genealogy Hunt regarding great-grandmother Catherine Marie Antoinette (née July) Abraham and her parents, gg-grandparents Jean Jacques Alfred and Catherine Cora (née Merle) July and their presence at Île de Gorée. The links -

-- Great-Great-Grandparents July - 1860 Marriage Transcription - Part 25

-- Addition and Corrections To 1860 Marriage Transcription - Part 26

-- L'Île de Gorée, Sénégal, A Possibility - Another Marriage Registration! - Part 28

-- 1860 Marriage Registration from Gorée - Part 29

-- Great-Grandmother Catherine Marie Antoinette (née July) Abraham Found! - Part 30

-- The Map of Great-Grandmother Catherine Marie Antoinette's Life - Part 31

Thought you may be interested.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 737b – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1940 High School Graduation – Patricia (née Bulah) McKenna

Good Day,

This genealogy researcher and avid investigator continues to find connections in the most unobtrusive and discreet way. I am always looking for an iota, a shred of evidence that can connect me with that distant branch on my Family Tree.

This time I travel, electronically to California, to Los Angeles and to Manual Arts High School. Manual Arts High School, according to Wikipedia, was established in 1910 in the middle of bean fields, one-half mile from the nearest bus stop. It was the third school in Los Angeles and is the oldest high school still on its original site in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

I chanced upon the 1940 Senior Class as presented by the Manual Arts High School Yearbook, The Artisan W40. And I discovered on Page 53 Patricia Bulah.

Based on my research and logical deduction, this is second cousin Patricia Bulah, daughter of 1st cousin twice removed Muriel C. (née St. Philippe) Bulah, daughter of great-grandaunt Marie Adèle Céléstine (née July) St. Philippe. Great-Grandaunt Céléstine was one of the younger sisters of great-grandmother Catherine Marie Antoinette (née July) Abraham. And both were daughters of my gg-grandparents Jean Jacques Alfred and Catherine Cora (née Merle) July.

Here is the Page 53 extracted from The Artisan Winter40, the Manual Arts High School 1940 Yearbook… Ancestry.com provides a database of various school yearbooks from across the United States.

Oh and by the way, I discovered that Frank Capra, Kathryn Grayson, Irving Stone, and Paul Winfield were just a few of the notable alumni of the Manual Arts High School. Another point of interest is that the name of the Class of W’40 at Manual Arts High School was the Mounties, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 561b – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1929 San Diego High School – 1st Cousin Once Removed Frederick A. Brebner

Evening,

This could be a coincidence, but then again the search and research of one’s genealogy may start with a coincidence. In this case the possibility may be just too, too close to not be a logical conclusion. And guaranteed I'm checking this one out, as always.

In the 1929 San Diego High School on Page 158 Manager of the Baseball team - Fred Brebner.

The information on Frederick A. Brebner; 1st Cousin once removed, the eldest son of Grandaunt René Marie Hyde (née Abraham) and Granduncle Arthur Henry Brebner was born 17 November 1911 in Demerara, British Guiana. He lived with Great-Grandmother Catherine Marie Antoinette (née July) Abraham and his brother Harold S. Brebner in San Diego according to the 1930 US Census, below.

Take a gander at the attached pages 157 and 158 from the 1929 Yearbook.

Also, in the 1929 San Diego High School on Page 151 the Captain of the Class B Basketball - Freddie Brebner.

And check out who was in the 1929 graduating class that same year.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 514d - Smith Robertson Genealogy - Dubuc Descendant Chart - Dating To 1681

Good evening,

Yesterday I received an e-mail quite to my surprise, and enthusiasm from Yann. Yann and I are connected by sisters; our great-grandmothers Catherine Marie Antoinette (née July) Abraham and Marie Eugénie Berthe (née July) Clergeau Rénier.

The e-mail is information regarding the ancestors of our ggg-grandmother Catherine Rosalie (née Dubuc) July. GGG-Grandmother Catherine Rosalie was the above-mentioned, great-grandmother Catherine's and great-grandaunt Marie's grandmother.

