In a message dated 8/3/2005 7:47:10 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I am not happy at all that the DNA Webb project has been limited to those who have submitted DNA. What about us poor WEBB's who have no male heirs to take the test. And as far as that goes, my cousins several generations removed got a DNA submitted, but I can't view the list to see who we are matching up with. Why can't we share information I hope Dan permits this response :) The WEBB DNA Project is not limited just to those who have submitted Y-DNA or mtDNA The Public portion of the website is open to all, the email newsletter is free and past issues -- which include research notes, featured families (some of whom I have researched myself and MIGHT be your line), summaries of DNA findings, questions, technical articles, status of the Project, etc. are archived in the public section. The results were placed behind a Password Access wall for several reasons. 1 -- Some material is posted there that the participants didn't want to post on an open website (from email addresses they do not want trolled to detailed lineages they don't mind sharing but they don't want taken by those who share nothing back) 2 -- One goal is to correct the "garbage in and garbage out" on some genealogies going around the web. If someone has erroneously hooked themselves to a particular line, what is to prevent them from erroneously appropriating the DNA results -- even if they & their line have never been tested? Having the Project password protected enables us to work toward correcting those errors. Among the corrections we have made: -- it is not true that four brothers came with their father (3 to New England, 1 to Virginia) There are instead at least 20 different lineages of WEBBs we have identified, many of whom reach back to Colonial Days, more than one of which has descendants in the North and in the South -- James and Lettie Nelson Webb are not the son James and daughter-in law of John Webb and Mary Boone. It's possible they are related in some way, but the son James is a different James. We will soon have 3 of John Webb's known sons documented in DNA -- we have James and George already, and the John Jr line has ordered kits. 3 -- Participants have paid for these tests, and several have expressed less than happy thoughts about the "Henny Penny" syndrome -- can't give a cousin who WILL share and assist with paying for the tests access without also giving it to the ones who want to "eat the bread" without helping to bake it. 4 -- Some people simply don't want their DNA "out there." While their fears that it could be used against them somehow are probably unfounded, it is their very personal data, and I must respect that they joined the Project with the understanding it would not be available to anyone with an Internet connection and a computer. We do have three additional categories of persons who are granted access, other than the DNA donor themselves. 1 -- A family researcher who has arranged for a male WEBB and has helped pay for the kit receives a User Name and Password as well as the DNA donor. 2- Honorary participants who have given the Project lifetime research notes or who are serving as the official or unofficial "senior genealogist" of the lineage and who have established themselves as rigorous researchers are granted access. (We have 3 of these) 3 -- Honorary participants who have donated substantially to the Scholarship Program (not giving the amount here as it would violate the rules, but it's not much more than a moderately nice dinner out for 2). The Scholarship Program enables us to pay for kits for long established lines who don't see anything in it for them, but whose DNA is needed for comparison, to assist those on limited incomes or in financial distress to participate, and to pay for upgrades for those lines whose donor or researcher has died and is no longer available to do so. If a cousin has submitted DNA and not shared their research findings, I suggest that the best course is approach the cousin instead of complaining about the Project on this list. There is no hindrance to a participant sharing the information regarding who THEIR line connects with or with answering "Are we related to So-and-so WEBB?" with a "yes" or "no." Over the past few days a significant number of Project participants have shared information on this list, and I trust they will continue to do so. They are all helpful, interested people engaged in active research. It is one of the pleasures of my role as Administrator to assist other researchers. A simple inquiry to me at this email address is sufficient to get answers to questions such as "Are James and Mary Edmondson Webb related to William Smith Webb of VA & TN?" (Not by DNA). If I can't tell if the person you ask about is represented in our Project, I will tell you. Why might I not be able to tell? You might have inquired about someone that unbeknownst to me is a brother to someone in our line, or an uncle. Since I do not know all the lines by heart, and I don't have all the collateral lines for all our participants, I might not be able to answer you whether your family is represented. I may refer you to someone who is more familiar with the state you are researching. We are discussing putting a more detailed description of our lines in the public sector, but no decision has been made by the participants as yet. I hope this has clarified the nature of the DNA Project. Please feel to email me at any time with questions, comments, suggestions. Anne Webb Nelson WEBB Surname DNA Project Administrator