Since many Coates families also tie into this line, I wanted to pass this along. As a heads-up, the Jay Family Association (JFA) will be publishing an article in its upcoming April 2009 newsletter pertaining to the following. The article will also be posted on the Members Only Section of the website www.jayfamily.org . It will be moved to the public portion of the website in August 2009. *********************************************************************** !! DNA Confirms that Thomas JOY of Hingham, Massachusetts is not an Immigrant Ancestor to the JAY Family in America !! Recent DNA results have confirmed what experienced JAY family researchers have understood for many years, Thomas JOY of Hingham, Massachusetts (m. Joan Gallup), is not the immigrant ancestor of any of the known colonial JAY families in America. Both the JAY and JOY families in America started DNA projects several years ago and have been testing individuals in an effort to determine the origins and possible kinship of their specific lines. One of the goals was to determine if the JAY and the JOY families were actually related by a common ancestor. More specifically, the JAY DNA project was attempting to prove or disprove a relationship to Thomas JOY of Hingham, MA who migrated to America in 1635 and married Joan Gallup there. While testing will continue and more confirming data will be discovered over the upcoming years, it can now be unequivocally stated no JAY family in America descended from Thomas JOY of Hingham, MA. *********************************************************************** Additionally, the article will discuss and illustrate the 19th century books that were published about Thomas JOY and his descendants before extensive JAY family research began. It will also illustrate how his JOY surname was published for the first time as JAY in November 1928. If you are not a JFA member and have specific questions, you may email me directly entech.design@verizon.net . Vince King Immediate Past-President Jay Family Association www.jayfamily.org