Part 926s – New Autosomal DNA Results – CRI Genetics

Good Day,

Well my results are in. That is, the results of my Autosomal DNA testing from CRI Genetics.

The breakdown provided by CRI Genetics fit into 5 main area categories. I've added the "Unassigned" area category to make sure that there is a sum total of 100%. These are

• European
• South Asian
• AdMixed American
• East Asian
• African
• Unassigned (to add up to 100%)

• 86.2%
• 6.5%
• 4.5%
• 1.7%
• 0.9%
• 0.2%

I have now had my Autosomal DNA testing done by the following companies. (These are not in any specific order.)

1. Family Tree DNA

2. Ancestry

3. 23andMe

4. Living DNA

5. My Heritage

6. National Geographic Geno 2.0

7. CRI Genetics

I have attempted to breakdown the results and tried to lump similar area categories together. As you can see from the Comparative Chart there are some similarities in test results, based on the way each company focuses with their testing procedures. But there are also some differences.

The International Society of Genetic Genealogy provides a very good company to company comparison for 4 of the organizations that provide Autosomal testing. The two (2) that are not included are Living DNA and CRI Genetics.

And as I have always said, genealogy is not necessarily only taking the details of one Autosomal DNA test. It is the search and research into the sources of documentation and family history that can lead one back into the resources of their ancestors.

Autosomal DNA testing is a tool that can assist. It is NOT the definite answer as to who you are descended from.

If you have any question about testing either your Y-DNA, mtDNA, or Autosomal DNA, please make sure that you research and decide which type of testing is the one that you should get. Do not be swayed by the slick advertisements.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 923 - Autosomal DNA is NOT Necessarily Genealogy

Good Day,

I read a very good and concise article recently, posted at NJ.com dated November 2, 2018 by David Klein - "One genealogist's impressions of Ancestry DNA's testing service".

"First, based on what I know about my family, the ethnicity percentages are way off. Please notice I didn't say they were wrong; they might not be. I know that these figures are based on probability and subject to change, but my numbers are skewed more Irish (and British even though I don't know of any British ancestors) and less Italian than what I expected. Suffice it to say I'm more than a bit skeptical about these numbers."

I am a very strong proponent of DNA testing, for the purposes of genealogy. And I can say that I personally am not using DNA testing to find immediate relatives. I am more concerned in learning and discovering about my ancestry.

The corporate tendencies of the larger ancestry, albeit companies and their marketing schemes appear to be a consistent tendency to increase the firm's bottom line.

That being said, and as I volunteer to assist persons to delve into their pasts, I have tested my Y-DNA, mtDNA, and Autosomal DNA. My purpose, is to maintain a comparison of, especially Autosomal DNA results, and to keep abreast of the the plethora of companies in the market. Having tested with this many companies also assists me when helping someone with their family history search and research.

To date I have tested with Family Tree DNA; Ancestry; 23andMe; Living DNA; My Heritage; and National Geographic Geno 2.0. I am currently awaiting the results of CRIGenetics.

Here is a comparative schedule of my test results.

If you have any question about testing either your Y-DNA, mtDNA, or Autosomal DNA, please make sure that you research and decide which type of testing is the one that you should get. Do not be swayed by the slick advertisements.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 821r – Smith Robertson Genealogy – My Robertson Maternal Line – H1a1a1

Good Day,

When I first had my mtDNA tested, that is my Maternal Line DNA, I was presented, from Family Tree DNA, with the results that I was H1a.

Today both The Genographic Project and Family Tree DNA results have increased to H1a1a1. Based on the data provided, my mtDNA follows –

Root L3 -> N -> R -> RO -> Branch HV -> H -> H1 -> H1a -> H1a1 -> H1a1a -> H1a1a1

From Family Tree DNA -

H1 – H1 is the most common branch of haplogroup H. It represents 30% of people in haplogroup H, and 46% of the maternal lineages in Iberia. (Iberia is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal, and Andorra. – From Wikipedia) 13-14% of all Europeans belong to this branch, and H1 is about 13,000 years old.

