Tami, Sorry the DNA did not match the line you hoped for. We have two other surname projects at that same brick wall. To confirm that something like informal adoption happened with James Pate, your best bet is to find another DNA participant from this line but from a sibling of the ancestor to test - if one existed and can be found. Testing someone who is a direct descendant of James will not help unless something out of the ordinary actually happened after James. In that case, a "confirmation" test of another ancestor might be worthwhile, especially if FTDNA has a good sale during the holidays. A full 67 marker test would not be needed. Even a 12 marker test would be helpful to establish the important #1 marker of 14 which set your donor apart from the other Pate surname groups.. In one of our other DNA surname projects, we were fortunate to have a long held theory of two late 1700 men being siblings proven true with the DNA. I personally happily ate humble pie on that connection. I never in this world thought we would ever connect to that line but did 100%. However, although they carry the surname we were researching but tested out of that surname's gene pool, we have not been able to push that one generation back to find the correct surname. On one of my surname projects, Taylor, we had a gentleman, Torres, who had been told he was from our surname from Civil War times. He was one marker off at 67 but we had no paperwork to clarify his situation. After 3 years of research, and waiting, I received an excited e-mail from him last week. He has found what is very likely one his ancestor's other children's descendants. What makes research so funny, yet exciting is - he found his link through an life-long old friend while they visited in WalMart while their wives shopped. Very likely Torres and his friend's wife are related. You never know where or when you will find your next clue!!! Hang in with us and don't despair - perhaps one day???. Nita -----Original Message----- From: April Johnson <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, Sep 21, 2010 4:05 am Subject: Re: [PATE] James Pate abt. 1818 KY Hi, Tami, and thanks for the reply. Just a suggestion--Maybe you could find another descendant from this James Pate (abt.1818 KY) to participate in the Pate DNA Project, and then you'd have more DNA to compare? I know that in my Pate line, a grandson (son of a daughter) was raised by his grandparents without any formal adoption process; but, he was given their surname (his mother's maiden name), Pate. Even though he has the Pate surname, his DNA would match his father's, who was not a Pate. Theoretically, he would not fit into one of the major Pate family lines, either, if you went only by DNA results. Best wishes in your continued research, April -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tami Broadway Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 9:09 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [PATE] James Pate abt. 1818 KY Yes, that is my line. And I am shocked with the results. I expected James to be at least a cousin on one of the tested lines. I'm not sure which direction to go on the research now, but am probably wasting time doing much more online and trying to attach him to established Pate Family trees. Seems like the DNA would rule out any relationship with the IL/Edward group. I never found a traditional connection to them either, but I have not been doing this very long. and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message