This is exactly the type of question that could be resolved by DNA analysis. The markers on a Y-chromosomal DNA sample from a direct male descendant of one line should be identical or very similar to the markers on a sample from a direct male descendant of the other line if the lines are connected. If the markers are not similar then one could conclude that the two lines are not connected at least through the male Hamilton line. Gordon Hamilton >X-Message: #2 >Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 09:04:25 EST >From: KesslerWV@aol.com >To: HAMILTON-L@rootsweb.com >Message-ID: <160.1abcefb1.2b6544e9@aol.com> >Subject: [HAM] HAMILTON-Botetourt Co., VA >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > This is my first posting to this list. I am looking to make a connection of >these two HAMILTON families of Botetourt Co, VA. >First family- >William Hamilton b 1786 Ireland d 15 Jan 1853 Botetourt Co, VA m. 13 Apr 1819 >Botetourt Co, VA, Elizabeth Butcher b. 1800 Botetourt Co, VA d. 18 Feb 1883. >William and Elizabeth had the following children: >Sarah Hamilton 1822-1914 >James Hamilton 1829 >Elizabeth Ann Hamilton 1831-1896 m. 1st Christopher Kessler m. 2nd Samuel Todd >John William Hamilton 1833-1862 >David Shepard Hamilton ca 1834 >Eleanor Virginia Hamilton 1836-1915 m. James Robert Hamilton 1830-1905 > >Second family- >John Hamilton b. ca 1784 Ireland d. 1823 Botetourt Co., VA m. 27 Aug 1807 >Botetourt Co, VA, Catherine Siebert. Johna and Catherine had the following >children: >John William Hamilton ca 1808-ca 1862 m. 1st Margaret Kessler m. 2nd >Elizabeth Lantz >Susannah Hamilton ca 1809-1881 m. John Kessler ca 1804-1871 >William Hamilton 1810 >Samuel Hamilton 1812 >Mary Hamilton 1815 >If anyone is working either of these lines I would appreciate exchanging >information. Thank you. >Karen Kessler Cottrill >WV Kessler/Kesler Family Historian >I am making no claims that the above information is correct. This is being >given as personal information and not all has been documented.