Hi List, I have had the distinct pleasure over the last few weeks of participating in discussions with a gentleman, Tom Howland, who is heavily involved in DNA testing for genealogical purposes. Tom has been extremely helpful in assisting a family member with his test. Some of the breakthroughs for other surname lines that he has shared with me are stunning. Sadly, I am not a PIGGOTT male, so I must find a living PIGGOTT descendent for my line to act as a surrogate, and then convince that person to actually do the DNA test. According to Tom, the 37 marker test is sufficient for most genealogical purposes. Tom cautions that LACK of a match proves nothing, but a direct match for the 37 markers proves absolutely that there is common ancestry. Of course, there is always the possibility of a "non parental event"; however, should such have taken place in a given line, that is certainly a piece of information of great value for solving "mysteries". Since we know that we have two PIGGOTT ancestors who went to Britain with The Conqueror, and a good deal of lineage has been researched and documented, Tom is very excited about the possibility of making some major breakthroughs. For example, here is a quote that discusses two lines found here in the US: >"Two families have been tested. One descends from Francis Pigot, >b.1642, who arrived in Northampton Co., Virginia about 1663 m. >Frances Robins before 1665. The other descends from Nathaniel Pigott >of Carteret Co, NC, first found there in the 1720s. The Y has proven >two families are not related. At least two lines have been tested in >each family proving descent from a early common ancestor." If you are descended from either line, just this information alone could help to eliminate some questions in your future research. We have several lines for our members that are fairly well documented in Ireland and England. Just imagine if one or more of our members matches to one of the above two lines! Or better yet, to have two members match to a here-to-fore unmatched common ancestor !! I have become absolutely convinced that the cost of a DNA study through Tom's site will probably be one of the most productive genealogical expenditures I have ever made. Therefore, I am testing for my BISSETT line. The cost is less than my annual subscription to Ancestry.com, but the results can add huge amounts of information to my knowledge base. Sadly, I can't personally help with my maternal PIGGOTT line, but male PIGGOTT list members can provide stunning results if we are fortunate. In any event, check out the two URLs I list below, which take you to Tom's site for our surname. If any PIGGOTT male list member would consider "making the plunge", please contact me directly OFF LIST for some additional discussion. I sincerely hope that those of us who have labored long and hard on this list for years can provide one or more major breakthroughs to the genealogical community. <http://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=Pigott>http://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=Pigott http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Pigott-Pigot/default.aspx?section=yresults I am EXCITED, and I REALLY look forward to hearing from some of you. :-) Good luck, Joe