This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Gillespie, Thompson, Graham Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/HiB.2ACI/2740 Message Board Post: Below is some information about a GILLESPIE SURNAME DNA PROJECT with connections to Johnson Co. Illinois. The first GILLESPIE to submit his DNA for the GILLESPIE SURNAME DNA PROJECT is a descendant of THOMAS GILLESPIE and NAOMI THOMPSON who both died on Dec. 12, 1797 and are buried together at Thyatira Cemetery in Rowan Co. North Carolina. The birthplace and parentage of this THOMAS GILLESPIE has not been determined. Many sons of THOMAS went to Tennessee and are buried in Sumner and Williamson Counties. GEORGE GILLESPIE, son of THOMAS and NAOMI, married MARY GRAHAM. They are buried in Old Hopewell Cemetery near Gallitan, Sumner County, Tennessee. This GEORGE is the direct ancestor of the DNA test participant. JOHN MORGAN GILLESPIE and NEOMA THOMPSON GILLESPIE are both direct descendants of GEORGE GILLESPIE and MARY GRAHAM. JOHN and NEOMA are 1st cousins who married in Maury Co. Tennessee and moved to Johnson Co. Illinois. They are buried in the Johnson Co. Cemetery just east of Vienna. One of their sons was FRANCIS MARION GILLESPIE who died in Creal Springs, Williamson Co. Illinois and is the direct ancestor of CONNIE MCKENZIE. Another son was SAMUEL HOUSE GILLESPIE who died in Texas. The male GILLESPIE descendant of this DNA project is a direct descendant of SAMUEL HOUSE GILLESPIE. We have just received the results from the first 12 DNA markers for the descendant of the above THOMAS GILLESPIE line. All of the results will be ready sometime in mid March. The predicted haplogroup ( I ) for this GILLESPIE line places the original ancestor - many hundreds of years ago - as having lived in Northwestern Europe - common with Viking populations. This was interesting news. Please contact me directly if you are interested in the results or would like to join the project. Connie McKenzie Gillespie Surname DNA Project Admin. [email protected] [email protected]