Dave Swerdferger has transcribed the early records from Book A, 1662 to 1705 Records, for the Town of Swansea, Bristol Co., MA. In an unusual format, the record are arranged alphabetically by given name, so an Index is provided. I've coded the links so that both the Index and the Records can be opened in separate windows and on screen at the same time to help in locating names. The files will be found at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jdevlin/ Jane Devlin Lake Orion, MI DUNHAM - WILCOX - TROTT - KIRK over 2500 data files from CT, MA, RI, NJ, NY & MI

The Thurber DNA project has had some initial success, but the help of additional Thurber males is needed. The Thurber surname was first used by John and Priscilla Thurber who were in Swansea Massachusetts in Feb. 1668/9. The Thurber name was continued through their four sons - John, James, Thomas, and Edward. Census records from 1790 through 1930 consistently show Bristol County to have more Thurbers than any other Massachusetts county. The nearby state of RI also has been the home of many Thurbers - including Benjamin b. 1720. He is the ancestor of a large number of Thurbers, but until the DNA project he had not been shown to be a descendant of John and Priscilla. Initial DNA test results have shown exact matches between 4 descendants of Benjamin, and a person in my Thurber line - which (on paper) goes back to John and Priscilla. This points to the strong possibility that Benjamin was a descendant of John and Priscilla. However, this is relying totally on the accuracy of my line. With additional participants with paper trails back to John and Priscilla, this connection could be proven. The primary goal of this project is to help Thurbers with their genealogies. With sufficient participation, the project should help Thurbers confirm or disprove relationships currently based on "paper evidence." This project tests the Y-chromosome. The Y-chromosome, found only in males, is passed from father to son, and remains nearly unchanged through the generations. By comparing participants' genetic markers (the exact number depends on the test chosen), it can be determined if they share a common ancestor. Although females cannot participate directly in the project, they can help by letting male relatives with the Thurber surname know about the project, or by contributing to the cost of tests. The more who participate, the more we will learn. If you are a male with the surname Thurber, please consider joining. The test is done using a simple swab of the inside surface of the cheek. To check out the project go to www.familytreedna.com/public/thurber. If you are a Thurber who has not traced his/her Thurber line and would like to know more about your Thurber ancestry, please email me. I have assembled a large library of Thurber-related material and would be happy to share information to help you discover your Thurber roots. Florence Thurber Gargaro

Florence, this is Alice from the Family History center. Last night we started on your film and we figured you can get 200 pages on 1 CD. So we ran after we closed last night and one Cd will be finished this morning. Just wanted you to know progress. Don't have to pick it up right now, I'll put it in folder and hopefully we can get another made today. as ever, alice Doing Genealogy research on Laspe, Laspee, Goetz and Hartman surname in New Jersey, Philadelphia and Mass. area. >From: Florence Gargaro <florence@gargaro.com> >Reply-To: MABRISTO-L@rootsweb.com >To: MABRISTO-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [MABRISTO] Thurber DNA project >Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 15:25:56 -0400 > >The Thurber DNA project has had some initial success, but the help of >additional Thurber males is needed. The Thurber surname was first used by >John and Priscilla Thurber who were in Swansea Massachusetts in Feb. >1668/9. The Thurber name was continued through their four sons - John, >James, Thomas, and Edward. Census records from 1790 through 1930 >consistently show Bristol County to have more Thurbers than any other >Massachusetts county. The nearby state of RI also has been the home of many >Thurbers - including Benjamin b. 1720. He is the ancestor of a large >number of Thurbers, but until the DNA project he had not been shown to be a >descendant of John and Priscilla. > >Initial DNA test results have shown exact matches between 4 descendants of >Benjamin, and a person in my Thurber line - which (on paper) goes back to >John and Priscilla. This points to the strong possibility that Benjamin was >a descendant of John and Priscilla. However, this is relying totally on >the accuracy of my line. With additional participants with paper trails >back to John and Priscilla, this connection could be proven. > >The primary goal of this project is to help Thurbers with their >genealogies. With sufficient participation, the project should help >Thurbers confirm or disprove relationships currently based on "paper >evidence." > >This project tests the Y-chromosome. The Y-chromosome, found only in males, >is passed from father to son, and remains nearly unchanged through the >generations. By comparing participants' genetic markers (the exact number >depends on the test chosen), it can be determined if they share a common >ancestor. > >Although females cannot participate directly in the project, they can help >by letting male relatives with the Thurber surname know about the project, >or by contributing to the cost of tests. > >The more who participate, the more we will learn. If you are a male with >the surname Thurber, please consider joining. The test is done using a >simple swab of the inside surface of the cheek. To check out the project go >to www.familytreedna.com/public/thurber. > >If you are a Thurber who has not traced his/her Thurber line and would like >to know more about your Thurber ancestry, please email me. I have >assembled a large library of Thurber-related material and would be happy to >share information to help you discover your Thurber roots. > >Florence Thurber Gargaro > > > >============================== >Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for >ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: >http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx >