These are the top eight matches at FamilyTreeDNA for my maternal great-aunt Ruby's by relationship range. I've removed the last names of the matches. Of course, I am her closest match at 998cm with a predicted relationship range of 1st cousin, half sibling, grandparent/grandchild, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew.
The next closest match is Mildred, who matches Ruby at 272cm and is predicted to be a 1st - 3rd cousin. Mildred is a known relative, a 1st cousin once removed with common ancestors being Mary Ellen Swafford. Mildred comes from the Gilliland side of the family, so actually she would be a half-1st cousin once removed.
The next two matches, Judith and Thomas, are the children of Mildred and match Ruby at 173cm and 135cm respectively. These would be Ruby's second cousins (technically half-second cousins). Interestingly, Judith and Thomas do not share the same amount of DNA with Ruby, which just shows why you should test as many people as you can as not even brothers & sisters will share the exact same amounts of DNA.
The next match, Justin, is the son of Judith. He shares 108cm with Ruby. He is also predicted to be a 2nd - 4th cousin, but is actually 2nd cousin once removed.
The next match, Elizabeth, shares 81cm with Ruby and is predicted to be a 2nd - 4th cousin. She doesn't have a family tree on the site, but in the list of surnames was Crockett, the name of Ruby's 2nd-great grandmother. I've heard back from her and she descends from Alexander Crockett & Elizabeth Watkins through Joseph, the younger brother of Ruby's ancestor David Crockett of Owen County, Indiana.
The next match, Sherrol, shares 77cm with Ruby and is predicted to be a 2nd - 4th cousin. She has a family tree on the site, but I didn't see any names that looked familiar. Will have to reach out and see if we can compare notes for the connection.
The next match, Mark, also shares 77cm with Ruby and is predicted to be a 2nd - 4th cousin. He has no family tree or surnames listed.
The next match, Dale, shares 75cm with Ruby and is predicted to be a 2nd - 4th cousin match. Dale is Ruby's 3rd cousin, a descendant of David & Ellen (Lambertson) Mengle. Dale and Ruby's common ancestors are John Lambertson & Sarah A. Willson.
The last match on the first page, Vaughn, shares 74cm with Ruby and is predicted to be a 2nd-4th cousin match. No family tree provided, but several surnames listed - none that are familiar. Will have to reach out to see if we can make the connection.
At first blush, there are some known relatives and good potential matches in the list of the first page of highest centimorgans shared.
I finally took the plunge into the 3rd of the major players in the DNA field and submitted a test to AncestryDNA. I'd already tested at both 23andMe and FamilytreeDNA. Between those two, I probably have enough data to keep me busy for years, but by testing with Ancestry, I will be fishing in the pond with the largest pool of fellow testers.
For a comparison of how the various autosomal DNA testing companies break down, please see the chart at the International Society of Genetic Genealogy Wiki. They rate Ancestry's DNA users as having a medium response rate and a medium level of genealogical knowledge. The worst response rate was from 23andMe and I managed to have pretty good results before they changed their setup. I like how FamilyTreeDNA is set up, but they only have about 150,000 testers versus the 1 million at Ancestry. So I'm definitely stepping into the big pond.
I'm looking forward to finding even more relatives and hopefully break down some brick walls.
Another one of my genealogy goals for 2016 includes working towards documenting descent for admission into heredity societies. For instance, mom had recently asked if it was possible to prove descent for her to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). We have those patriot ancestors, but it will just be a matter of documentation.
In order to facilitate the process, I went to the DAR's website and their Patriot Ancestor search engine, searching for individuals in mom's line that might have been recognized as Patriots. I was able to locate several ancestors. There may be more that have served but aren't recognized yet, but I wanted to start with the lines that were already recognized and prove descent from them.
Here are the Patriot Ancestors found that mom descends from:
NICHOLAS BARKER - A006109
Nicholas was recognized for patriotic service from Guilford County, North Carolina for furnishing supplies.
Line of descent : Nicholas Barker & Hannah Allen>Abner Barker & Lydia Osborne>Mary Barker & John W. Davis>Mary Davis & John T. Beals>Nathan T. Beals & Elizabeth C. Poe>Pearl M. Beals & Charles W. Lambertson>Clemon B. Lambertson & June K. Davis>Bonnie M. Lambertson & William L. Wright>mom
JOHN CORBIN - A025944
John was recognized for patriotic service from Culpepper County, Virginia for furnishing supplies.
