My understanding is that for a comparison one must have a clear paper trail, and the participants should be no closer than 3rd cousin. My Garrett ancestor who lived in Fauquier co left no official record telling who his parents were. However family tradiiton assigns him to a Henry Garrett who was in both Loudoun [1810]and Fauquier Co. [1820 census]. I have been able to link Henry to his father through the personal property rolls, muster reports and church records. So a male descendant of Sydnor Garrett has agreed to submit his DNA for testing and comparison with a proven descendant of the snuff line where I think they belong. This has a clear objective and we hope to confirm through DNA the circumstancial case. I know of another case in the Taliaferro family where those who spelled the name Tolliver thought they descended from Taliferros. Their test proved they did not and gave them the anthropological orgins of the group from which they do descend. Some are so caught up with the use of science to prove what reserch has not that they plunk their money down without a clear objective. Not wise in my opinion. Margaret Margaret R. Amundson, CGsm is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by Board-certified associates after periodic proficiency evaluations.