DNA Reports from 23andMe-Jayna

I got David a DNA kit from 23 and Me for Christmas.  And I got one for myself as well.  We wanted to see if they were pretty similar to the ones from Ancestry.com.

The app for this is pretty easy to use and we are enjoying using it.

Turns out I'm 99.6% European, and I can see the British and Irish (Napier, Stewart) along with the German (Bess) that I've already identified in my genealogy research.

And a little bit African and little bit Jewish...which also lines up with my genealogy research. =)

 

Ancestry DNA Reports - David

David's ancestry DNA report came in just a few hours after mine did yesterday.  I am just loving that we did this together.  I think he's even more excited than I am.

 

Like I explained about my report, Ancestry.com gives a 40+ page report with the DNA results and color-codes the regions where you had DNA matches. 

 

 

 David found that he had DNA matches in Great Britain (66%), Ireland (20%), Scandinavia (8%), Caucasus (3%), Finland/Northwest Russia (1%), and less than 1% in North Africa, Italy/Greece, and Western Europe.

 

I'm not surprised at all for Great Britain and Ireland.  David has family on both sides from there (Noblitt, Ayers, Wentwort, Middleton, Kirkpatrick, Kilpatrick, McLarrin, and Mahaney).

 

David was super stoked to be 1/5 Irish. 

He also found it to be very amusing that is DNA match is 6% more British than the average native of Great Britain.  He's more British than the British.  That must be why he's so drawn to Great Britain/Ireland.  He's 86% just from those two islands. 

 

I'm very surprised that David does not have more DNA matches in Western Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein).  I've traced the Matheny line back to Belgium and France.  They passed through England in just four generations, before heading on to the US.  Other lines have been traced to Germany (Freeling) or I would assume they would based on the name (Ikner).

 

As with my report, one glaring omission is what caught our eye the most.  It lists David as 0% Native American.  Both of David's parents have claimed to have some Native American ancestry, particularly Cherokee.  In all my genealogy searches, I have never been able to find evidence of this.  I was thinking that the DNA test would definitely prove it, but it's not even showing a little bit. 

 

 

 As I said on my report, something we learned that we found very interesting is that your full-blood sibling might get different ethnicity results than you do.  Because each sibling gets different traits from each parent, then the DNA results for one sibling might show a match in a different region that the DNA results for the other. However, David "looks" way more Native American (dark skin, tans easily, facial structure) than Eric does (fair skin, burns easily), so I doubt Eric would get a different result.  But it would be interesting if he or David's parents got a DNA test as well. 

 

**Edit May 2017 - David's cousin, Richard Christopher (nephew to David's dad) just got the results back from his DNA test.  His also show 0% Native American, which upset him, as he was told by his father they had Cherokee ancestry.**

 

David's "genetic communities" map shows where the majority of the people with similar genetic makeup now live or have recently lived. 

 

This matches what I've found in genealogy research for David's ancestors, although, the Wentworths came through Virginia, some through Jamestown.  Then they married into the Matheny family and moved through the Carolinas before settling in Alabama and Florida.  

 

 We've enjoyed this so much, we've decided to do another DNA test through another company.  I read that to get a comprehensive picture of your DNA profile, you should use Ancestry.com and 23andMe.  These two companies do similar tests, but have different subjects from which they gathered their DNA samples for matches.  We may get slightly different results if we have a DNA match to a region that wasn't sampled by Ancestry.com.  I'll keep you posted. 

Ancestry DNA Reports - Jayna

I got my ancestry DNA report today!!  I'm so excited!

 

I read over it with anticipation. Having done extensive genealogy research, I was not surprised by most of the results, but a few did catch me off guard.  There was some disappointing omissions as well. 

 

With the results, you get a lengthy (40+ pages) report sharing different information about the DNA results and the regions in which they found a match. 

 

Here are the details: 

The colors overlapping regions on the map correspond to the chart below. 

 

 My DNA make up is primarily from Great Britain (47%), and then Ireland (18%), Western Europe (11%), Iberian Peninsula (11%), Eastern Europe (7%), Italy/Greece (3%), Scandinavia (2%), and Middle East (about 1%, maybe a little less).

 

NOT SURPRISING:

I'm not surprised by Great Britain and Ireland, since I've traced quite a bit of family back there, on both my mother and father's sides.  Western Europe explains the German (Bess) side of the family.  On my dad's side, I've found lots of Scandinavian ancestry, but it is way back there, hundreds of years ago...so the 2% makes sense.  I'm not even surprised the Middle East showed up in the results, since I have traced one ancestor that married into the Stewart line back to Israel.

 

HEAD SCRATCHERS:

I've not found anything in my genealogy research to support Eastern Europe (Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Russia, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia).  I also don't recall any traces to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal) or Italy and Greece. 

