The Oden Surname yDNA Project at Family Tree DNA is extremely pleased to announce that the common ancestors of most Oden families in the United States have been identified, using yDNA testing and conventional original source documentation. The newest member of the Oden project is a documented descendant of Francis Oden II, by way of Francis’s son Vincent and Vincent’s son William. William Oden died in Bracken County, Kentucky, 25 April 1814. His wife, Sarah Metcalf Oden Clarke kept a family Bible which was published in the "National Genealogical Soc. Quarterly," Vol. 31, No. 1, 1943, p.8-10. FHL #973 B2ng. In the Bible record, Sarah identifies William’s father as Vincent Oden. Vincent left a will naming a son, William, and Francis Oden II’s will names his son, Vincent. In the estate papers of Francis Oden I, died 1725, it is mentioned he had six unnamed children. Elizabeth O’Caine Oden named five of those children in her will, David, Pembroke, Lewis, Thomas and Elizabeth Smith. The assumption was that Francis II was the oldest son of Francis I. Descendants of the probable grandson of Francis and Elizabeth were yDNA tested, and they match. Most notably, Thomas Oden of Loudoun County, Virginia, Hezekiah and Alexander Oden of Edgefield County, South Carolina, believed to be the sons, of Thomas Oden, youngest son of Francis and Elizabeth. Also tested was a descendant of Thomas Oden of Bourbon County, Kentucky and Warren County, Missouri, believed to be the son of Francis and Elizabeth’s son Lewis. The newest test results from the descendant of Vincent Oden, tie all of these people into one family group. During the period 1715 to 1750 there was only one Oden family in Charles County, Maryland, and that was the family of Francis Oden and Elizabeth O’Caine. The biggest problem with Oden genealogy has been the lack of original source records for the period between 1750 and 1800. Those gaps still exist, but knowing these people are all biologically related, will hopefully make it easier to fill in the gaps. It must also be noted that yDNA testing has shown there is no genetic / biological relationship between this Oden family and the descendants of Captain William Odeon, Abraham Odom or Solomon Oden. Previously published pedigrees showing connections to these men are in error. My thanks to all of you who joined the Oden Surname yDNA Project with your yDNA tests. Without your participation in the project this information would never have been discovered. Thanks, also, to Miss Maud McLure Kelly, I am sure she is sitting on a cloud as thrilled as she can be. Please write to the Oden RootsWeb mail list with your questions at [email protected] Marleen Van Horne Oden Surname DNA Project -- When the people, who made the music of your youth, begin dying of old age, you know that you, too, are old.