Find a previously unknown relative, and fast in 2005! With DNA testing I have been able to go beyond my Great-Grandfather John T. Carpenter to his father Joseph Carpenter and then his grandfather Christian "CZ" Carpenter. Christian’s father or Uncle is Hans Zimmerman who was born in Steffisburg, Bern, Switzerland in 1702 and died on 10 June 1794 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. What makes this connection so strong is that Christian and Hans lived in the same general area in North Carolina. Also, there are many other reasons to believe that they were related. Going beyond these ancestors, however, is going into unproven territory. Yet some authors and fellow Internet Genealogy Researchers have provided some strong leads and possibilities that could lead one further. Namely that Hans (born in 1702) Zimmerman’s father was Peter Zimmerman, born 23 August 1668. This Peter was also born in Steffisburg. Peter’s parents were Hans Zimmerman born on 7 December 1635, and Barbara Gilgan, both born in Steffisburg. Next came Hans’ parents, Christian Zimmerman born 26 February 1609 and Anna Buoss, both born in Steffisburg. Finally, there is Niclaus Zimmerman, born in 1575 and Margaret Püntlisperg, and they also were reported to be born in Steffisburg. Any comments on the above ancestral line would be very helpful. Also, if you possibly fit somewhere in the above Ancestral Line and have documentation to prove it, but are unable to verify the next ancestor. DNA testing may just provide you with the proof necessary to make this connection. Look at it this way, a group of say ten or twelve individuals have proven their ancestry back to say the early 1700's and suspect others with similar names living in the same general areas, or came to the U.S. from the same areas, are also relatives. But they are unable to prove that connection. If these same ten or twelve were to have their DNA tested, the results WOULD prove or disprove this possible connection. Just think where you could be in your research if only five or six people followed up with DNA testing. May you have a Happy New Year! Cousin Bob Carpenter