Part 880sr – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Updated Y-DNA Results – Haplogroup R-CTS7822

Good Day,

I have been reclassified. My Smith Paternal Line is R-CTS7822.

This means that as a descendant of ggg-grandfather James Smith my Y-DNA has gone from one of the more-common to just a little less-more-common… And this includes all male descendants of this Smith line, including the Lloyd Smiths, the Malin Smiths, the Landreth Smiths, et al, that is, if you can trace your ancestry back to great-great-great James Smith of Grenada.

Most recently I had two more SNPs tested – CTS7822 and F2863 with Family Tree DNA. That’s Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, SNP, pronounced snip; plural snips. SNPs are the most common type of genetic variation among people.

One test, F2863 came back negative and the other, CTS7822 came back positive. My Haplogroup classification at Family Tree DNA and at National Geographic’s The Genographic Project has now been changed to R-CTS7822. This is an adjustment from the previous R-L23 and this has something to do with the mapping of the YSC0000072, even though Family Tree DNA has me tested as negative for this SNP.

And what does this mean? According to Geno 2.0 of The Genographic Project each person is assigned to a specific Haplogroup. The Haplogroup is my branch on the human family tree… People belonging to the same Haplogroup can trace their descent to a common ancestor and even a specific place where that ancestor may have lived.

I am 1 of 678,632 participants of The Genographic Project. Accordingly 0.8% of all participants in the Project are included in my paternal Haplogroup and that includes 5,429 participants. As the Y-DNA is passed from father to son to son this means, once again, that all of ggg-grandfather James Smith’s descendants are of the R-CTS7822 Paternal Line.

As a member of one of the Y-DNA projects, the Bristol Channel DNA Project, the current update includes the following members with the Surnames which have tested positive for the SNP CTS78222.  These include Bennett, Coat, Follis, French, Locke, Peed, Robinson, Seymour, and Smith.

One of the project members has been running an analysis on our STRs (Short Tandem Repeats) and has calculated/estimated that our MRCA (Most Recent Common Ancestor) for our grouping may have lived somewhere between 950 AD and 1200 AD. This time frame may be subject to refinement as more kits (albeit persons) join this specific Project.

There is still one hell of a lot that I need to learn and understand. I’m a bit farther along, but I have only scratched the surface of the information. Images and certificates are published by Family Tree DNA and National Geographic The Genographic Project.

Stay tuned.

And the mosquitoes are biting tonight. Have to get me some bay-rum for the itch.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 876sr – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Y-DNA Haplogroup R-L23 – Still Trying To Understand

Good Day,

Yes, I am still trying to understand my Y-DNA results. And it has been sometime since I have even touched my data and information.  My current and tested Haplogroup is R-L23 (R1b1a2a).

Here’s a quick rundown. According to Max Blankfeld of Family Tree DNA, there are 23 pairs of chromosomes: 22 pairs are what we call the autosomal or the recombining DNA. The 23rd pair is the sex gene. Paternity tests use the autosomal. Those are passed from both mother and father and "mixed" into the child, whether male or female. This mixture generates a new set of 22 pairs. This is the part of the DNA that a paternity test company uses.

The 23rd and final pair, the sex gene, is transmitted to the children. A male child receives X-Y, which is the father's Y-DNA and the mother's mtDNA, while a female child receive X-X, which means only the mtDNA from the mother. The Y received by the male son, is passed on to his son.  This son receives his mother's mtDNA, not the grandmother's. So, the Y-DNA goes down the line while the mtDNA does not, and the autosomal continues to be mixed as it progresses down and through the generations...

There are two different kinds of "transmissions" between the autosomal and the sex gene. Since the Y is transmitted from father to son, to grandson, to great-grandson....practically without mutations, this is the DNA that allows us to compare two males to find out if they descend from the same line.

A male child, and that includes me, receives my Y-DNA and that is the data that is revealed from my Y-sex gene, the part of me that I get from my father, Frederick Kenneth Lloyd Smith. This would mean that all the male Smiths, including the Lloyd Smiths, the Malin Smiths, the Landreth Smiths, et al, who are descended from great-great-great-grandfather James Smith all received the same Y-DNA.
The confirmed Haplogroup is R-L23; also written as R1b1a2a.

