Hi Gregg, Thanks for the worthwhile idea. I've wondered if anyone had tried the mtDNA for genealogy purposes but like you said I can understand how it could be very tricky. As far as Mary's two daughters Sally and Polly, I haven't figured out who or if they married. They are not buried under their maiden names in the cemeteries where the other family members are buried in VT, NY, and OH, so my best guess is that they married. One single woman fitting the age of Polly was living with Mary in 1830 in NY, and I'm betting she married after that. NY state didn't keep marriage records in that era so it is up to other sources to provide that information, which I haven't found. At least for me, I can't utilize the mtDNA for Mary right now. Best wishes, Gary --- Gregg Bonner wrote: > I don't know the answer, but I think it is worth > considering, or at > least knowing the possibilities of another DNA > test...perhaps even if > applied only to other families people are > researching. > > The mtDNA passes from mother to child. So if someone > can be found who > has Mary as their mother's mother's (etc.) mother, > then you can have > them tested for mtDNA, and then match them up to to > a similarly > described descendant of your "target" person. This > could identify > Mary's mother. > > The tracing is a little tricky, since the surname > changes every > generation, but if Mary had several daughters, then > there is a decent > chance you can do it. > > I think this is germane to the NEWTON DNA Project, > and this type of > thing could be done under the auspices of the > project. > > Best, > > Gregg Bonner > Bethany, Oklahoma, USA >