The Results are in!

Good morning, dear readers,
The results from my Y-DNA67 test have been posted. I am sorry to say that this is just another beginning. I had hoped that these results would be an ending - an answer - would somehow just lay out a spreadsheet of my paternal lineage. But, alas, no. 
So, here is the good news...I have a copy of my 'standard Y-STR Values' and since I tested 67 of the possible 111 available now, I have 67 numbers that I can compare to thousands of other peoples numbers.

The catch is that I can only compare with people who have been tested and posted their results and shared, at least, some of their family research. True enough, Family Tree DNA is the largest database of it's kind in the world and I can and will go into other similar databases to see what I find there. So the search begins or should I say, it continues?

What I do know is this: I, my brothers and cousins belong to the major group (called Haplogroups)  "R"  - specifically - R1b1a2-M269 which is, of course, the largest, most popular group in Western Europe. So there are only MILLIONs of people we are related to in that part of the world and we all share what is known as a "Most Recent Common Ancestor"  who lived only some brief 30,000 years ago! Which is cool if your interested in pre-historic ancestry. I am a little more concerned with the last 3 or 4 centuries - and I thought that was a big deal.

So, I have joined a few "surname groups" with names that appear in my fathers family tree. These include; Green(e), Cook(e), Adkins, Rose, Stewart (Stuart) and Sizemore. 
This search has revealed no surprises. We are related to a lot of people whose ancestors are from England, Ireland, Scotland and a few in France and Germany. Again, no big revelations here. 
As my results have just been posted, I expect to contact and be contacted by distant cousins who are also doing genea-research to compare notes and possibly fill in some blanks. But in the mean time, I will move on to the test I should have done first- Family Finder, which promises to provide me a report of genealogy on both my mothers and fathers side of my family and give me, among other things, a list of my % of ancestry. 
Until then, my family and friends, I've got a lot of research to do. 

I hope this finds you all happy and healthy - Happy Saint Paddys Day!


Cheers!

DNA Results Begin

Good morning, campers, this morning when I checked my email there was a notice from FTDNA that my initial results are in.
I have visited several sites that gave DNA results from, for instance, the Green(e) Family project. On that site I found a few names that matched names in my family tree which I assumed to be true relatives from the information I could find at the time (thank you, Ancestry.com).
In those charts I found that those ancestors were from a certain group so it is no surprise that my initial (very general) results showed that I shared the same group designation.
I am from the group designated 'R1b' - but I did get an additional bit that said the the specific part of that group is R-m269. This group -'R1b'- is one of the most common DNA groups in western Europe and is well represented in England, France, Spain, and Ireland. No big surprise there.
For those in my family interested in our very distant ancestors and the origins and migration of that DNA group you can learn more at this website -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplogroup_R1b_%28Y-DNA%29 . I am including a map of that information here. 
Apparently, this is just the first 'panel' of 5, I think. The results from the other, hopefully more revealing, panels should be ready by Feb. 7 and so the waiting continues. But as always, you, my dear readers, shall be the first to know what those results will reveal about the Green family of McDowell County, West Virginia.

DNA update, a Kirkin' and Where are the Indians?

Too funny! I went through the mail on Tues. 2/7/12 and found that I had finally received  the "return receipt" that I mailed with my DNA sample (from previous posts). It had been so long, I had forgotten about it.
I mailed the sample and got an email from FTDNA on 1/10/12 saying they had received it and now, a full month later, I receive from the USPS confirmation of the same. Boy, and they wonder why they're going out of business. 
Anyway, I have received hard copy confirmation as well as the email so I will put that with the rest of the pertinent paperwork and continue to await the news that my results are in. At that point, I'll have a better grip on who I really am. 
I've done more research and found sites that include pictures of the kit and info. you receive in the mail. If you are interested, search for FTDNA or just DNA. Some very interesting stuff there. 
But this leads me to think I will go for the "Family Finder" test next to broaden that body of information. This should include our Stewart, Sizemore and Cooke family connections. (Where the Y-DNA test is only my fathers, fathers, fathers...)
The Highland Games went very well - we had a blast with all the musicians and clans and friends. I'll post a few pics from that event as well as the Kirkin' - you can see more on my Facebook page.
Since the Games, I've been obsessed with my Stewart family connections and trying to sort out the specific clan my ancestors were associated with (Appin?) ... without much success. This has taken me away from my research of the Sizemore family and our Cherokee connections. I apologize for the delay and promise to get back to that research so I can share that fascinating bit of history with you soon.