Line of descent : John Corbin & Frances Fant>Frances Corbin & Benjamin Kendrick>Elizabeth Kendrick & James Putman>Mary Putman & Jesse Reynolds>Fanny Reynolds & Austin Davis>James A. Davis & Mary E. Swafford>Ida Davis & unknown>June K. Davis & Clemon B. Lambertson>Bonnie M. Lambertson & William L. Wright>mom
DAVID CROCKETT - A027938
David was recognized for patriotic service from the Watauga Settlement, Washington District, North Carolina as a signer of the Watauga Petition in 1776.
Line of descent : David Crockett & Elizabeth Hedge>Alexander Crockett & Elizabeth Watkins>David Crockett & Mary Ann Nosler>Mary Ann Crockett & Peter K. Swafford>Mary E. Swafford & James A. Davis>Ida Davis & unknown>June K. Davis & Clemon B. Lambertson>Bonnie M. Lambertson & William L. Wright>mom
JOHN DAVIS - A030436
John was recognized for patriotic service from Hillsborough District, North Carolina for payment for services rendered.
Line of descent : John Davis & Mary Chamness>Charles Davis & Hannah Piggott>John W. Davis & Mary Barker>Mary Davis & John T. Beals>Nathan T. Beals & Elizabeth C. Poe>Pearl M. Beals>Charles W. Lambertson>Clemon B. Lambertson & June K. Davis>Bonnie M. Lambertson & William L. Wright>mom
THOMAS HEATON - A054052
Thomas served as a private from Virginia in the 3rd Company of Captain Peyton in Colonel Heth's 7th Regiment.
Line of descent : Thomas Heaton & Susan Taylor>James R. Heaton & Elizabeth Jacobs>Rebecca A. Heaton & Joseph W. Wright>John W. Wright & Ellen King>Virgil L. Wright & Edna M. Pierce>William L. Wright & Bonnie M. Lambertson>mom
SAMUEL HUTCHINSON SR- A061427
Samuel was recognized for patriotic service from Norwich, Vermont for being a member of the Committee of Safety in 1777.
Line of descent : Samuel Hutchinson & Jemima Dunham>Sarah Hutchinson & Francis Smalley>Thirsa Smalley & Gordon Pierce>Francis S. Pierce & Rebecca Page>Edmund G. Pierce & Catherine Groenendyke>William F. Pierce & Clara A. Penisten>Edna M. Pierce & Virgil L. Wright>William L. Wright & Bonnie M. Lambertson>mom
NICHOLAS KEMMER - A064441
Nicholas served as corporal from Pennsylvania in Captain Finney's 4th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line.
Line of descent : Nicholas Kemmer & Sarah Fayler>Elizabeth Kimmer & Godfrey Heck>Mary Heck & William Shaw>Elizabeth Shaw & Daniel King>Ellen King & John W. Wright>Virgil L. Wright & Edna M. Pierce>William L. Wright & Bonnie M. Lambertson>mom
MORDECAI MENDENHALL - A077381
Mordecai was recognized for patriotic service from Guilford County, North Carolina for rendering material aid.
Line of descent : Mordecai Mendenhall & Charity Beeson>Charity Mendenhall & Aaron Mills>Henry Mills & Hannah Woodward>Hannah Mills & Isaac S. Poe>Elizabeth C. Poe & Nathan T. Beals>Pearl M. Beals & Charles W. Lambertson>Clemon B. Lambertson & June K. Davis>Bonnie M. Lambertson & William L. Wright>mom
AARON MILLS - A079836
Aaron was recognized for patriotic service from Guilford County, North Carolina for furnishing supplies.
Line of descent : Aaron Mills & Charity Mendenhall>Henry Mills & Hannah Woodward>Hannah Mills & Isaac S. Poe>Elizabeth C. Poe & Nathan T. Beals>Pearl M. Beals & Charles W. Lambertson>Clemon B. Lambertson & June K. Davis>Bonnie M. Lambertson & William L. Wright>mom
HENRY MILLS - A079909
Henry was recognized for patriotic service from Hillsborough District, North Carolina for services rendered.
