EDWARD , thank you. so the father was probably not a SELLERS. okay. you are correct, the dna test would not help on the SELLERS line = You have a surname project, A. One of the participants had a child with a father by surname B but kept surname A. However, all male children therefter would have B's y-DNA rather than A. So, the descendants, although having the same surname would not match the other participants in the project unless the surname B was related as well to a common ancestor. I have seen the same thing on the opposite side. I have a man whose father changed his name to something else. But his DNA is actually that of the surname project, even though his last name is totally different. In that case, that man can take the test because he ought to match. Saying that the surname must be coupled with a y-dna male descent. thanks for sharing. marie, iowa -----Original Message----- From: els5993@aol.com [mailto:els5993@aol.com] Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 12:53 PM To: SELLERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SELLERS] SELLERS dna update/HENRY SELLERS 1788 PA/CUMBERLAND CO? Marie, yours response (much appreciated) had many questions. I will do this in two parts. The first is about Eliza Jane Sellers and her children/marriage. A later e-mail about Henry Sellers CHILDREN OF ELIZA JANE SELLERS AND ?Mitchell(biological Father) AND ?TAYLOR (biological Father-2). I have search Martin and Lawrence counties in depth for any Mitchell/Sellers or Taylor/Sellers Marriages for this time and there is none. Her marriage application, dated 15 Dez 1891 to George C. Cutsinger indicates this her first, his second(true) 1. Josephine b. Sept 24, 1873 - d. Sept 9, 1935 Josephine (Mitchell-Sellers? On her marriage Appl. She listed her parents as Mr. & Mrs. Joe Mitchell of Shoals, IN. On an 1879 Poor Farm Document she is listed as Josephine Mitchell. In 1880 Poor Farm Census, she is listed as Josephine Sellers) m. Josiah Porter on Oct 20, 1889 Her death record lists her Mother's Maiden Name as ....Sellers 2. Ida M. Sellers(Taylor - In 1880 Census, she is listed as Ida Taylor - Other years have her listed on Documents as Ida Sellers)) b. circa 1877 d. ?(I have not located her) 3. Oscar Franklin Sellers (Taylor?? In 1880 Census, he is listed as Oscar Taylor - Other Documents list him as Oscar Sellers) b. Sept 17, 1879 - d. 1955 (my line) (Daviess Co. , Indiana) (Note: In 1875 a Lafayette Taylor, age 30 shows up at the Poor Farm, Ida b. 1877 & Oscar b. in 1879. He is certainly a candidate to be the biological Father of these two but no proof) Thank You......edward l. sellers