<< Our Carpenter Cousins Y-DNA Project has proven that the two William Carpenters that came to America in 1635 and 1638 were closely related. It is not known if they were first cousins, second cousins or what. Their descedant Y-DNA markers match 24/25. >> Given the relative proximity in Wiltshire of Amesbury and Shalbourne, the respective homes of William of Providence (he did NOT come with the Arnolds in 1635) and William of Rehoboth, it's not surprising that they are related. But to say that the DNA project has proven them to be "closely" related is an overstatement. The limitations of the DNA test are such that only a broad inference can be made as to the interval--perhaps several hundred years--between the immigrant Williams and their nearest, common Carpenter ancestor. Gene Z.

Gene wrote: > But to say that the DNA project has proven them to be "closely" related is an > overstatement. The limitations of the DNA test are such that only a broad > inference can be made as to the interval--perhaps several hundred years--between > the immigrant Williams and their nearest, common Carpenter ancestor. Gene is correct. Mathematically, the best guess at the interval would be 8 generations, but the range of plausible values goes from 2 to 50 generations (based solely on the DNA comparison). Actually, 1 generation is also *possible*, but is very unlikely, based on the DNA alone. The shared surname obviously favors the low end of that range, but it's wise to keep in mind that the 2-generation interval (i.e., 1st cousins) is just at the limit of being plausible. John Chandler