FTDNA update and the Highland Games

Update: I sent off the DNA swabs last week and I wanted to make sure everything went as planned. So, I sent the envelope "Return Receipt Requested" to be sure that it got there, was received and signed for. I do not want anything to go eyry with much more than a considerable monetary investment on the line (for me - no politicians' "a million here, a million there and sooner or later you're talking real money, here.") .
Sure enough, I received an email from FTDNA to say they had received my test kit and would keep me informed of the progress of the tests and told me where to go to follow that progress and get the results. I told you these people don't mess around, they stay on top of things.
By the way, I still have not received my 'return receipt' in the mail yet.
As you know, I am fascinated with ancient cultures and history.
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with all things Celtic, even before I knew what that was. The ancient artwork with it's intertwining lines that have no beginning or end, the music with it's unique rhythms and tempi, and it's sometimes haunting, mystic feeling.
I have had the privilege to travel to England, Ireland, Germany and a few other countries. As I stood in some of these places, I had a strange feeling that I had seen these places and I had been there before. I'm not talking about deja-vu, it was something deeper - almost primal. I just blew it off as romantic whimsy.
A few years ago, we were visiting my parents in North Georgia to make sure they were OK and would be fine for the next few weeks that we would be abroad. We were going to tour Ireland with the Bach Festival Choir of Winter Park, of which we were members for many years.
As we were leaving, my Father said "look for the name 'Green' while you are in Ireland."
"No, Dad, it's an English name."
"No, look for the name 'Green' in Ireland."
"NO, Dad,...
And after a few rounds of this he finally said -"No, really, my grandfather is Irish!"
What? Where did that come from? You couldn't have mentioned this the last 53 years?
Out of nowhere he just dropped this bomb. Irish? Could it be true? It turns out that my ancestors had stood in those same places.
When I returned to my adopted clan - the New World Celts - I told them it turns out that I am actually of Celtic descent. I served a few years as the Sgt-at-arms for my local chapter and continue to be involved in that outstanding group. 
This week we are preparing to work and attend the Central Florida Highland Games in Winter Springs (just North of Orlando, FL). And the following Sunday, we will be participating in a very special service at our Presbyterian church - the "Kirkin' of the Tartans".
Now, in a few weeks my DNA results may very well put a big dent in my Celtic Heritage dreams, but for now and until then, I am going to enjoy every minute I can and do everything I can to support and participate in this rich, noble heritage.
Where's me kilt? It's off to the games! Hail to the Celts!

The kit is here!

Welcome back, friends, family and followers, all!
The DNA kit arrived on Friday 12/23 - I couldn't believe how quickly my kit was delivered.
O.K., so I paid for the thing 12/19 and posted that same evening and - is this right - 4 Days later? Amazing! Boy, these guys don't mess around. "Git 'r done!"
So after work that evening I find in my mailbox a white envelope from Family Tree DNA in Houston, Tx. with a letter from the President of the company that starts ... "Dear Fellow Genealogist:" ... yeah, well, I'm still working on that. Try 'genealogist-wanna-be' or 'when I grow up...', anyway, 'we're a really cool company and we do some really cool stuff and we're gonna keep your DNA for 25 years, at no extra charge, so that you can add any other tests you may want to add later.'
Cool.
So then, the blue sheet - DNA Collection Method - with step-by-step  instructions on how to scrub the inside of your cheek and how to handle the samples. Sounds simple enough, I can do this.
Except there is this one little paragraph that says "Scraping should be before eating or drinking, or at least an hour after eating and drinking. Avoid warm or hot fluids before scraping."
The problem is; since I received this thing, I haven't found the ideal time yet that I wasn't either eating, drinking, working or sleeping!
I don't know about you guys, but, we usually work so hard between work, church, singing (annual caroling party, holiday concerts,etc.) and preparing the house, the tree, and on and on and on in a mad rush to the big Christmas Eve event (family tradition). Then we crash and burn on Christmas day to finally re-emerge like the proverbial groundhog around Jan. 2nd. to start the race all over again.
But! I have a plan.
I've worked some long days the last two days but I'm off tomorrow - before my morning coffee and my breakfast (probably left over cookies or something from Christmas Eve - only the healthiest stuff, don't ya know), I will try to do the first of two scrapings. Then after I wake up and busy myself with day-off-morning-routine stuff for an hour or so I will do the second scrapping, put the samples in the self-addressed envelope along with the proper amount of postage.
Then, with any luck, I should be able to put the envelope in my mailbox before the postal carrier arrives to take my envelope and send it on it's return journey to the labs in Houston, Tx. and then, the waiting begins...

Merry Christmas to ... me!

Have I mentioned that I have a wonderful, generous wife? 

When she asked me this year what I wanted for Christmas, I told her, " just one thing: A DNA test."
Imagine her shock. A DNA test? What for? Aren't DNA tests for criminals? 
Silly rabbit, DNA tests are for genealogists!

With a simple test and a month or so of anxious waiting I will have answers to questions that I could not possibly prove otherwise. Of course, my brothers and cousins will have answers to questions that they didn't even know they had. 

So, with the blessing of Mrs. Santa, I ordered the test through Family Tree DNA this morning. And shortly I will receive the kit to swab my cheek and sent that off to the lab and, with the results of that test, and a comparison with the other members of the Green(e) family project, I will learn who my ancestors really are. This test will go back at least 5 generations and probably more. I will finally know just what percentage of heritage (American Indian, European) I am.

And, my dear readers and family, ( I know you're out there) I will take you along on this journey of discovery and keep you posted on each step along the way. So, stay tuned to see the steps and the time involved and the results. Is it Feb. yet?

Happy Christmas - to us all!

A Story Confirmed

I was in Costco with my wife yesterday after church. Going through the new books section - I love browsing through this section - I came across Glenn Beck's new book about the life of George Washington. I couldn't help but wonder if he had included a section about Washington's service before and during Braddock's Defeat.
Curiosity got the best of me. I couldn't stand it so I had to check it out.
Sure enough, there it was, towards the beginning of the book - a detailed account of the story. Of course, Mr. Beck had a whole book to fill and so he could get into much more detail and background than I could on this humble little blog.
I thought the story I told was too long for this blog - 7 parts - but it necessarily included my family history. This was, of course, the point of my version of this story and would not have been written otherwise. It just happened that Mr. Washington's career crossed paths with my ancestors and gave me a great hook for my story.
I did not have the time to read the whole account, but the bits I did read did not include my Stewart ancestors. Well! Color me miffed!
I know. I should break down and buy the book and read the whole story because I really would love to read the story of that amazing life. But, as you might imagine, I have so many books on my "must read" list right now that Mr. Becks book will just have to wait. Sorry Glenn.
Who knows, I may just find this and 1 or 2 other historical books under my
Christmas tree if I'm good ... well, OK, maybe not.