 

 

In the report Ancestry.com sent with the DNA results, they explain the history of each region, including the migration of people groups for various reasons.  They also show how much of your genetic make up is from a specific region, in comparison to the genetic makeup of a typical native of that region. 

 

In the example above, 47% of my genetic make up comes from Great Britain.  By comparison, for the typical British person (because Great Britain is so diverse) 60% of their genetic makeup is from that region. 

 

 

OMISSIONS:

The hardest part of my DNA results for me are the omissions.  I was hoping to see at least a little African, and I really wanted there to be some Native American, since I have a loose link to Pocahontas through my genealogy research.  I was hoping the DNA test would confirm it, since I have no other links to Native American ancestry other than the Powhatan Indians.  The other thing I wonder is that if ancestry to the Powhatan Indians would even show up in a modern DNA test, since the tribe no longer exists.

 

I'm not too concerned about Kenya and Cameroon not being listed.  That connection is also hundreds of years ago and has already been proven through DNA tests of a direct male descendant of Etheldred Revelle. A Y chromosome DNA test was performed to get the patrilineal line of the Revelle family.  Since my line traces through Mattie Revelle, to Don Barnett, and then my grandmother, mother, and me, the patrilineal line that linked to Africa was broken and may not appear on a test of my DNA.  

Something I learned that I found very interesting is that your full-blood sibling might get different ethnicity results than you do.  Because each sibling gets different traits from each parent, then the DNA results for one sibling might show a match in a different region that the DNA results for the other. 

 

This gives me hope that maybe Jack's or Mom's DNA would show the Native American connection I really want to support my genealogy research that the Bolins are descended from Pocahontas.   

 

Another interesting thing we received in the online version of the report is the "genetic communities" map.  This shows where the majority of the people with similar genetic makeup now live or have recently lived. 

 This totally matches up with what I've found in genealogy, with ancestors coming over through the east coast and then making their way across Tennessee and then on to Illinois, Indiana, and eventually Missouri (which is where most of my family and I were born).

Ancestry.com can show you who might be your cousin, second cousin, all the way to your fifth cousin, just through DNA results being similar.  I'm anxious to see if there are any folks matched up with me through DNA testing on the Ancestry website.   

 

This has been enlightening to say the least.  I can't wait to compare this further with my genealogy results and see if it explains any other mysteries.   

 

Battle of Thompson's Station - 150th Anniversary

March 5th was the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Thompson's Station, so Saturday, they had an event at Homestead Manor to commemorate it.

I really wanted to go because I have an ancestor who actually fought in this battle.

Willis H. Whitwell is my great-great-great-great grandfather.  He was a Confederate Captain, which means that he was fighting for the winning side during this battle.

As soon as we get to Homestead Manor, whom did we see, but President Lincoln!!  We just had to get our picture taken with him.

The Civil War reenactors (is that a word?) demonstrated how cannons were shot.  They did this over and over again.  I think I jumped or yelled (or both) every time.  It was SO LOUD!

There was a mini-camp set up as well. They had period clothing for sale, along with quilts, toys, and other things.

The girls ran into a few of their friends while we were there. And for some random reason, there were these miniature horses there.  ??

We've lived here for 11 years and I drive past Homestead Manor all the time.  But I have yet to take a tour of it.  The battle was fought just to the left side of the house.  The residents of the house took shelter in the slave quarters in the basement, and watched through two small windows as the battle raged.

The manor was set up like a Civil War hospital (thus the H flag draped on the banister).

Inside, we toured the home and different characters explained their role in running the hospital.  I even got to help assist the doctor in tending to this young man's wounds! Ha!

They had a room set up for mourning as well, complete with period pieces of clothing on display.  The lady in this room explained the customs of the day.  It was very interesting. 

This room was set up with several pallets in the floor.  This lady explained how houses were turned into makeshift hospitals.  She also showed the kids the various medical tools that were used during that time.

After we finished our tour, we grabbed some yummy kettle corn and the checked out the rest of the booths that were set up. The girls really liked checking out the cannon balls and other items that have been discovered from various battle sites.

Before we left, we got to see a demonstration of the cavalry, and we left that day with three small trees.  (Again, random...but they were giving them away.)

We left very satisfied with our little adventure for the day, but we were ready to get away from the booms of the cannons.  They even shook our car as we were leaving. 

Grandma and Grandpa Peebles

On one of the genealogy sites I check, I posted that I had a photo of George B. Peebles and would be willing to share, asking that any other photos be shared in return.

The above photo is the only one that we had of George Peebles.  He's the tall gentleman with the long white beard.  The lady on the far left is his daughter Martha Lillian (Peebles) Evatt.  The little boy is Lawrence Noblitt, David's grandfather.  I'm unsure who the two adults in the middle are.

A nice lady named Minnie offered to send me some photos she had of George Blackwell Peebles.  She had a ton of them and sent me black and white photocopies of several, including this one below.

