Well after thirty years of looking for our John Parker (b 1858 in Mississippi) we have removed him from the witness protection program. Our problem is a common one, a common name with multiple possible families. Searching for a John Parker in Ancestry does not narrow down ones choices. Even in Mississippi in 1858, we had multiple possible families. The records did not push us one way or the other. 18 months ago we joined the Parker DNA research and were promptly disappointed as there were no matches. Earlier this year a Parker descendent from one of our possible families also joined the DNA research, the results this week were dramatic. Out of 25 checked markers a 25 marker match. All signs now point to John being a member of the William Calvin Parker family and his brother being William Munroe Parker. If you have dead ends, and who amongst us does not, then getting your self into the DNA program is money well spent. Adding up the money spent on letters or Internet databases, the DNA will pay for itself many times over. David Grawrock