Thank you Thierry for your sharing the information with us. Per Yann "nous avons un nouveau cousin (Thierry -) qui semble être de la branche Philippe Dubuc.” Translated: "We have a new cousin (Thierry -) who appears to be of the Philippe Dubuc Family Tree."

Philippe Dubuc is our five-times great-grandfather. Wow! Also included are the names of possible six-times great-grandparents Bertrand and Jeanne Dubuc, as well as our five-times great grandmother Marguerite (née Prieur) Dubuc, the wife of five-times great-grandfather Philippe Dubuc. And by the way, an additional nine possible relatives are included.

I have created a new Dubuc Descendant Chart. As always this new Descendant Chart will be Always Under Construction. All the new and possible relatives, all 13 entries, are included on the Chart in red.

The new Dubuc Descendant Chart will be included under the pulldown tab "Smith" at the top of the page. This Chart can be used in conjunction with the July Descendant Chart II.

Included with the genealogy of the Dubuc Family are some copies an images of registration documents. This is a treasure find. Thank you, Yann and Thierry. More transcribing and translating the come.

If you have any questions, comments or ideas please do not hesitate to contact me. Also all possible data, information, and leads are most welcome.

Enjoy,

Jim

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My Tangent – The Rapture at 1313 Mockingbird Lane

Good afternoon,

Well as we all know by now certain portenders got their mathematical and astrological computations wrong! Didn't those sooth-sayers and head-bump- readers read their Bibles?

As written in Matthew 24:36: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, by my Father only.” Maybe the charlatans got their Greek letters mixed up… “κανένας άνθρωπος δεν ξέρει” or even their Hebrew “איש אינו יודע ”. Either way you cut it, it is “KNOWETH NO MAN”.

Oh and by the way, I just discovered that MS Word flips the Hebrew text from what Google Translator creates… Maybe Harold Camping was using the wrong translation tool… And there are reports today, or lack thereof regarding the non-sighting of the alleged Reverend Camping… Gone! All gone.

The above inserted image is just another of those Rapture-days gone awry. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again… and again… and again.

But something must have happened at 1313 Cemetery Lane… See My Tangent. It appears that the neighbors have quickly been caught up in some rapture of time, and are beetling it out. They’ll be gone… They are going, going… gone.

I worked on the Buccino and DiStasio Family ancestries yesterday. We received a great summary document that was put together by a distant family member. And before you say anything, we not using the information as Fact… We are using it as a stepping stone to achieve more access to thoughts, doors and paths that may have been closed or blocked by the proverbial “brick-walls”. It is a great gift, and find, Lou.

And as I was doing that, another email arrived from France. It appears that we have been gifted new information of our Dubuc Family ancestry. Thank you Yann. And thank you Thierry for sharing your work. I will be updating the Dubuc Descendant Chart shortly.

Enjoy, the heat… I getting in the pool.

Jim

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My Tangent - My 2011 Genealogy Resolutions - March-End Update

Morning,

And now we are almost at the end of the first three months of 2011. Apart from the fact that there are 274 days and about 15 hours until next Christmas and just about 636 days until the end of the Mayan Calendar, I thought that it may be a good idea to review those resolutions of my genealogy work that I made.

Here they are and where I am…

1. Search and research the origins of my ggg-grandfather James Smith from/to Grenada. I’m still transcribing Indentures from the Grenada Registers of Records. I’ve discovered that the alphabetic Indexes provided with each Register typically are the surnames of only the first and the second parties of a contract. In some cases there are more parties involved which means that their surnames will never appear in the prepared Index. My Transcription Project in the search for Smith-related entries just got a whole lot bigger.


2. Populate a database of microfilms and microfiche that I have reviewed. The database has been completed in MS Access 2010 and populated… and believe it, it is up-to-date.


3. Find an iPad Application which will provide an extract of the data included in Number 2. Completed. I discovered a good Application, iTeleport. This app will allow my iPad to connect remotely to my desktop. The issue of course is server connections.


4. Update my Legacy Family database. Legacy software has been updated to Version 7.5.0.67. I have mucho work to do with respect to my own database.


5. Update my Robertson Family Descendancy Chart to include cross-references to related A Genealogy Hunt Postings. In progress.