As you can see from the two ISOGG, 2010 and 2011, our R-L23 is the “Most common European R1b”.

There is a ton of work to go through and the study of genetics continues. Because my Smith Y-DNA is of the “most common European R1b”, and apart from having the most common name in the English language, I am continuing to investigate and delve into the testing. I have had some success and have been able to match 111 markers through Family Tree DNA to three/four other surnames: Ware; High/Robinson; and Seymour/Seymer.

I will carry on digging, and I mean drilling down, as tests continue to be added. Two outstanding tests are currently slated to be completed – CTS7822 and F2863. Theirs is still one hell of a lot for me to learn. Also I need to restart my search and research for the origins of our ggg-grandfather James Smith.

If you have any thoughts, ideas, questions, please feel free to contact me at A Genealogy Hunt.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 532s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – Smith FTDNA Y-DNA 111 – DYS Values Returned

Greetings,

The first set of the Smith DNA Y-Chromosome Segment (DYS) values have been returned. These are the results of the Smith Family Tree DNA Y-DNA 111 markers tests. I have included all results in the following listing. But in order to understand what you are looking at, I have found some definitions that may help.

Locus – A specific spot in the genome. A variable locus will have several possible alleles. (From Family Tree DNA)

DYS# – DNA Y-Chromosome Segment (DYS): A nomenclature system which assigns DYS numbers to numbers to newly discovered markers. They are the “names” of each marker. (From Family Tree DNA)

Alleles – One of the different forms of a gene that can exist at a single locus. Since mutations in the allele value occur very slowly with time, one should see the same allele value for a male and his great-grandfather for example. (From Family Tree DNA)

The theory and idea is that one should be able to compare one’s DYS values to other individuals to see how closely or distantly one may have shared a common ancestor. The more DYS markers’ alleles match between two individuals, with the same or variation of a similar surname, the greater the probability that the two individuals may share a common ancestor. (But of course, there could be a chance that the two individuals do NOT share a same surname due to some earlier incidence as adoption, name change, etc..)

The supposed example would be that as any immediate Smith male relative who shares the same common ancestor, great-great-great-grandfather James Smith, one would expect that anyone of them would have the similar allele results. And here are the 111 results.

Locus	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
DYS#	393	390	19	391	385a	385b	426	388	439	389-1	392	389-2
Alleles	12	24	14	11	11	15	12	12	12	13	13	29

Locus	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
DYS#	458	459a	459b	455	454	447	437	448	449	464a	464b	464c	464d
Alleles	17	9	9	11	11	24	16	19	30	14	15	17	17

Locus	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37
DYS#	460	GATA H4	YCA IIa	YCA IIb	456	607	576	570	CDYa	CDYb	442	438
Alleles	11	11	19	23	15	17	18	18	37	43	13	12

Locus	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47
DYS#	531	578	395S1a	395S1b	390	537	641	472	406S1	511
Alleles	11	9	15	16	8	11	10	8	10	11

Locus	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
DYS#	425	413a	413b	557	594	436	490	534	450	444	481	520	446
Alleles	12	23	23	16	10	12	12	14	8	12	22	20	13

Locus	61	62	63	64	65	66	67
DYS#	617	568	487	572	640	492	565
Alleles	12	11	13	12	11	12	12

Locus	68	69	70	71	72	73	74	75
DYS#	710	485	632	495	540	714	716	717
Alleles	34	16	9	16	12	25	26	19

Locus	76	77	78	79	80	82	83	84	85
DYS#	505	556	549	589	522	494	533	636	575	638
Alleles	12	11	12	12	10	9	12	12	10	11

Locus	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93
DYS#	462	452	445	GATA A10	463	441	GGAAT 1B07	525
Alleles	11	30	12	13	23	14	10	10

Locus	94	95	96	97	98	99	100	101	102
DYS#	712	593	650	532	715	504	513	561	552
Alleles	21	15	19	12	24	19	12	15	24

Locus	103	104	105	106	107	108	109	110	111
DYS#	726	635	587	643	497	510	434	461	435
Alleles	12	23	18	10	14	18	9	11	11

To date I have received notification from Family Tree DNA that there is two matches, Denny and Thomas Seymour whose results may match 63 of my 67 Markers, with a Genetic Distance of 3. This is a fairly close match and does present a great probability of a possible common ancestor. Interpreting the results this may mean that in 20 generations or somewhere in the vicinity of 400 years, or approximately 1611 we could realize a common ancestor.

