In a message dated 6/29/2005 12:41:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, MMer875325@aol.com writes: Thanks SO much for your information. I really appreciate it. Are you a relative of this Bowles family? Laurine Bowles Mercier My Bowles family settled in another area of NC. My line and the Stokes Co. line have both submitted samples to the Bowles DNA project. My line matched with the Stokes Co. line on 12 markers, but not on the extended 25 marker test. That means we may be connected but our connection would go back several hundred years -- probably into the 1500s or so. So, the answer to your question is, based on these two DNA samples, I am not a recent relative of this Bowles family. Garrett Bowles, who posted his email address to the list yesterday (_gbowles1@san.rr.com_ (mailto:gbowles1@san.rr.com) ) will be an excellent resource for your line, I think. If you find your connection back to the Stokes Co. NC line, please post that information to the list. Take care, Brenda