6. Gather and organize my Robertson Family details and documentation. Same status as Numbers 4 and 5.


7. Research and discover definitive ancestral lines of my ggg-grandmother Elizabeth (née Kendal) Parker. The parish records microfilms for the Downham area have arrived.


8. Try to learn and understand the theory and pathing to my mtDNA results of H1a1: Smith to Robertson to Goodey to Crossley to Parker to Kendal to ? In progress. Completed new DNA Ancestry Chart. Am currently awaiting results of the new Family Tree DNA Family Finder Testing.


9. Understand the scope of y-search.org which results in two 64-to-67 YDNA marker matches. My User ID is CJY7M. I have been accepted to the new Family Tree DNA Walk Through the Y test.


10. Continue and organize my research of my July Family line, into Sarlat, Dordogne, France. In progress. I have found a possible series of new birth and death registrations which could take this family line to about 1588.


11. Solve the mystery of gggg-grandparents Joseph and Sarah (née Pudney) Goodey. I haven’t even opened the paper files in this area as yet.


12. Resolve the Robertson/Raymond conundrum. Almost all Robertson YDNA 67 Marker test results have been returned and it appears that there may be a resulting answer to the Robertson/Raymond question. I should know in the next couple of weeks.


13. Commit myself to the development of the viable A Genealogy Hunt website. I keep thinking about this one… but you can see this is number 13.


14. Commit myself to complete at least 5 of my 22 remaining National Institute For Genealogical Studies courses. I have already completed 32. I keep postponing my start and pick-up date.


15. Plus… See the new DNA Ancestry Chart and check the past Postings in the last three months.

Back to the drawing boards, and stay-tuned. Oh and many thanks to those of you, family and friends who have been lending a helping hand and also have just reading A Genealogy Hunt. I certainly appreciate your comments and notes of encouragement.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 466jm – Smith Robertson Genealogy – New Online Gironde Archives - GAEL

Good day,

Spring has certainly taken over the Tampa Bay area. My first set of Amaryllis is blooming. And the pollen is silently blanketing the cars in the driveway and graciously coating my face and hair each time I exit the front door. “Achoo, achoo”, and Dragon Naturally Speaking keeps asking me to “Please say that again.”

And the day begins in my search and research of my genealogy and ancestry.

The Smith-related and Grenada Registers Indenture that I am currently working on and transcribing is 31 pages long. I have completed 21. The scribe has a tight penmanship and there are large smudges to boot. My goal is to finish it by Saturday.

I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my emails this morning.

Annie had sent me the announcement and connection to a new online database “Gironde Archives En Ligne” – “GAEL”. The Department of Gironde in France, has now provided a free database which we immediately found pertinent documents for gg-grandparents Jean Jacques Alfred and Catherine Cora (née Merle) July.

I have not surveyed all the capabilities of GAEL as yet. One topic – “Entrée thématique : Les passeports (1800-1889)” provides a number of hits for both surnames July and Merle.

One such document is the page of the 1860 “POLICE GÉNÉRALE. PASSE-PORT POUR L’INTÉRIEUR.” It is the Interior Passport for gg-grandmother Catherine Cora Merle and her two children, a two-year old son, (great-granduncle Pierre Gustave Henri July), and an eight-month old daughter, (great-grandaunt Marie Amélia Blanche (née July) Poupon). It was issued in Bordeaux the 1st of February 1860 for travel to Gorée in Sénégal. Here is the link to the said page.

Eleven months later, great-grandmother Catherine Marie Antoinette (née Merle) July was born.

Check out my previous Postings regarding the research and search of my great-grandmother Marie. You can search for previous Postings by entering her name in “Search This Blog” in the right-hand column.

And thank you to Annie for your assistance.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 462s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Possible mtDNA J1b1 Subclade – Abraham, Castex, Charbonnier, Chevalier, Clergeau, Clopath, Emery, July, Merle, Olton, Rénier, Smith, Titus, Vogt…

Good Afternoon,

ZC just received news from Administration of the J-mtDNA Group at Family Tree DNA.

