Wading Into the Big Pond with AncestryDNA

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.

Mom's Patriot Ancestors

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.

Shaky Leaves : Richard Alderman household, 1870 census Madison County, Indiana

Working through more of the shaky leaf hints at Ancestry.com for my LeMaster & Allied Families Tree and updated the record of the 1870 census in Richland Township, Madison County, Indiana for my maternal 4th-great grandfather, Richard Alderman and his family.

1870 US Census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Richland Township, page 25, dwelling 165, family 165, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 December 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

Richard was enumerated as "R. Alderman", a 60 year old toll gate operator, born in Kentucky.  He was a U.S. citizen and the value of his personal estate was $350.  Though relationship were not specified in 1870, the other members of the household are known to be his children, his wife having died.

Members of the household include Washington Alderman, a 32 year old farmhand, born in Indiana; Susan Alderman, a 23 year old house keeper born in Indiana; Minter Alderman, a 20 year old farm hand born in Indiana; and N. J., a 17 year old farm hand born in Indiana who had attended school within the year.

So far, this is the last record I have located for Richard.  His wife sometime between 1860-1870.  I don't know much about the family, other than Washington was a Civil War veteran.

If you are related to this family in any way, I would love to hear from you.