We have the first few results back from the Speak(e)s family DNA surname project. We have found some unexpected results that indicate that we may have multiple lines of Speak(e)s in the US. With so few participants, it's almost impossible to tell anything definitive yet. We need more male Speak(e)s descendants to participate in order to establish what the DNA from the various lines looks like and who is related to whom. If you are a Speakes male, or if you are related to one, please consider participation. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me and I'll be glad to explain. Roberta Estes (Speakes DNA Project Surname Administrator) restes@comcast.net

Hi Cousins, I'm in a bit of a pickle trying to figure out these early Speakes lines. I need help in one of two ways from someone or different people. As you know, I started the DNA project a couple years ago now. We only have 7 participants so far, and given the genealogy that they think they have, they should all match, but they don't. So we have a 20th century mystery on our hands. Not only do they not match, we have 4 different results out of 7 people. This is not only confusing, it's very frustrating. We can't even tell which of the lines really does go back to Thomas at this point, because someone's genealogy is not correct, or there was an undocumented adoption along the way someplace. Maybe some minister took in every orphan neighbor kid and raised them. Wouldn't surprise me any. For anyone who gets the Speak(e)s Family Association Bulletin, the recent edition, vol 27 number 2 has a wonderful genealogy chart beginning with Col. Thomas Speake on page 16. It takes his lines (as much as are known) through the 5th generation. Here is where I need your help with one of two things. 1. If you are a Speaks male (last name Speaks) or know of one, and you have not tested, please, PLEASE consider testing at this time. We really really need you and it will help sort this mess out. If you have questions or concerns, please let me know and I'll be glad to help you. 2. For the genealogists among you, I desperately need to compile some original records for these early generations. I feel like a DAR lady asking now for proofs in each generation, but in my other lines I've found too many "early genealogies" to be wrong. I don't know if that is the case here or not, but someplace there is a problem. So what I'm asking for now is for the first three or four generations downstream from Thomas, if you have any original documents or extracts, please send them my way. I'm looking for things that connect people, like wills, like deeds, like Rev. War pension applications, like court suits, and of course, Bibles. I need to answer the question of how we know that Thomas Speake who died in 1781 had 2 sons, John (Innkeeper) and Bowling, and how we know that the particular John was really the John that was the son of Thomas and not another John, for example. If you have any of these kinds of records in your files, please take pity on me and send them. If the info is in the genealogy section of this latest newsletter, you don't need to send it, but I would surely like to know on the wills and documents mentioned there, if they are signed with a name or an X. Sometimes two men in an area by the same name sign their names differently. Also, if anyone has compiled primary research in a particular area, that would be wonderful too. In some of my other lines, I have compiled all info about a particular family by county. I hate to beg in public, but if you can help with one or the other of these things, please do. This is your family too and we all need to work together to sort this out. I really need your help!!! Thanks, Bobbi Estes