DNA : Aunt Ruby's Ethnicity Results

Back in November, I wrote about awaiting the DNA results from my oldest maternal relative, my great-aunt Ruby.  Her results have come back and below are the ethnicity estimates from FamilyTreeDNA.

Ruby's ethnicity came back 97% European and 2% Middle Eastern.  The Middle Eastern portion came from Asia Minor (Turkey).

I realize that these ethnicity results are dependent on the self-reporting of the data pool, I do find them interesting.  My guess is that the portion from Turkey is from her maternal grandfather - who is as yet unknown.  This could explain the dark hair, dark eyes and features that appear to resemble the "mystery man" photo.  More tests will have to be done on other family members to see where they compare.

For the European ethnicity, the Eastern Europe portion has not shown up in the known paper trail DNA, though there is much of Ruby's paternal ancestry that remains unknown.  The maternal lines include much of the British Isles.

How does this compare with my ethnicity from FamilyTreeDNA?  

A little less Middle Eastern, but overall, similar results that I would expect from being a generation removed.

I've already reached out to two of my first cousins, who come from this same line.  Will compare these results and be able to track exactly what DNA we share from our common ancestors.  Then, hopefully, I can triangulate with others who match us and find common ancestors to break down the brick walls.

LeMaster Cousins Gather

Yesterday, my mom & dad went to Portland and met with some of dad's cousins who were getting together to start off the New Year.  Unfortunately, I couldn't make it, but I was glad that they were able to go and talk about family history.

According to dad, it was a good visit, a lot of catching up over the years and sharing of some family stories and history.  A copy of some of the research that had been compiled (some from this blog) was given to them and now I have contact information to follow up and hopefully share some more research.

Here are a couple pictures that were taken.

L-R: Leland LeMaster, Weldon LeMaster, Doug LeMaster, Kay Addington, Gary LeMaster

The above is a picture of my dad with his first cousins' once removed, the children of John Leland and Helen Eileen (Pease) LeMaster.  Missing from the group was Terry, who was ill, and Larry, who passed in 1974.  Dad is also related to these brothers & sisters through their mother, Helen, who is a Wehrly descendant.  On that line they are third cousins twice removed to my dad.

Ann (LeMaster) Monger

Also at the gathering was Ann, who is my dad's first cousin, the daughter of John Leland & Dortha LeEtta (DeLauter) LeMaster.  She is the aunt of the group assembled above.

Hopefully the next time I am able to get over to the Portland area we can arrange to meet and maybe share some pictures, etc.  Once the weather warms in the spring I have plans to make some stops over there to the historical society and the courthouse.

Obituary : Peter Swafford, September 9, 1885, Republican Progress, Bloomington, Indiana

Thanks to the folks at the Monroe County, Indiana Public Library, I was able to obtain a copy of the obituary of my maternal 4th-great grandfather, Peter Kirkpatrick Swafford (1827-1885).  The obituary appeared in the September 9, 1885 edition of the Republican Progress in Bloomington, Indiana.

Peter Swafford, who lived on the hill (at Spencer) near Henry Keenes, died one day last week and was taken to Monroe county near Stinesville for burial.

That's not much of an obituary, but it does let me know that he was buried near Stinesville in Monroe County, even though he died in Owen County.  I have not yet located his burial location.

Peter was born June 12, 1827 in Mississippi and married April 3, 1853 in Owen County, Indiana to Mary Ann Crockett (1835-1865).