This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Coonrod, Conrad Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/RkJ.2ACIB/206.1.1 Message Board Post: I have long believed we are of Swiss descent rather than German as some have assumed but have not found the "proof" yet. It is very possible they could have been in Maryland prior to going to Virginia and I suspect some connection to the Woolery Coonrod family which is why I inquired about a DNA project. My research indicates we are descendants of Peter Coonrod, b. bef 1755 who married Catherine Brakefield b. bef 1755 (daughter of Isaac Brakefield, documented from Switzerland). We do not know if Peter Coonrod was born in America or if he came here as a child. We do track them from Augusta Co., VA in 1770; 1773 to Botetourt Co., VA 1775; 1779; 1782; 1784 to Chester County SC 1787; 1790;1793; 1794; 1784; 1800; 1810; 1820; 1821; Jun 29 1827. We know Peter died before 1 Nov 1827 when Catherine is listed as widow of Peter Coonrod in a land deed. There is a cemetery in Chester Co. SC with small side by side headstones marked P.C. and K.C. which we believe to be Peter Coonrod and Catherine Coonrod. We believe our Joseph Coonrod b. abt 1795 Chester Co., SC, to be the son of Peter Coonrod and Catherine Brakefield. (Some have theorized he could be the grandson of Peter but I believe he was a son). He married Hester (aka Hetty) (Maiden name unknown). We know Joseph was in Chester Co., SC in 1800; 1810; 1820; 1827; 1830; 1833; 1840; his last child born 1845 in Chester Co. SC. The family began migrating to Jackson Co. Fl by 1847 but we have found no record that Joseph went to Fl with the family and do not know if he died before, while migrating, after arriving or what may have happen to him. Hester is found in Jackson Co. FL on the 1850 & 1860 Census with all of the known children present with the exception of one married daughter who was still in Chester Co., SC but soon followed with her husband and his family. We do not know when Hester died. The 1870 census is missing for that part of Jackson Co. so we do not know if she died before then or not. She is not found ! in the 1880 Jackson Co., FL Census. There are many male descendants if anyone is interested in starting a DNA project I am sure some of them would be very interested but time is important as advanced age is a factor.