Dear male Pages: "Patricia P. Wilcox" <[email protected]> visited me today at my home in Maryland, and we discussed the following: She has found a lab in LA that will do the same sort of DNA (Y chromosome) study that was used to investigate the Thomas Jefferson/Sally Hemings connection. This is brand new state-of-the-art stuff -- they apologized that it would take them about a month, while their routine tests have a 2-week turnaround. If you're interested in the DNA results, you can see a summary of the Jefferson data at http://wsrv.clas.virginia.edu/~rjh9u/jeffhemm.html The Jefferson study used about 21 separate markers on the Y chromosome. This lab in LA only looks at seven markers, all in the "Microsatellite STR" class. Ideally, we are suggesting looking at about 12 - 16 individual males named Page; with 2 or 3 each from various Page branches: Branford (CT) Page line, the Haverhill (MA) Page line, the Watertown (MA) Page line, the Dr. John Page (Brenda & Pat) line, the Robert Page of Ormsby, county Norfolk line; the Nicholas Page/Paige line, and the Col. John Page of VA line. By having 3 from each line we can positively identify the DNA markers for each line, which should be identical, except for an rare/isolated/odd mutation Each participant would have to provide a blood sample or a buccal swab (cells from lining of mouth), which could be collected at one of the local branches of this DNA testing outfit or at a local hospital or other medical lab, would be under custodial control, and would be sent by the local lab to New Orleans for testing. If we had 12 or more samples analyzed, they would give us a special cut rate of $300.00 each (eek!). This Y chromosome test of the different Page lines would establish the Page DNA markers for each line and whether or not any of them are descended from a common ancestor in England. Once each of these lines is identified, other male Pages could be tested to positively establish their ancestry in one of the early Page lines if that is the case. It would also tell us whether the Branford, Watertown, Virginia, and/or Haverhill, Ormsby Pages were from closely related lines back in England, and even give a possible idea about how many generations back there was a common ancestor. This all assumes that we have a really air-tight genealogical connection from father to son all the way from the 1600's to the present for all the individuals to be initially sampled. Only the direct male line will work. So, if you are a male Page from an established Page line and are interested in participating in such a test, please contact me or Pat Wilcox. George W. Page (The Branford, CT line)