H1a – H1a is a branch of H1. Further research will better resolve the distribution and historical characteristics of this haplogroup.

My Maternal Line, to my 7-times great-grandmother Mary (née Whittaker) Tasker, is –

Robertson -> Goodey -> Crossley -> Parker -> Kendal -> Tasker -> Whittaker
The following is the Evolutionary tree of Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups.) It begins with Mitochondrial Eve.

From PhyloTree.org, I have included a clipped portion of the comprehensive phylogenetic tree of my portion of the global human mitochondrial DNA variation.

Citation - van Oven M, Kayser M. 2009. Updated comprehensive phylogenetic tree of global human mitochondrial DNA variation. Hum Mutat 30(2):E386-E394. http://www.phylotree.org. doi:10.1002/humu.20921
From my beginning posting of my mtDNA almost four years ago in 2009, much research and information has increased substantially. (See November 9, 2009.) The information regarding mtDNA is amazing, fantastic, confusing, and, at-times, beyond my comprehension… but I will continue to learn and try to understand.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 819s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – The Genographic Project 2.0 – Hominid Ancestry

Good Day,

Based on The Genographic Project 2.0 and my results, and if I understand this correctly, I am 94.6% - Homo sapiens, 2.6% - Neanderthal, and 2.8% - Denisovan. All three, according to one theory are descended from the ancient human Homo heidelbergensis. And this is conjecture…

From The Genographic Project “By comparing the genomes of apes, Denisovans, Neanderthals, and modern humans scientists hope to identify DNA segments unique to the different groups.”

From the DNA Learning Center I have inserted the Human Origins Family Tree presented.

This presentation does not include the Denisova hominins classification. According to Wikipedia, "this was a previously an unknown species. In March of 2010, scientists announced the discovery of a finger bone fragment..."

And the search and learning continues...

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 818b – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – The Genographic Project 2.0 Results Are In

Good Day,

The pursuit and search of one’s genealogy and ancestry today is availed many, many different tools and methodologies. One such new tool is The Genographic Project 2.0. As I mentioned in my previous Post, Part 817s, I, we are just beginning to plow through the information and details.

Andy has also agreed to participate. The interest is to check out the possible results of his Brunhammer and Doherty genealogy and deep ancestry. His “Who Am I?” results are back.

The information is determined from his entire genome; Andy’s complete set of genetic material, and provide results of both parents’ information. Six generations from both parents are apparent. You can see that Andy’s result breakdown is of three of the nine world regions. The three are: Northern European – 45%; Mediterranean – 36%; and Southwest Asian – 19%. The total is 100%.

Andy’s DNA results, which should be very similar for all his sisters and brothers, are determined in terms of genetic markers that all Brunhammer siblings carry. This is a mixture of both recent (past six generations) and ancient patterns established over thousands of years.

Andy’s first Reference Population is British, of the United Kingdom.

His second Reference Population is German.

Included in Andy’s results is his Hominid Ancestry. (Hominid is a primate of the family Hominidae, of which Homo sapiens, us, is the only surviving species.) These are based from about 60,000 years ago. The results are pertinent to deep, deep ancestry. From The Genographic Project “A 2011 study by Stanford University researchers concluded that many of us carry ancient variants of immune system genes involved in destroying pathogens that arose after we left Africa.”

The overall outcomes are the combination of genes, based on one theory, that Neanderthals, Denisovans, and modern human beings are all descended from the ancient human Homo heiderlbergensis. I definitely need to read more regarding this information.

Stay tuned for more… and enjoy,

Jim

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Part 817s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – The Genographic Project 2.0 Results Returned

Good Day,

In my course of search and research of my own genealogy and ancestry I am always checking all possible avenues. My results of The Genographic Project 2.0 have returned. There’s a ton of information I’ve got to wade through and I will be posting my observations and my questions as I progress on A Genealogy Hunt.

In the category “Who Am I?” the above are my results. Accordingly this information is determined from my entire genome, and per the study results, both parents’ information, going back six generations is observable.

