The adoption nomenclature which appears in quotation marks in many of the recent email messages to VA-ROOTS illustrates a problem in genealogical research which will only be partly addressed in the current DNA efforts by some of us. Humans know how to procreate. The "legal" and "record" keeping regarding procreation give archeologists,genealogists and historians challenges at every turn. Tracing ones "roots" through the twists and turns of human relationships through DNA will probably not provide "definitive" proof of your "line" to a king or a scoundrel. A more expansive definition of family needs also to be used. I do not wish to reopen the Jefferson/Hemmings issue per se, but suggest that before we commit ourselves to a DNA black hole, we consider the philisophical, historical and cultural meaning of "family" as well. May I suggest a look at the Christopher Columbus Via family whose "roots" derive from the Ira Via and Amanda Shifflet "line" (if we are to believe the record of marriage recorded in Staunton Virginia for C.C. and his bride Malinda Angeline Marshall on 29th August 1872). C.C. Via's declared parents - Ira and Amanda, were married later that same year. In today's world, C.C. and his siblings are "presumptively" the children of the prior Via/Sandridge marriage. Apparently C.C. and Malinda accepted the "fact" that though C.C. was not "adopted" in the the sense of the word required by criterea mentioned in prior email messages on this subject, he was in fact the son of Ira and Amanda. This record infers a contradiction of the "presumption of paternity" growing out of marriage. The fact that Christopher Columbus Via declared before a minister and the legal authorities of Virginia that his parents were not his "legal" parents has meaning beyond DNA. I hope that the genealogists, historians and archealogists among us look for the deeper meaning of family - not just a pedigree to their king or scoundrel. I commend Elaine Via in her efforts to find a way back to Amer Via through DNA research along with all of you who like she, scour those court records, letters, oral histories, etc trying to find your way back as far as science and research can take you. Rob Yingst yingstrb@earthlink.net EarthLink Revolves Around You.