----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Ann Claxton To: wchs@getgoin.net Sent: 06 September, 2004 6:46 PM Subject: A genealogy request To Phyllis Rippee, It has been quite some time now since my husband and I were in Wright County looking for clues on the Claxton line there. In looking at the pages we copied from the Wright County History book, I saw that you had a couple of submissions in the Claxton section; I also found you linked to the Wright County genealogy web page, so I believe you would be a good contact to help me get the word out to the Claxton line in Wright County. I am writing in hopes of finally resolving, to some extent anyway, our Bedford County, TN "Claxton mystery." <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> I need to get in contact with some of the male Claxtons in Wright County (or descendants of those who are of that lineage) because we may have a means of connecting our various Claxton lines. I am assuming that you understand the concept of DNA and the possibilities for matching individuals by comparing their DNA. This has become the newest tool for genealogists and provides a means of determining connections biologically where written connections are lost. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> We have established an international Claxton DNA project, and I am including a link to the website of FTDNA, the group we have chosen to do our testing. There is a cost for the testing, and costs are listed in question 3 on the FAQ section of the website. Payment may be made online or an invoice can be sent with the kit. The website is: http://www.familytreedna.com/default.asp <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> Obviously the testing must be done from the DNA of males of the Claxton (or related spelling) name. The DNA from any male descendant of the Wright County lineage would supply the characteristics of the Wright County line of Bedford County Claxtons just as my husband's will supply the characteristics of his line. Hopefully a comparison of the two will confirm what we have all suspected but not been able to prove: that the two lines do share a common progenitor. And as we get others in the nation to contribute their DNA, hopefully we will find a person who HAS documentation that would get us INTO Bedford County! <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> I hope that you will respond positively to this opportunity to help us possibly settle a question that has stumped many Claxton researchers, and forward this request to Claxton males, in the Wright County lines, and any others that you may be in contact with. The larger our pool of information, the more accurate our results will be. Please feel free to give them my e-mail address as a contact person for this project. <!--[endif]--> Thank you, Mary Ann Claxton 344 Cay Lawrence Rd. Buchanan, TN 38222 731-642-2491 claxtonm@direcway.com