As you can see my results break down as follows: North European – 39%; Mediterranean – 37%; Southwest Asian – 19%; and Sub-Saharan African – 4%. Per the information provided The Genographic Project 2.0 can display one’s affiliations with a set of nine world regions. (I will have to find out whether I am excluded from the other five regions.)

My DNA results are compared to the reference populations currently in The Genographic Project database and estimated which of these are the most similar to me in terms of genetic markers that I carry. This is a mixture of both recent (past six generations) and ancient patterns established over thousands of years.

My first Reference Population is German.

My second Reference Population is Tuscan (Italy).

As you can see the designations are based on similar percentages.

And that’s it for this Post. I have a lot of reading to do… as well as, my grey matter is definitely going to have to learn and understand what the hell it all means. My immediate question is "As The Geneographic Project database increases in size, will I see any significant change"? Presently over 559 thousand people have participated.

Stay tuned and enjoy,

Jim

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Part 555rs – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Updated YDNA and mtDNA Ancestor Chart – Tasker and Whittaker Added

Morning,

The discovery of my gggg-grandmother Isabella (née Tasker) Kendal’s maiden name, and her parents, my gggggg-grandparents John and Mary (née Whittaker) Kendal of Sawley in Yorkshire, England begins another expansion of the information to my critical mtDNA line. Now I can state, based on the current data and information, my maternal mtDNA line is:

me: Smith → Robertson → Goodey → Crossley → Parker → Kendal → Tasker → Whittaker

The earliest ancestor on my mtDNA line, that I have thus far located, is my gggg-grandmother Mary (née Whittaker) Tasker who was born circa 1750, give or take a year or two. (I’m hot on that trail right now.)

Here is my newly updated Smith YDNA and mtDNA Ascendancy Chart.

This is pretty slick. My mtDNA result is H1a1. The following surnames can also be added to this sequence.

Elder → Robertson → Goodey → Crossley → Parker → Kendal → Tasker → Whittaker

Pecht → Elder → Robertson → Goodey → Crossley → Parker → Kendal → Tasker → Whittaker

Hartman → Pecht → Elder → Robertson → Goodey → Crossley → Parker → Kendal → Tasker → Whittaker

Allen → Robertson → Goodey → Crossley → Parker → Kendal → Tasker → Whittaker

Gatchell → Allen → Robertson → Goodey → Crossley → Parker → Kendal → Tasker → Whittaker

Vernon → Robertson → Goodey → Crossley → Parker → Kendal → Tasker → Whittaker

Stevens → Robertson → Goodey → Crossley → Parker → Kendal → Tasker → Whittaker

Smith → Robertson → Goodey → Crossley → Parker → Kendal → Tasker → Whittaker

McNeice → Smith → Robertson → Goodey → Crossley → Parker → Kendal → Tasker → Whittaker

I may have missed some of the more recent surnames, my apologies. Please feel free to contact me with the new and overlooked additions... and if you have questions.

The above inserted map is the Family Tree DNA mtDNA migration routes.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 537rs - Smith Robertson Genealogy – Updated DNA Haplogroup Ascendancy Chart

Good Morning,

And a very wet good morning… without air-conditioning good morning to all. The positive thing is that it is overcast and should remain this way all day, and so I cannot complain… much.

With the release of the new Deep Clade results of our Robertson Y-DNA, I have updated the Smith YDNA and mtDNA Ascendancy Chart.

Please note that the close results between the Smith and the Robertson YDNA Haplogroup classifications. Interesting, if I say so myself.

If you have questions and ideas please feel free to contact me.

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 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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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 475 – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – New YDNA and mtDNA Ascendancy Chart

Afternoon,

Updating my records and the information that I have on file, I have created a Brunhammer YDNA and mtDNA Ascendancy Chart. The Chart ends, (that is, at the bottom of the Chart), with Andy Brunhammer. As you can see his YDNA and mtDNA Haplogroups are I2a2 and X2e1a1, respectively.

If you are a male Brunhammer or Brunhamer and are descended from J (Jacques) Brunhammer and M (Marie) née Katz, the original Brunhammer immigrants to United States, who arrived at Philadelphia in 1875 and 1876, respectively, your Haplogroup coding and results should be the same; I2a2.