The classification of Haplogroup J could, based on the results, be restated as J1b1.

“I see that they have classified you as Haplogroup J, but based on a quick review of your HVR1/HVR2 results, I believe you should more properly be classified as J1b1 and thus I have moved you into that subgroup within the project.”

What does this mean to our genealogy and search?

From Wikipedia - “A Haplogroup is a group of similar haplotypes that share a common ancestor with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutation.”

The Subclade, J1b1 is “a term used to describe a subgroup of a subgenus or haplogroup.” (Wikipedia)

Here is an updated DNA Pedigree Chart, which does now include the tracing of the possible J1b1 mtDNA lineage.

See my Posts Part 456s, Part 450s, Part 449s, Part 448s, and Part 447s for my preceding discussion of our paternal grandmothers’ mtDNA.

To date our documented paper trail is to gg-grandmother Catherine Cora (née Merle) July who was born in France in 1836 and passed away in French Guiana in 1886. I do know the ggg-grandmother Jeanette Etienette (née Castex) Merle is also a part of this mtDNA lineage but I am yet to discover an physical evidence of her vital records.

The Cambridge Reference Sequence (CRS) differences for the HVR1 and HVR2 tests are, respectively: 16069T, 16126C, 16145A, 16172C, 16222T, 16261T, 16519C, and 73G, 242T, 263G, 295T, 315.1C, 462T, 489C. The inserted extract of the J1b1 subclade is from a paper by Mannis van Oven and Manfred Kayser.

To date the related surnames that I can include that may also be recipients (albeit owners) of this mtDNA classification include: Abraham, Castex, Charbonnier, Chevalier, Clergeau, Clopath, Emery, July, Merle, Olton, Rénier, Smith, Titus, Vogt. Please let me know if I have forgotten a surname which may also belong.

The following paragraph was found as an ancestry description of the J1b1 subclade.

J1b1: The mitochondrial haplogroup J contains several sub-lineages. The original haplogroup J originated in the Near East approximately 50,000 years ago. Within Europe, sub-lineages of haplogroup J have distinct and interesting distributions. Haplogroup J1b is found distributed in the Near East and southern Iberia, and may have been part of the original colonization wave of Neolithic settlers moving around the Mediterranean 6000 years ago or perhaps a lineage of Phoenician traders. Within haplogroup J1b, a derivative lineage haplogroup J1b1 has been found in Britain and another sub-lineage detected in Italy. Further research will better establish the relationship of these two geographically distant, yet evolutionarily related, haplogroups. Bryan Sykes in his Seven Daughters of Eve book named this mtDNA haplogroup Jasmine.

(See Charles Kerchner’s MtDNA Haplogroup Descriptions & Information Links).

That's it for now.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 459 – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Am I Bored? – Updates Today

Good Day,

And I still continue my Indenture Transcription Project in the research for the origins and ancestry of my ggg-grandfather James Smith. At times this process can become somewhat tedious if not “boring”, especially if there is no apparent glimmer of hint or clue. For this reason, and to feed my insatiable appetite for genealogy research I have some other concurrent family search projects ongoing.

• I’ve made headway with respects to a possible further location of Verdelais in the Department of Gironde in France following up on the ancestry of my gg-grandmother Catherine Cora (née Merle) July.
• I have found some possible connections and documentations to my family line of Castex in the 10-Year Tables with respect to my ggg-grandmother Jeanette Etienette (née Castex) Merle.
• The first YDNA results for my Robertson line have returned. And lo and behold there is an exact Robertson match in the preliminary results for the first set of 12 markers.
• Microfilms have arrived referencing my search for my Merrifield Line.
• Work continues in my transcription and translation project of the possible July Family documentations especially those from Sarlat in the Department of Dordogne in France.
• I have initiated a Family Tree DNA Family Finder study to complement the current Smith YDNA and Robertson et al mtDNA studies and results.
• I am investigating the mtDNA results referencing the Olton Smith et al lines.
• Of course, I continue with the Grenada Registers of Records Transcription Project in the search for the origins of my ggg-grandfather James Smith.
• And…

And when I do become really bored, there is… Oh and by the by, I am seeing a drastic increase in visitors to A Genealogy Hunt. The average number of visitors has increased up by 100% to at least 40 Visits per day. Not bad for a very small niche blog that doesn’t offering anything but my journal and muses of my thoughts and research.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 458m – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Merle Family Line – Verdelais, Gironde, France - Maybe?

