I've done a bit of study on the genetic connections among McConnaughey, Duncan & Ashley From what I've been able to assess, the most recent connection is between Ashley & Duncan, and this may have occurred on the side of the pond. That's not totally definitive, but there is I believe an exact match with one Duncan and one Ashley -- I believe this is what that Mr. Duncan told me. I'm not certain how many markers, however. The genetic distance between McC & Duncan and McC & Ashley are far enough apart that our relatedness would go back to a common progenitor probably no more recently than at least 300 years or more, and likely more. Our McCs have been in this country for about 257 years (were in Ulster probably 100 years previous to immigration), Scotland previous to the Ulster Plantation, and if the M222 business correct progenitors in Ireland previous to Scotland. Our test subject is 7th generation here and was born in 1939. I have found absolutely no Duncan or Ashley connections with- in any of the McC of the surname, allied, or collateral families I know for certain were/are tied to ours. This isn't to say that there isn't one with a family I don't know about or if it happened in recent years among families which are not documented because of dispersal, years and distance. The close matches of our McCs with Duncan suggest that those Duncan & our McCs had a common progenitor in Scotland, and I suspect one connection goes back to Isle of Bute. That said, there are older possibilities as well. If I am not mistaken, Ashley were from English stock. Connection with Duncan could possibly go back to England if a Duncan migrated there and some did during the potato famine years. Most of the Duncan matches are showing many of those Duncan descending from or related in some manner to Duncan that were on this side of the pond early 1700's (before the potato famine) and before our McC's. It isn't a finite thing, however because no one really knows where the connection is. The connection could come from relatives of relatives who may not have even known they were related that no one knows about. As a wise sage BH has suggested, Genetics cannot make a lineage -- it can only show genetic relatedness *but will not tell us who or necessarily what the relationship, when, where or how. *Yes, James McC was the oldest son of David & Jane Platt McC. He has an estimated birth year of about 1745/7, but no documents before immigration. There are many land records, some genealogies -- some better than others, etc, and he was in the Rev. War with documentation. His descendant lineage up until recent years was fairly well documented This account Mr. Ashley sent isn't totally accurate as they missed John being one of the immigrants. There were actually 4 boys and a girl who immigrated from Ireland (Ulster) sailing from Derry to settle in PA with their parents David & Jane. They were: James, David Jr. Elizabeth, Robert, and John (b. about 1754 Ireland -- in Ohio with son and documented on 1850 census at 96 years of age); two girls and a boy born PA -- Jane, Mary and Francis. Francis didn't marry -- died of illness on way back from New Orleans where he & one of the brothers (I think it was John, but I'd have to check -- I'm at work where I am most of the time) walked the trail there and back. Robert disappeared and it is possible that he is the same Robert McC who married Margaret Storey -- descendant of this union are presently DNA testing to prove or disprove. David Jr. Died in the war of 1812 near Lake Erie and his widow Margaret Davidson received a land grant in MO which she did nothing with -- David & Margaret's son, David Platt McC (married Catherine Thomson) found the land which had been squatted on, settled with the squatter for improvements and sold it to him after he bought out his sisters of their share. David Platt McC went to Iowa where he farmed. John went to Ohio where he farmed and raised his family. James stayed in PA. There is also a David Platt McC born into his lineage as well, but later than the David Platt above. We have no records from Ireland. We have found trails for these McCs & Platts in Donegal and very west Derry adjacent. We are certain there must be some church records somewhere; however the parishes they would have attended are no longer and no one seems to know where the parish registers are. Could have been destroyed in the fire in Dublin during the 1920's. Many if most records in Ireland previous to then went the way of the fire which is why everyone has such a hard time doing genealogy there. We suspect David the immigrant's father was named James, and we have found some potential James in the existing records in the right place at the right time; however with out baptisms or other records etc. can't claim it on a guess. We suspect Jane's father was Robert Platt, and the same holds true for establishing that firmly -- right time, right place but no other supporting records. If I recall both Ashley & Duncan have VIrginia and the Carolina's in common, and I've believe I've seen migration also into KY, TN among other environs commonly. There was one related McC branch that also went VA & the Carolina's, but I've found no connection in the genealogies to suggest either Duncan or Ashley connection there. I wish I could find it. I've looked hard. I know some Duncan & Ashley have also looked hard. Perhaps with continued testing of those who carry the surname something will reveal itself, although I'm not terribly optimistic. I'm rather certain that the Duncan/McC connection goes back to Scotland, and that puts that relatedness over 300 years and likely farther, perhaps as far back as 1,400 years or more -- according to FTDNA 99.9% 700 years ago -- thats about 1239 AD if one takes into consideration the age of our test subject. I have taken cursory looks at the genealogies of the other McC's who also have matches. Have found nothing in their genealogies either to show a connection. Susan * *