Based on the theory and the genetic results all male Bruhammers, Brunhammers, and Brunhammers descended from Joannes Conradus Bruhammer, who was born about 1704, should all have the same or near to the same YDNA result. Joannes Conradus Bruhammer was Andy’s 6-times great-grandfather. That also is a total of nine generations.

Based on the rarity of the Haplogroup coding, we have discovered that there is a possibility that 6-times great-grandfather Joannes Conradus Bruhammer, or at least his previous ancestors may have been from Dalmatia. Today Dalmatia is mostly in Croatia, with some parts in Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Montenegro. (See Wikipedia.)

Andy’s mtDNA Haplogroup, which he received from his maternal Doherty line, is X2e1a1. All of Andy’s brothers and sisters should have the same mtDNA results. This mtDNA information is passed to all their daughters and sons, but it is only the daughters who pass it on. He received his mtDNA from his mother Myrtle Francis Gertrude (née Doherty) Brunhammer who received hers from her mother Myrtle H. (née Holmes) Doherty. This continues back from mother to daughter to daughter, and in this case back, based on our records, to Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes.

Tracing back this information from the Haplogroup, it is possible that Andy’s maternal lineage may have come, at some point in time, from Altai in Southern Siberia. Today the Altai Republic is a part of Russia. (See Wikipedia.)

All testing has been done by Family Tree DNA. If you have any questions or comments please feel free.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 474 - Smith Robertson Genealogy - YDNA and mtDNA Updates

Morning,

As I have mentioned and written before we are collecting the results of YDNA and mtDNA testing. The testing, conducted through Family Tree DNA, provides us with another vehicle and possibility in the search of our genealogy and ancestry. If anyone is interested please feel free to get in touch with me for further details.

All-things-being-equal, we now have the possible tests results that would assist in determining the mtDNA of Aunt Cécile Esme (née Smith) Olton and her mother, Grandmother Jeanne Lucie Ernestine (née Abraham) Smith, then Mann. All of their mothers and grandmothers in this maternal line should have the same mtDNA results. The predicted and possible Haplogroup is J1b1. Thank you Z.

The first series of YDNA test results are now in for our Robertson line which include Uncles John, Stuart, Jimmy, and Malcolm and their father, grandfather Frederick Henry Robertson. Theoretically, and based on the scientific know-how, this will include all our Robertson grandfathers and sons. Loci 1-37 and 48-67 are back. We’re still waiting the pending lab results for Loci 38-47. The predicted Haplogroup is R1b1a2. Thanks G.

My Smith confirmed Haplogroup is R1b1a2a*. Per the readings and model I understand that this includes all males descended from ggg-grandfather James Smith. This includes every son, that I am currently aware, of the Smiths, Lloydsmiths, Lloyd-Smiths, Malins-Smiths, and Landreth-Smiths. Check out the Haplogroup results of both the Smiths and the Robertsons. Also I have been recently accepted for the new “Walk Through The Y” test. Stay tune for the details and early results.

My maternal Haplogroup, the mtDNA results, is H1a1. This result applies to all Robertson sisters and the daughters and sons. It all applies to our maternal line – Robertson, Goodey, Crossley, Parker, and Kendal.

The Family Finder test results are due in April. Together with the YDNA and the mtDNA tests, the Family Finder Test is supposed to help find family across all lines. Who knows? Stay-tuned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 465sr – Smith Robertson Genealogy – How Common Is Common?

Good day,



From time-to-time and as I get new DNA information, I try to contact anyone who has been reported to me by Family Tree DNA as a possible genetic Match. This is just in case that there may be a chance of some connection hiding on some limb on some branch in my ever-growing Family Tree.

The Matches, in the search for my genealogy and ancestry, that I attempt to contact in order to explore the possibility of finding a “Most Common Ancestor” are usually at the upper scales of the provided results. This means that if there is a reported Match for my YDNA results, I will try to get in touch with those who are matched at the 25 Marker or more levels. The other criteria are that the Match should have no more than a Genetic Distance of 3. There is a fair write-up of a definition of Genetic distance available at Wikipedia.

