This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: tunnelm1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.davidson/1222.1237.1238.1.1.1.3.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Sorry, but it has to be a "male Davidson" (the Y chromosome DNA is passed down from "great-grandfather Davidson" to "grandfather Davidson" to "father Davidson" to "son Davidson," etc. Females will not "work," and neither will males who are only related to the Davidsons, but who are themselves not Davidsons. The guy that I "found" at the library in Richmond, VA (who "traces back" to your Robert Davidson) was a "male Davidson," and he was even a part-time professional/paid genealogist. It is disappointing that he did not take my advice and join the DNA test (but not everyone is willing to spend the $190 for the 37 marker test...despite having to pay that only "once in a lifetime"....and despite the "proof" that can only be obtained, in many cases (like this one, apparently) from such a test). I doubt that there is any documentation left to be read, and yet no one is POSITIVE that "your" Robert Davidson was from the same overall family as General William Lee Davidson. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.