Good Evening,

Today I’ve been working on a couple of branches of my Family Tree… which of course, proves how easily it is to get side-tracked in the realm of genealogy research.

I discovered a post-it note on my desk that had the word “Verdelais” on it. It was in my own hand-writing. My mind was taxed… I remembered that I had had written this at some point when I was doing some ancestry research of my July and Merle lines.

Using Google Maps, I discovered that Verdelais is about 43.7 km, 27 miles, south-east from Bordeaux in the Department of Gironde, in France.

I logged on to the Archives Départmentales, État civil de la Gironde. I decided to search out Verdelais and discovered two possible collections: Aubiac-et-Verdelais and Verdelais. The information provided

Informations: Histoire administrative : A la Révolution, la paroisse Saint-Maurice d'Aubiac et son annexe, Notre-Dame de Verdelais, forment la commune d'Aubiac-et-Verdelais. En 1890, Aubiac-et-Verdelais devient Verdelais.

Translated –

Information - Administrative history: During the Revolution, the parish of Saint-Maurice of Aubiac and its annex, Our Lady of Verdelais form the commune of Aubiac-and-Verdelais. In 1890, Aubiac-and-Verdelais becomes Verdelais.

The evidence provided online are the 10-Year Tables Registers with Marriage, Birth, and Death registrations. From what I can appreciate, after a quick perusal, is that there are a number of Merle-related documents. All-things-being-equal, and I can guarantee the facts as yet, but it would appear that there may be some connections to gg-grandmother Catherine Cora (née Merle) July’s paternal ancestors.

As I wrote on December 8, my number 10 Resolution was “Continue and organize my research of my July Family Line, into Sarlat, Dordogne, France.” This new information would be a continuation and sub-set of this Resolution. Now I have to get the Civil and Parish Registers of the Verdelais area in an attempt to see if my thought process may have some justification.

And I continue,

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 456s - Smith Robertson Genealogy - DNA Pedigree - New Ancestry Chart

Morning,

Last night I thought that I would reproduce an Ascendancy Chart which incorporates relevant and associated DNA information. There is so much that I need to learn, (self-imposed), regarding my genetic genealogy. A fair reference work, Genetic Genealogy, is available on Wikipedia.

In my work I thought that I would like to have a visual representation of genetic pedigree or my ancestry and bloodline. My Chart simply provides the YDNA - R1b1b2a, and mtDNA - H1a1 and J1b, Haplogroup designations of my ancestors.

Oxford Dictionaries defines bloodline as “a set of ancestors or line of descent of an important person.” My question, “Do you have to be an important person to have a bloodline?”, as according to Oxford Dictionaries. (I'll reserve my comments.)

I stumbled upon, in my research a website, Modern Software Experience, by Tamara Jones, which is right up my alley. Check out the page “What is genealogy?”

And thank you Megan Smolenyak for the brief moment of your time yesterday in Largo. Yes, I do have a triple whammy – The most common name in the English Language, Smith… The most common of European YDNA haplogroup – R1b1b2a, and one of the most common of mtDNA classifications – H1a1.

And so I continue to search for my most common, "important" person in my ancestry. Hah!

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 450s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Our mtDNA Results Lean To J1b

Afternoon,

Based on ZC’s present results, and the immediate differences results from the Cambridge Reference Sequence, (see Parts 448s and 449s), it may be possible to infer that the sequence may be classified as J1b. J1b is a subclade of the Haplogroup J.

I have highlighted the HVR1 results in the inserted 2004 Schematic Tree for European mtDNA Variation. This representation is from the thesis by Piia Serk, from the University of Tartu, in Estonia.

