Hello and Happy New Year! I would just like to inform everyone that today I submitted a list of 25 individuals who will be participating in our Payne family DNA project. In a very short period of time we managed to move from the inception of the idea and into the testing phase. Our test kits should begin arriving within a week and the lab advises that it should take about 4 weeks to have results once all of the kits have been returned. I wish to thank everyone that has supported this project. Particularly those who have elected to participate in what I feel is a very important addition to our genealogical research. The Paynes can be counted among a relatively small list of families to undertake this form of research and that should be a tribute to us all. We are all very excited to know what the results may reveal and I know that many of you share this excitement with us. Once we have this initial Payne family DNA signature on record, forever more Paynes will have the ability to compare their own DNA signature to this initial database. Future Payne genealogists will be able to immediately identify which family line they should turn to begin their journey. DNA testing will never replace the traditional means of genealogical research, but should enhance it considerably and provide us with details about family relationships that we may have no other way of establishing due to records which have been lost, destroyed, or had otherwise never been recorded at all. In effect, our recorded Payne DNA signatures will create a scientific pedigree chart based on the same technology that has already become commonplace in forensic research, high-level (and high-profile) criminal investigations, paternity testing and is viewed as indisputable proof in our Courts. Although we have already begun this initial round, I will remain available to help coordinate any future testing should anyone like to do so. Once again, Thank You! Best wishes and a Happy New Year! Patrick ppayne1203@earthlink.net