Now in our case we have a Smith matching against a Seymour… Not possible you say? Most definitely possible. Someone changed the surname. Denny has traced his paternal line to a Richard Seymour who was born approximately 27 January 1605 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England. Per the research, Richard Seymour’s father was Robert Seymer who was born in the same location at about 30 November 1573. Further study has revealed that the surname may have also been written as Seamer and Semer. So bottom line, someone could have changed the name to Smith.

A Genetic Distance, as defined by Family Tree DNA - Genetic Distance 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. This is the meaning when comparing Y-chromosome DNA or mitochondrial DNA. This is the computed total, from what I understand of the differences be the alleles from two different test participants. In other word if my Smith Locus 94 of DYS #712 scored "20" and the Seymour's Locus 94 of DYS #712 scored "30", the difference between 20 and 30 is equal to a Genetic Difference of 10.

In the current matching, the case with our Smith and the Seymour participants, the Genetic Distance can be written to say that based on the results there is a greater than 99.41% chance that there may be a common ancestor at about 20 generations or around the year 1611, give or take a few years.

The results of the Smith Y-DNA 111 Markers are in. We are now just waiting for the results to the Seymour Y-DNA 111 testing. With the increased information we will be able to see what the Genetic Distance will be calculated.

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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My Tangent – Iditarod Dogs – My Genealogy Expectations

Morning,

And I have dogs that now think that they are pygmy goats. I wrote about getting pygmy goats and the need to control the kudzu vines in the yard, so they must have taken it to heart. The only thing is that they are not eating the kudzu vines.

They’re munching on the other type of plant that I planted a number of years back. I think everyone did. It's the type that grows tall and has pink and white and purple flowers and will take over a garden if you let it alone… That’s what they’re munching, or should I say grazing on. And the Rat Terriers, Tinker and Bella must have convinced Taylor, the chocolate Lab, that there is something good about the leaves of that specific plant, because she’s doing the same. Tobi, the yellow Lab just stares and sniffs at them in disbelief. So I now have dogs who think they are otters, cats, and pygmy goats... and critics.


So now, in the throes of the beginning of the holiday season, I’ve decided to train the Rat Terriers to pull a sleigh… a miniature sleigh that is… and maybe enter them into the Iditarod, or at least send them up to the North Pole. And Taylor’s wanting to know if I’m serious, cause she’ll help lick the stamps.

This morning I’ve decided to update my thoughts and expectations that I set out on October 30… I completed a full 10 and two-halves of the 18 that I had listed. I have made progress, and at least thought about the other six. So here’s a new updated list of my thoughts and expectations for the next couple of weeks.

1. Research - GG-Grandfather James Smith’s generation and documentation
2. Research – Check to see if I have Baptism entries for gg-granduncle George Smith; gg-grandaunts Sophia (née Smith) Ventour and Mary Ann (née Smith) Steele
3. Research - Check to see if I have Baptism entries for gg-granduncle George Smith; gg-grandaunts Sophia (née Smith) Ventour and Mary Ann (née Smith) Steele
4. Research – Complete review of Cayenne microfilms
5. Research – Continue review of July microfilms
6. Research – Finish transcription and translation of GG-Grandfather Jacques Brunhammer’s Birth Registration
7. DNA – Respond to latest work and effort regarding YDNA Smith-Seymour – Ht35A2 links
8. DNA – Understand my Smith/Robertson H mtDNA Project involvement and results
9. DNA – Receive Brunhammer/Doherty mtDNA results
10. Genealogy – Continue with organization of Smith/Robertson documentation into Clooz
11. Genealogy – Continue with new Brunhammer The Master Genealogist database
12. Genealogy – Complete GenoPro Descendant Charts for Scott, Abraham, and Crossley
13. Genealogy – Complete GenoPro Descendant Charts for Pierce, Sheridan, Holmes, and Gallagher
14. Genealogy – Complete GenoPro Descendant Charts for Buccino, Lewis, and Roy
15. Web Site – Begin a Dreamweaver learning program. Check out Lynda.com
16. Web Site – Read The Quick-and-Easy Web Site by Paula Peters
17. Web Site – Design initial menu screen
18. Blog – Discover ways to increase traffic
19. Quilts – Post 3 new Antique blends quilts
20. Quilts – Begin second stages of Turkish Mosaic and Klimt designs
21. Reading – Spend some time sorting through books in house, and find a couple to relax and read.