In my research of my genealogy and ancestry I am constantly “drilling-down” to locate more and more information. As discussed, my father’s maternal line mtDNA resulted in a J Haplogoup classification. This means that my father, Frederick Kenneth Lloyd Smith received his mtDNA from his mother, grandmother Jeanne Lucie Ernestine (née Abraham) Smith (and Mann). She received hers from her mother, my great-grandmother Catherine Marie Antoinette (née July) Abraham who in turn received hers from her mother, my great-great-grandmother Catherine Cora (née Merle) July.

My search and research, at presents stops at my great-great-great-grandmother Jeannette Etienette (née Castex) Merle. I have not found any information on my Castex line as I have not delved into those records as yet. All-things-being-equal those records and documents could begin in the vicinity of Bordeaux, in Gironde, France.

A geographic line of the passage of these J-mtDNA results would be from Bordeaux, France to Sénégal in West Africa, to Georgetown in British Guiana (now Guyana), to St. George, in Grenada. Other lines of transfer from Bordeaux to Sénégal, to Cayenne in French Guiana, to Paris and Brittany, France as well as from British Guiana to San Diego, in California, USA.

To date, the individuals in our Family Tree with the surnames who may be recipients of this J-mtDNA include: Abraham, Castex, Charbonnier, Chevalier, Clergeau, Clopath, Emery, July, Merle, Olton, Rénier, Smith, Titus, and Vogt.

Quite a bit to assimilate at one given time… but I’m getting there.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 449s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Grandmothers Abraham (J) and Goodey (H1a1) mtDNA Results

Morning,

It is amazing what information and data is available today online. At times I wonder if the "grey matter" between my ears will either explode or simply turn into mush... but I am enthralled at times at the amount, whether good or bad, is readily available and accessible. In my further research of my ancestors and the search for my genealogy I am continually trying to understand as much and everything that I possibly can.

With the good news, that my father's maternal mtDNA is classified as J, and whereas my own maternal mtDNA is documented as H1a1, I have determined to find out as much as I can about mtDNA. (Please be assured that I DO NOT account for all that I discover online and on the Internet as gospel truth.) The above-inserted image if a model of human migration based on Mitochondrial DNA from Familypedia.

Here is a question. How does the attributes of one’s grandmothers’ mtDNA influence a person’s makeup and being? My grandmothers were Jeanne Lucie Ernestine (née Abraham) Smith and Mann, J-mtDNA, and Madge (née Goodey) Robertson, H1a1-mtDNA.

Accordingly mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA spans 16,569 DNA building blocks. This represents just a fraction of the total DNA in cells. The mtDNA testing done Family Tree DNA, that is the three, HVR1, HVR2, and CR Reference Sequence tests, tests all 16569 Positions against the Cambridge Reference Sequence (CRS). The results of the each test are the recorded differences against the CRS. The CRS is NOT a record of the earliest human mtDNA. It appears to be the sequence conducted in the 1970s “of the mitochondrial genome of one individual of European descent” which is used as the comparative base point. (See Wikipedia – Cambridge Reference Sequence).

The immediate differences results from the Cambridge Reference Sequence are as follows:

For the Smith, Abraham, July, Merle, Castex line – J-mtDNA Haplogroup

HVR1 – 16069T; 16126C; 16145A; 16172C; 16222T; 16261T; and 16519C

HVR2 – 73G; 242T; 263G; 295T; 315.1C; 462T; and 489C

For the Smith, Robertson, Goodey, Crossley, Parker, Kendal line – H1a1-mtDNA Haplogroup

HVR1 – 16162G; 16209C; and 16519C

HVR2 – 73G; 263G; and 315.1C

CR – 750G; 1438G; 3010A; 4639C; 4769G; 6365C; 8860G; 10993A; and 15326G

This information and data can be somewhat prodigious to learn and absorb. The following YouTube clip from the National Geographic Genographic Project helps me to understand a wee bit of my J-mtDNA ancestry.



Regards, and enjoy the Super Bowl,

Jim

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Part 448s – Smith Genealogy – J-mtDNA Results Again - Castex, Merle, Clergeau, Rénier, Chevalier, Clopath, Charbonnier

Morning,

In the pursuit of our genealogy, the J-mtDNA results, following up on Part 447s , are critical in determining a possible match which could lead to the discovery of a most common ancestor. Of the FamilyTree DNA accessible and open records, ZC’s mt-DNA results matched 13 High Resolution (HVR1 + HVR2) sets.

