With the cost of DNA studies coming down, it will eventually get to a much lower cost and should get to a cost that is pracical for small groups and the small Severs (all of them except possibly Seaver(s) might be just right for them. Every individual would NOT have to be tested. Ancestry back to a common male ancestor would need to be established and each line possible a male descendant would have to be found and tested. The most useful would be the oldest in each line that is known. The results could then be compared and a verification of the relationships made. In a case of an ancestor (say William Severs l752) with 5 possible male children and l female. All one would need is a Do a DNA study on ONE MALE ancestor that is represenative of EACH line. The results should be definite. I am not sure fi a 12 marker or a 25 marker test would be appropriate. There is a significant cost increase from about $100 to about $200 each. This is not very expensive when compared to other forms of research. The WHOLE STUDY of , say, 5 individuals carefully selected, would tell the WHOLE STORY for many small families. I would think less than the cost of ONE TRIP to Salt Lake City. Look at your SEVERS family group and start making plans to do the study and select ONE male Desc from each son of a common ancestor and look at how cheaply it can be done. Keep your eye open for group rates on DNA studies and "LET's DO IT" There are only a dozen groups of SEVERS. Probably 4 or 5 persons from EACH group would tell us a huge amount of information and MIGHT connect some of the groups to an UNKNOWN ancestor back in Europe. In the case of William Severs born l752 who MIGHT BE the same person as Johannes WIlhelm Siebert, Hessian Deserter born l751. One male descendant in Metzebach Germany from the Siebert family who remained behind coult answer that question. I would be glad to pay for myself and that person if found just to answer that question. Sorry to make this so rambling, but this is getting GOOD and ALMOST PRACTICAL at the PRESENT TIME. ANY SEVERS DESC. from William Severs l797, Daniel Severs l802, John Severs l798, and Charles J Severs l8ll (Mine is Jacob Peck Severs l809) Charles Severs