I think I need to do this just to make sure that I have something to do.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 63s - Could Smith Have Been Semare?

Morning,

Just finished 638 loads of laundry. All the clothes clean for another week. There are many doorways when one is searching for one's elusive ancestor... and here's definite food for thought.

I just got a "Y-DNA67 Test Match" notification from Family Tree DNA. It's the second 67 Marker, with a genetic distance of 3, that I've got. The message from Family Tree DNA reads "You and the other person(s) have matched in 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, or 67 loci. This means that there is a 99% likelihood you share a common ancestor in a genealogical time frame." (Loci is another word, from my understanding, for Marker.)

This Match is to a person who's test results are a part of the Family Tree DNA database, as are mine. I have highlighted the genetic differences in red, as reported at our Loci/Markers. Numbers 1 through 31 all match.

Seymour - (#32) = 18; (#34) = 36; (#35) = 42; (#58) = 23 -- (#s 59-67) = 20; 13; 12; 11; 13; 12; 11; 12; 12 Smith - (#32) = 18; (#34) = 37; (#35) = 43; (#58) = 22 -- (#s 59-67) = 20; 13; 12; 11; 13; 12; 11; 12; 12 Seymour - (#32) = 19; (#34) = 37; (#35) = 42; (#58) = 23 -- (#s 59-67) = 20; 13; 12; 11; 13; 12; 11; 12; 12

And believe it or not this is my SECOND 67 Marker match, with a genetic distance of 3. Both matches are to two gentlemen with the surname "Seymour". D was my first match, and now T. But here's the astounding part, from within the capacity of my minute brain, D and T are not necessarily "close cousins"... and from their match, they have a most recent common ancestor, which they have been able to prove with documentation. The Seymours have a genetic distance of 2 in their match.

If T follows back 11 generations or 310 years, and D, traces back 10 generations or 280 years they arrive at their most recent common ancestor. Their most recent common ancestor was one, Richard Seymour who died in 1655. Richard had four sons: John, Thomas, Richard, and Zachariah. D is descended from Richard's son John, and T is descended from Richard's son Thomas. Of the two other sons, Richard and Zachariah, Richard, based on readings, had male heirs while Zachariah had four daughters and no sons.

From the book, Puritan Migration to Connecticut by Malcolm Seymour, 1982, and per Denny

Based on this interpretation Richard Seymour's grandfather John Seymer (Semare) left a will on the "vij" [6th?] day of Oct 1605 and in this will refers to two sons, John and Peter, who where "beyond the seas" [#2 - p25] if either were pressed into naval or private service and jumped ship in the Caribbean. A name change would be understandable.

Most definitely something to chew about. A publication, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1917, Volume LXXI published by The New England Historical Genealogical Society, Boston, Page 105, Editor Henry Edwards Scott, proves interesting reading. Also, check Seymour Wiki which provides an in depth and detailed history of the Seymour genealogy.

All-things-being-equal, in the search for the origins of ggg-grandfather James Smith I will continue to explore and research all possible angles. Hopefully something or some small clue may provide that one clue or "directional arrow" that we're all hoping to stumble upon.

Thank you Daphne for the additions to the transcription of Part 61s.

I've made your catches directly to the transcription - 1. Page 502; 2nd-to-last sentence - "...terms of her natural life subject". 2. Page 503; line 12 - "...presently in the tenure or occupation of Thomas McEwen". I certainly appreciate your comments.

And the search keeps on,

Enjoy,

Jim

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