To date we have received four responses. All-things-being-equal there could be an ancestor-in-common in any one of these four matches but the documentary and paper trails currently do not provide the clues. Still nine more returned replies are in the works… hopefully.

The following are ZC’s J-Haplogroup differences relative to the Cambridge Reference Sequence (CRS). These are the differences that are used to match to possible corresponding others. A match means a possible connection. Per FamilyTree DNA, "A match on HVR1 and HVR2 has a 50% chance of a common ancestor within twenty-eight generations. That is about 700 years."

The immediate differences results from the Cambridge Reference Sequence are as follows:

HVR1 – 16069T; 16126C; 16145A; 16172C; 16222T; 16261T; and 16519C


HVR2 – 73G; 242T; 263G; 295T; 315.1C; 462T; and 489C

Based on the current results, and our documentation and paper trail we are able to get back on our grandmother Jeanne Lucie Ernestine (née Abraham) Smith/Mann’s maternal line to her great-grandmother, our great-great-great-grandmother Jeannette Etienette (née Castex) Merle. That is about back to, give-or-take a couple of years, 1810. That’s Two Centuries… of paper trails. There’s still quite a bit of searching left to be done…

But in the mean-time we can add some additional family members to this pool of J-mtDNA results. Yann and his siblings are also direct descendants of great-great-grandmother Catherine Cora (née Merle) July. Their great-grandmother Marie Eugéne Berthe (née July) Clergeau and Rénier was a younger sister to my great-grandmother Catherine Marie Antoinette (née July) Abraham.

Based on the mtDNA theory and application daughters and their children should also carry the J-mtDNA. This will add surnames, from the connected families – Castex, Merle, Clergeau, Rénier, Chevalier, Clopath, and Charbonnier.

The list of surnames included in this J-mtDNA grouping now includes - Abraham, Castex, Charbonnier, Chevalier, Clergeau, Clopath, Emery, July, Merle, Olton, Rénier, Smith, Titus, and Vogt.

A lot of food for thought,

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 447s – Smith Genealogy – mtDNA Results – Olton, Smith, Abraham, July, Merle, Castex

Greetings,

Great news this morning, and thank you Miss Z.

Today we have another piece of our family puzzle in place. Grandmother Jeanne Lucie Ernestine (née Abraham) Smith (and Mann) identifies as Jasmine, one of the seven daughters of Eve. (See The Seven Daughters of Eve, 2001, by Bryan Sykes.)

In the search for the answers to our genealogy and ancestral origins, we have received notice that our Smith, Abraham, July, Merle, and Castex lines is of the J Haplogroup. This is the preliminary result of the mtDNA testing from Family Tree DNA.

From Eupedia.com, Haplogroup J originated in the Middle East 45,000 years (ago), making it one of the oldest mitochondrial haplogroups in Europe and the Middle East. During the Neolithic Era, that is, 8,000 to 10,000 years or so ago, this J Haplogroup, which appears to have been previously derived and lived in the Near East or Caucasus, may have been associated with the spread of farming and herding in Europe. (See Wikipedia.)

This news means that Zoë, Toni, David, Paul, Leigh, Julie, Andrew, Sophia, Rachel, Jeffrey, and Cailey all share the same mtDNA. My father Frederick Kenneth Lloyd Smith, my aunt Cécile Esme (née Smith) Olton, and their brother, my uncle, Desmond Lloyd Smith shared the same mtDNA as their mother, grandmother Jeanne Lucie Ernestine (née Abraham) Smith (and Mann). It is their maternal mitochondrial DNA.

Beginning with Grandmother Jeanne, I have constructed a quick ancestry of my grandmothers who all should have had the same mtDNA.

