The Y-DNA compared was from Thomas Jefferson's paternal uncle's descendants... However, technically the test doesn't prove that Jefferson fathered Hemings' male children. What it proves is that someone in Thomas Jefferson's paternal uncle's male line of descent fathered them. If the uncle and and Thomas Jefferson's father in fact had the same father, and Jefferson was in fact his father's son, the possibilities for the paternity of Sally Hemings' male children would include Thomas Jefferson... but it would also include any other male in the Jefferson male line (whether known and acknowledged and bearing the Jefferson name or not), that is to say any and all descendents in direct male line from Jefferson's grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather, etc. as far up the line as you want to go... back many, many generations. RW SChap46348@aol.com wrote: >Perhaps this is not something to get envolved with but my understanding is >that the proof must come through male descendants and Thomas Jefferson had only >one daughter to live. He had no direct male descendants. The "proof" comes >from some of TJ's male relatives and only proves that Hemmings had children by >"a" Jefferson. Please don't write me about this I am not beating any drum one >way or the other I just think we are all interested in the best accuracy we >can obtain. > >I was in Monticello a year ago and bought "umteen" books on the subject and >have read everything I could find on the internet. It is really very >interesting. > >Shirley > >If this is correct, why were they able to the descendency of Thomas >Jefferson? Officially if will become proof of their relationship to >Jefferson and >Hemmings. >

I think what the FBI brother was saying is that to determine who the actual father of a child is, is only good for three generations. After 3 generations they can not tell who the exact father is. That does not mean that the DNA markers can still tell what line you came from. For instant if your last name is Harvey and you believe you are descended from a Harvey who came to the USA in the 1600's. A Dna test will tell ,if you are a male, if you descend from a direct line to the male Harvey who came to the US in the 1600's. His DNA and your DNA will have the same markers. It can also tell how many generations two individuals have that descend from that ancestor or in other words who are their most common ancestor. That does not tell you who the exact person was you descend from. If the imigrant Harvey had a borther in the US also you would come from either one the DNA could not tell you which one you came from after 3 generations. If the Immigrant had 10 sons the DNA would not tell you which son you came from After 3 generations but it could tell you only that you have identical DNA as the father and all 10 sons. If your grandfather had 10 sons and you did not know who your father was but you knew you came from the grandfather a DNA test could tell you the exact person your father was if there are 3 generations or less. Thats probably what the brother from the FBI was trying to say. Greg Simmons