Line of descent : Henry Mills & Hannah Thornburg>Aaron Mills & Charity Mendenhall>Henry Mills & Hannah Woodward>Hannah Mills & Isaac S. Poe>Elizabeth C. Poe & Nathan T. Beals>Pearl M. Beals & Charles W. Lambertson>Clemon B. Lambertson & June K. Davis>Bonnie M. Lambertson & William L. Wright>mom
SAMUEL NESBIT - A082390
Samuel served as a soldier from Virginia in Capt. Alexander Stewart's Company.
Line of descent : Samuel Nesbit & Mary Berry>Elizabeth Nesbit & Samuel Wardlaw>Anna Wardlow & John Wright>Joseph W. Wright & Rebecca A. Heaton>John W. Wright & Ellen King>Virgil L. Wright & Edna M. Pierce>William L. Wright & Bonnie M. Lambertson>mom
MATTHEW OSBORNE - A084526
Matthew was recognized for patriotic service from Guilford County, North Carolina for services rendered.
Line of descent : Matthew Osborne & Mary Reynolds>Lydia Osborne & Abner Barker>Mary Barker & John W. Davis>Mary Davis & John T. Beals>Nathan T. Beals & Elizabeth C. Poe>Pearl M. Beals & Charles W. Lambertson>Clemon B. Lambertson & June K. Davis>Bonnie M. Lambertson & William L. Wright>mom
ANTHONY RAINES - A093504
Anthony served as a private from Randolph County, North Carolina in the militia under Colonel Lyteral.
Line of descent : Anthony Raines & Nancy Graham>Elizabeth Rains & John W. Poe>Isaac S. Poe & Hannah Mills>Elizabeth C. Poe & Nathan T. Beals>Pearl M. Beals & Charles W. Lamberston>Clemon B. Lambertson & June K. Davis>Bonnie M. Lambertson & William L. Wright>mom
FRANCIS SMALLEY - A105541
Francis served as a private from Vermont under Captains Bush, Hazen and Brush and Colonel Olcott.
Line of descent : Francis Smalley & Sarah Hutchinson>Thirsa Smalley & Gordon Pierce>Francis S. Pierce & Rebecca Page>Edmund G. Pierce & Catherine Groenendyke>William F. Pierce & Clara A. Penisten>Edna M. Pierce & Virgil L. Wright>William L. Wright & Bonnie M. Lambertson>mom
JOSEPH SMALLEY - A105547
Joseph was recognized for his patriotic service from Norwich, Vermont as a Member of the Committee of Safety in 1777 and Sealer of Weights and Measures in 1781.
Line of descent : Joseph Smalley & Jemima Ordway>Francis Smalley & Sarah Hutchinson>Thirsa Smalley & Gordon Pierce>Francis S. Pierce & Rebecca Page>Edmund G. Pierce & Catherine Groenendyke>William F. Pierce & Clara A. Penisten>Edna M. Pierce & Virgil L. Wright>William L. Wright & Bonnie M. Lambertson>mom
ROBERT WARDLAW - A120761
Robert served as private from Virginia and served at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.
Line of descent : Robert Wardlaw & Janet Downey>Samuel Wardlaw & Elizabeth Nesbit>Anna Wardlow & John Wright>Joseph W. Wright & Rebecca A. Heaton>John W. Wright & Ellen King>Virgil L. Wright & Edna M. Pierce>William L. Wright & Bonnie M. Lambertson>mom
ABRAHAM WOODWARD - A131418
Abraham was recognized for his patriotic service from Guilford County, North Carolina for giving material aid.
Line of descent : Abraham Woodward & Hannah Thornbrough>William Woodward & Elizabeth Millikan>Hannah Woodward & Henry Mills>Hannah Mills & Isaac S. Poe>Elizabeth C. Poe & Nathan T. Beals>Pearl M. Beals & Charles W. Lambertson>Clemon B. Lambertson & June K. Davis>Bonnie M. Lambertson & William L. Wright>mom
Now the hunt begins to documenting the descent from the established lines. We will meet soon to decided which line we want to pursue first and find out the process for her becoming a member.
If you are related to any of these families or have any additions or corrections, I'd love to hear from you.