• Jeanne Lucie Ernestine (née Abraham) Smith/Mann – My grandmother – Born circa 1890, Georgetown, British Guiana; Died – circa 1967, Georgetown, British Guiana
• Catherine Marie Antoinette (née July) Abraham – My great-grandmother – Born 2 Jan, Île de Gorée, Sénégal; Died – 25 Jan 1940, San Diego, California, USA
• Catherine Cora (née Merle) July – My great-great-grandmother – Born 2 Nov 1836, Bordeaux, Gironde, France; Died – 13 Sep 1886, Cayenne, French Guiana
• Jeanette Etienette/Elinore (née Castex) Merle – My great-great-great-grandmother – Born – unknown, France; Died – unknown

Stay-tuned for more details and results as I receive them.

Enjoy,

Jim

Image of Jasmine from Disney's Aladdin (1992)

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My Tangent – Can Genealogy Be Somewhat Overwhelming?

Good afternoon from Tampa,

Last night I was asked the question, “Can genealogy be somewhat overwhelming?” And without missing a beat, I responded, “Yes.” But the secret is to keep organized… which of course does apply to any aspect and/or interest of one’s life.

And today I thought I would just jot down a quick list of those things and current projects that I am working on and pursuing in my genealogy.

1.  Search Engine Optimization – Per Wikipedia, “Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in search engines via the “natural” or un-paid (“organic” or “algorithmic”) search results.” In the evolution of SEO one such is the Top Listed Network. It had disappeared for a period of time and I have been trying to find out where it went or had my link been broken. Well, praise be, it returned yesterday, and I am once again a ranked site. You can link on to the Top Listed – Genealogy button on the left-hand column on any of A Genealogy Hunt’s pages.

In the meantime I have been attempting to set up a new SEO with Technorati. Technorati, according to Wikipedia, “is an Internet search engine for search blogs.” And I really have to get it through my thick skull that I have to read every step and instruction given. This isn't a model airplane.

2.  FHL Microfilms – I have near-completed my MS Access database of Family History Library microfilms and microfiche. To date, including the five new microfilms referencing my Merrifield search I ordered last night, I have entered 213. The database can be cross-referenced by various combinations including Surname, Country, Title, and Date(s). Now all I have to do is to find all the FHL pink-slip receipts hidden throughout this house.

3.  Sarlat, in Dordogne – July and Varigeau(d) Families – In my pursuit of my the research of my July and Vaurigeau family lines I discovered some more birth and burial registrations . I cannot guarantee that these 12 newly located Sarlat registrations are pertinent to my family genealogy but it is a find. The years involved are 1643 through 1670. I did discover that there are some periods of times missing in the copies of the recorded registers.

4.  In the area of DNA, both YDNA and mtDNA, I am awaiting the new FamilyTree DNA results to the Robertson (YDNA) and Smith (mtDNA) lines. Thanks to G and Z, it will be intriguing to see what marker-matches, (if any), surface.

5.  On Saturday, February 12th at the Largo Public Library, the Pinellas Genealogy Society is hosting a Seminar featuring Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak. One of her presentations is entitled “Trace Your Roots with DNA” which is also the title of one of the books she has authored.

6.  Smith Indenture Transcription Project – My new transcription work is an 1819 Indenture featuring Richard Oliver Smith, his deceased father William Smith, his two sisters Mary (née Smith) Lewis and Grace Smith, his mother Sarah Dean(e), and his purported-to-be wives Mary Broderip and Harriet, as well as other incidentally included persons. This next Document is a long one and has many pages. The Richard Oliver Descendant Chart provides a quick overview of who’s who.

7.  My subscription copy of the February/March issue of Internet Genealogy magazine arrived. I do like this magazine and the collection and diverse topics of the introductory use and effect of technology and the Internet to Genealogy. There is a good and preliminary article, "iPad and Your Genealogy Research!" by Tony Bandy. And speaking of iPads, I panicked last night and early this morning as I had mistakenly left my iPad at a location where I had been doing some research. In my concern and panic, I drove to find my errant iPad at the wee hour of 3:00 am. It was still there… and do you realize that there is NO traffic on the roads at that ungodly time of the day.

And I’m still keeping up with my 2011 Genealogy Resolutions… not yet overwhelmed.

Enjoy,

Jim

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