The RAINES Families of Great Britian DNA Project is pleased to announce its latest findings: DNA testing has confirmed that that there were two genetically distinct RAINS/RAINES family groups in Kettering, Northamptonshire during the 18th & 19th centuries. One group documents its most distant ancestor to Thomas RAINES, born circa 1738 (in Northamptonshire?). The second family group documents its most distant ancestor to be Benjamin RHINES, born circa 1770, place unknown. Genetic testing has confirmed that they could not have had a common ancestor in the last 1000 years. The more remarkable finding however is that the DNA testing for a descendant of Benjamin Rhines of Kettering, born circa 1770, has shown a 25 marker match to a descendant of John RAINE, born circa 1540 in Romaldkirk, County Durham. DNA testing suggests that the living descendants of John RAINE & of Benjamin Rhines, who participated in the DNA Project, have a 98% probability of sharing a common ancestor within the last 400 years. This means that some of the RAINES/RAINS/RHINES families that dwelt in Northamptonshire, and particularly in Kettering, probably originated from the Romaldkirk area. These findings would most probably have never come to light through conventional "paper trail" genealogy and show the power of this 21st century tool that is now at our disposal. More information about the RAINES Families of Great Britian DNA Project can be found here: http://www.familytreedna.com/ The project is open to any male who shares the name RAINES (or a derivative) who believes his ancestors originated in Great Britian. Malcolm Rains Project Administrator