This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MAlanLewis Surnames: Lewis, Laughlin, Branson, Rude Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.lewis/5406.1.1.3.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello Lewis family! I am excited to read this post about this Lewis line from Virginia/SC. I am the 11th great grandson of Edmond Lewes of Lynn, Massachusetts. My line descends through Zephaniah (Zerah) Lewis of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, to Jonathan, to Thomas Jefferson Lewis of Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio (b. 1810). Thomas married Priscilla Rude, daughter of Mary Polly Laughlin (or Loffland). The given names Laughlin, Dorman and Branson run strong in my family in descendants of Thomas and Priscilla Lewis. I am a participant in the Lewis Surname DNA Project (Line 148, Group 43, 143104). Through my DNA profile I am in contact with a group of descendants of Samuel Lewis in Virgina, SC and Georgia, with brothers Azariah, Benjamin, Isaac and Joseph. Many of us have identical DNA profiles at 24 loci. It appears there is a connection between my line and yours, probably through a Samuel from New Jersey who moved to the Virginia area. I would encourage any direct lineal male Lewis descendant to participate in the Lewis Surname DNA project http://lewissurnamednaproject.com/ to help establish this connection. Please contact me directly with any response to this post. Michael Alan Lewis Santa Cruz, California malewis@calcentral.com 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.