This is of George Blackwell Peebles and his wife, Nancy Helen Cox when they were younger.

And the photo below is of Grandma Peebles (Nancy Helen Cox), a relative, and her son Samuel and his wife.

She sent me other photocopied photos as well.  I asked her if I could get professional copies made, or scans sent, as some of these were the first photos we've ever had of these ancestors.

Here's a quick family tree, so you can see how far back we're going here.  Grandma and Grandpa Peebles (George and Nancy) are David's great-great-great grandparents.

Their daughter Matilda Ann "Annie" Peebles married David Jasper Noblitt.

Minnie sent me some of the photos I had requested.  Here is another one of Grandpa Peebles with his long flowing beard.

And this photo shows George and Nancy (Cox) Peebles seated, with their daughters Martha and Matilda standing behind them with their husbands.  Elijah Evatt married Martha and David Noblitt married Matilda.

Here's another photo of David Jasper Noblitt and Matilda Ann Peebles.  I'm assuming this is their first son, Otis.  But I haven't confirmed that yet.

This photo is labeled as the Peebles and Evatt families.  If I recieved correct information, the people in the photo are as follows:

Back row (L-R): Elijah Oliver Evatt, his wife Martha Lillian (Peebles) Evatt, their son and daughter-in-law, John Bunyan Evatt and Savannah Elizabeth (Simpson) Evatt, with their baby Thomas.  The last two people are Savannah's parents, Thomas and Mary Bertha (Hill) Simpson.  On the front row is George Peebles.  The two ladies are his mother (Matilda Huskey) and his wife (Nancy Helen Cox Peebles).  However, the lady sending me the photos was unsure of which was which.  But judging from other photos, I believe Nancy (his wife) is the one in the middle.

Rumors (not proven) around the genealogy sites are that Nancy Helen Cox was a Cherokee squaw (although she doesn't look it in the photos) and that she was born on the Trail of Tears.  However, the Trail of Tears ended in 1839 and Nancy was born in 1843, so I haven't been able to find any definitive proof of her Indian heritage as of yet. 

But I just wanted to share this new genealogy news!

McLarrins on 1940 census

I found some more family on the 1940 census.

This time, it's David side.

In 1940, you see David's great-grandparents, listed as Fred D and Glina McLarrin

along with their children, Juanita, Ava Nell and Billie Fred.

It shows that Pa Mac (Fred) rented his farm for $4/month, he is the head of the household, age 27, with a 4th grade education. 

Granny Mac (Glenna) is age 28, with an 8th grade education.

David's Mamaw (Juanita)  is 10 years old and in the 4th grade, Aunt Ava Nell is 7 years old and in the 2nd grade, and Billie Fred is 4 years old and not yet attending school.

Thought it would be neat to see a little blast from the past.

Letters from a Great Great Great Grandparent

Minnie Chapin, a fellow genealogist, who happens to be David's grandfather's 2nd cousin, sent me some photocopies of some photographs, along with some very fun letters, written to her mother.

The letters, below, were written by George Peebles and his daughter, Martha, in 1930 to his granddaughter (Minnie's mother).  George is David's great-great-great grandfather.

So you can see the family line, here is is:

Great-Great-Great-Grandfather: George Peebles

Great-Great-Grandmother: Matilda Ann Peebles Noblitt

Great Grandfather: Samuel David Noblitt

Grandfather: Lawrence David Noblitt

Mother: Sondra Noblitt Christopher

David Christopher

And here's the letter:

Holland ark april 17 1930

dear Margaret

I will try and use your letter. I was sure glad to here from you. I am not hardly able to set rite but hope these few lines will find all well. we have dry weather here. it hasent rained cince I come down here.

I was glad to here they had so mutch corn planted. they are not done planting down here yet. how is the apple crop and the strawbeerys.

your school will be out before long. Dora has five weeks of school yet. well I cant keep mind on my letters so I close. tell to write to me. I will to do better next time so good by.

From Grand Pa

And on the back of Grandpa Peebles letter, Aunt Martha (Peebles) Evatt, Matilda's sister, wrote a letter as well:

Dear Margaret, I will try to write you a few lines to night on the back of grandpa letter. we are all up. I am awful tired to night.

I and Inez wash this morning before she wente to school.

well Margrete I wish you had of came with your Dady and mother when they came. I shure want you to come this summer and stay a month with us and bring George and your Dady and mother. I believe they could visit a while if you were here.

write and tell me how you get along with your Ducks. I am going to sit some Duck Eggs next weak. I got 3 hens siting on hen Eggs. we are looking for a big croud here Sunday. Dr. Eevatt and Family and 2 married boys and there Familys 1 girl and her husbman and all of folks if it is a pritty day. I hope you have a nice time Easter. well I will haft to ring off. tell all to write your aunt Martha. Saved and Santifide.