I started the BARTLETT-DNA Project last fall and have had a wonderful adventure with this new genealogy tool. My ancestor, Thomas BARTLETT c1730-1806 lived in Fauquier Co, VA 1768 to 1785, having been raised in Richmond Co, VA. He moved most of his family to Harrison Co, VA in 1785, and I've documented ~10,000 of his descendants. I've undertaken a project to find his ancestors, and that has led me to a larger project to document all the BARTLETTs, BARTLEYs, BARKLEYs, BERKLEYs, etc. in Colonial Virginia. Our DNA Project has helped a lot; and I will confess that I am a fan of DNA testing. If you want to learn more about DNA and Genealogy, here are some links: http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/ An animated Primer on DNA, genes and heridity http://www.kerchner.com/kerchdna.htm Kerchner DNA Project with good web & book bibliography at end http://blairgenealogy.com/dna/dna101.html DNA 101 http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cst/bartlett/dnainfo.htm BARTLETT DNA Web Site (stuff I've written) If you REALLY want to learn a lot, subscribe to Genealogy-DNA-L@rootsweb.com That list ranges from DNA newbies to some really experienced folks who have a lot of patience with newbies, but can also get into the world of statistics; DNA studies linking back to the dawn of mankind; etc, etc. All you ever wanted to know and much, much more. The Y-DNA test is a simple cheek swab (no blood/pain) of a male descendant. The 12 or 25 marker result is then compared with the markers of other descendants (and everyone else in the database). Even a 23/25 marker match means a probable common ancestor. A 25/25 match means a greater than 50% probability of a match within the past 7 generations. A 20/25 match means there is probably no match in Colonial America (ie any match would be more than 500 years ago. Notice I've always used "probable" - there are no absolutes (it's all based on the very small chance of a single gene changing (mutating) from one generation to the next) In the particular case of our project, we've determined three broad haplogroups among Colonial BARTLETTs; One with origins from Northern Europe (like Vikings) [all BARTLETTs with New England genealogies have been from this group, so far]; the most common one from Central Europe (England, etc.); and one from the Mediterranean to Southern Europe (mine). These are very distinct groups which don't tie together until 10,000s of years ago. Within these groups there are other variations, showing separate lines within Colonial Virginia. From the DNA results we've determined several paper genealogies that can't be correct [subsequent scrutiny has revealed flaws in the research]; in two cases we've discovered a paternity issue (eg, the mother may have been a BARTLETT, but the father wasn't); we've uncovered close links and distinct non-links that have significantly changed the focus/direction of the research effort. We've linked a BARTLEY and a BARTLETT line (25/25 matching DNA which verified the paper research); and are now trying to sort out the Loudoun Co, VA BERKLEYs, including several who used the BARTLETT surname. For sure: a 24/25 or 25/25 match means there is probably a common ancestor within Colonial times; a 20/25 match or less means don't continue to try to find records to link these families within Colonial times. I'm not an expert on DNA, but I'd be happy to pass along our experience with this project... Jim Bartlett, Gaithersburg, MD -----Original Message----- From: MRCACG@aol.com Sent: Oct 2, 2003 2:20 PM To: VAFAUQUI-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: VAFAUQUI-L: DNA testing My understanding is that for a comparison one must have a clear paper trail, and the participants should be no closer than 3rd cousin.