In a message dated 12/7/2006 9:00:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, ronlud@yahoo.com writes: Did you know that we have members who derive from the Afro-American Luddington name? I have conversed with some of them and they feel that the name originated from an area of Texas shortly after Texas got it's independence, and even before it became a state. We know that Robert E Ludington ( 1816-1859), a grandson of Col Henry, emmigrated from NY to TX about 1835 and had a working ranch there in Matagorda Co. He had three sons born there and shows in an 1850 census as having two female slaves. He died in 1859 and his wife and sons packed up and moved to Chicago IL shortly after that. Was he the origin of the Afro-American Luddington name?? Ron, I would like to participate in a group effort to have this Ludington branch join the DNA study. Perhaps, if we come together and donate the cost of the test, we will be able to encourage someone take the test. I think it should be through the 37 marker test and I think that cost is $150 approximately. I will donate $50.00 to the cause. Marcus Anthony, who appears to be the leader in the research for this branch of the family, visits the Lud site at MyFamily frequently. Unfortunately, he would not be a candidate but I think there are other possibilities. Elaine