Calling All West Descendants!

Now is a perfect time to participate in DNA testing. 

A couple of years ago I took Family Tree DNA’s Family Finder test which matches one with “cousins” who have also participated in the test.  Presently, I have matched with several West-related cousins and confirmed our matches with them by using what is called “the paper trail.”  These matches are connected to my West families:  Land-Isbell, Ferguson, Carlton-Land, McNeil, and Triplett.  Sadly, I have found no matches with the West surname or any matches who have the name West name among their collateral surnames.

What is wrong? 

Even though Family Tree DNA has one of the largest databases for genealogical genetic study, either no Wests, who are related to my West lineage, are in Family Tree DNA’s database or those West indivudals and I do not share enough common DNA to be considered a match.  My conclusion is that we need more Wests in FTDNA’s database!

Now is the time for those who are interested to be tested.  Family Tree DNA is currently sponsoring a fabulous sale on its products.  This sale, which will end on July 26, 2013, is the best one yet.  Several types of testing are available.  I have had the most success with Family Finder which matches one with “cousins” from both the paternal and maternal sides of one’s family.  Currently Family Finder is on sale for $99, a fantastic price.  When I purchased mine, it was on sale at that time for $199.  The current price of $99 is one-half that sale price.  Family Tree DNA tests are for genealogical purposes only, not medical purposes.

You may find out more at www.familytreedna.com.

Think about it!  I hope to find you among my matches!

The Long, Dry Spell

Yes, it has been a long dry spell.   Since my last posting on February 6, 2013, I have often thought about you, my readers, and have felt guilty not writing.  In reality, I have had nothing new or significance to write.  Regrettably, I have not broken the brick wall regarding my 5^th great grandfather, Alexander West I and have probably resigned to the fact that I may never find him.

In the meantime, I will continue to write about my West family when I have new information and will expand my topics to include my collateral West ancestors, the Lands, McNeils, Barlows, Carltons, and others.  As you have likely noticed in previous postings, I have already done this to some extent.

 

Recently, three of us Carlton descendants have formed an e-mail group sharing information about our Carlton lineage.  Yvonne and I met on-line when I saw her query in the Wilkes Genealogical Bulletin and contacted her.  She and I are 5^th Carlton cousins as proved by the paper trail.  I was able to introduce her to Ann.

Ann, my genetic match, and I are probably 5^th or 6^th cousins through three Carlton lines.  In one of the three lines, we know that both of us descend from John Carlton.  I descend from his 2^nd wife Catharine Livingston and Ann from his 1^st wife, Mary Land.  In a second lineage, both of us descend from Thomas Carlton’s parents, John Carlton and Elizabeth Wallace.  Then I descend from their son, Thomas, and his wife, Mary Land, and she from their son, William Lewis Carlton, and his wife, Elizabeth Eve.  Of course, I am related to Mary Land through my 2^nd great grandmother, Nancy E. Land.  Therefore, in the Land lineage, both of us have the common ancestors of Thomas Land and Ann Sumter (Sumpter).  From them I descend through their son, Jonathan Land and his wife, Elizabeth Isbell, and she through their daughter, Mary Land, and husband Thomas Carlton.  Things do get complicated!

Ann and I began our communication quite some time ago after we discovered that we were genetic matches.  Thus far, because she is uncertain of the degree of the relationship she shares with one of her great grandfathers and the fact that we have not compared her Land lineage with mine, we have been unable to determine our exact cousinship in these three lines.

What else have I been doing the past five months?  I have been working on my maternal lines of Hughes, Hoilman, Honeycutt, and Canipe from the North Carolina counties of Yancey and Mitchell.  In addition, I completed some work on my paternal grandmother’s family, the McQueens and Morelands of Johnson and Washington counties in Tennessee.  And now, a burning desire is telling me to start another blog about my Yancey and Mitchell ancestors.

I am amazed at the interest that this blog has created since I started it on June 30, 2011.  As of today, the count of “hits” is over 10,368.  As in the past, I want to hear from you.  I will NOT publish any comments from readers that include an e-mail address.  If you wish to correspond with me through e-mail, please keep that in mind.  Your readership is inspiring.  Thank you.