To date the best two Matches have been at the 67 Marker level where our YDNA has a Genetic Distance of 3. This means that we match at least 64 of 67 Markers. It also means that there is about a 97.01% probability that within 16 generations there may be a shared common ancestor. The surname of both these Matches is “Seymour”. We also know that prior to “Seymour” the preceding surname may have been “Semer”. I suppose at anytime our ancestors could have changed their surname to "Smith"... We certainly do it today.

Today we know that the surnames, or derivative surnames, that have originated from our ggg-grandparents James and Mary Ann (née Doret) Smith include: Smith; Lloydsmith; Lloyd-Smith; Malins-Smith; and Landreth-Smith. (And I am not including the varying use of upper- and lower-case letters.) I am recording every possible descendant derivation as may find. One thing, based on the scientific data, all males descended from ggg-grandfather James Smith will all have the same YDNA result – R1b1b2a.

As you can see from the Ancestry DNA chart that I created in Part 464rs, I have been able to collect the YDNA and mtDNA of all my immediate paternal and maternal grandparents. Paternal line – Smith >YDNA = R1b1b2a; Abraham et al >mtDNA = J1b1. Maternal line – Robertson > YDNA = R1b1b1*; Robertson et al > H1a1.

The issue is, I have the most common name in the English language – Jim Smith. Also the surname Robertson is not necessarily uncommon. I also have three of the most common of European DNA Haplogroupings possible – R1b1b2a; R1b1b1*; and H1a1. This of course opens the “flood gates” for me to have to sift through the numbers of records of results that to date have been produced.

Apart from all the research that I am currently now doing, I have been following a possible lead with a Smith line from Logie, Scotland, who were also in Grenada. I have not been able to connect to the Smiths in 1760’s to 1781’s generation but there is “a possible and logical leap”. As the time goes, I am trying to research as to whether the James Smith, who was born 19 April 1767 and subsequently died in Grenada in about 1796/7, could have possibly been my ggg-grandfather James Smith’s father. But the gap does exist and am yet to find the bridge. You can see a Descendant Chart of the Smiths of Logie, Scotland at this link.

So in my search and research, I ask the question “How common is common?”

Regards,

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 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 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

TSFQJEUYXD8D

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My Tangent – And Today I Ponder – Genealogy Resolutions

Afternoon,

This morning my head has been is some sort of cloud, trying to thaw out… and trying to decide what is it that I need to get done in my showground and the realm of research of my genealogy. And the 1924 Austin Cooper poster from the London Transport Museum may not have been talking about Florida, but it certainly is apropos to today’s weather.

Here are is my list set to type, which of course may turn into my New Year’s Resolutions.

1. Continue with the search and research of the origins of my ggg-grandfather James Smith from/to Grenada.
2. Populate a database of microfilms and microfiche that I have reviewed.
3. Find an iPad Application which will provide an extract of the data included in Number 2.
4. Update my Legacy Family database.
5. Update my Robertson Family Descendancy Chart to include cross-references to Robertson-related Postings.
6. Gather and organize my Robertson Family details and documentation.
7. Research and discover definitive ancestral lines of my ggg-grandmother Elizabeth (née Kendal) Parker.
8. Try to learn and understand the theory and pathing of my mtDNA results of H1a1: Smith to Robertson to Goodey to Crossley to Parker to Kendal to ?
9. Understand the scope of y-search.org which results in two 64-to-67 yDNA marker matches. My User ID is CJY7M.
10. Continue and organize my research of my July Family line, into Sarlat, Dordogne, France.
11. Solve the mystery of gggg-grandparents Joseph and Sarah (née Pudney) Goodey.
12. Resolve the Robertson/Raymond conundrum.
13. Commit myself to the development of the viable A Genealogy Hunt website.
14. Commit myself to complete at least 5 of my 22 remaining National Institute For Genealogical Studies courses. I have already completed 32.
15. Plus...

Enjoy,

Jim

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