Whitener FamilyTreeDNA Project - Family Project Website

Link to the Whitener FamilyTree DNA Project.

Whitener FamilyTreeDNA Project - Family Project Website

Maternal Lineage Updated

In anticipation of receiving my mtDNA test in a few weeks, I've been researching my direct maternal line. When I last posted on this subject, I could only confirm up to Catherine Powell. Today I've added confirmation of Anna Barbara Albright, Anna Maria Keller, and discovered a potentially different mother for Anna Maria Keller.

Starting with my great-grandmother, here is my direct maternal lineage, as far as I can trace it (some are not verified):
Rachel Louisa Johnson
Martha Jane Garrett
Nancy Emeline Brookshire
Elizabeth Tilley
Catherine Powell
Anna Barbara Albright
Anna Maria Keller
(unconfirmed from here down)
Juliana Kleindinst or Catharina Wirth
Anna Maria ?

It is more difficult researching maternal lineage, especially prior to 1850 when all household members were enumerated in the census, but I've found some excellent resources. With diligence and patience, the results can be found.

Zoom. Write and Learn « FamHist Blog

I haven't tried this application of Google Earth, yet, but it sounds very promising and lots of fun. And I have to second his comment regarding researching ancestors using Google Books. I have Google Books on my list of research tasks for every name and have found invaluable resources and data.

Zoom. Write and Learn « FamHist Blog

Wilfong FamilyTree DNA Project Website - Family Project Website

Here is a link to the Wilfong FamilyTree DNA site. The Johannes Wilfong referenced in the project background is my 7x great-grandfather.

Wilfong FamilyTree DNA Project Website - Family Project Website

DNA Testing

I finally bit the bullet and ordered a DNA test this morning.

I chose to use Family Tree DNA, which purports to have 90% of the genealogy DNA market share. I ordered the mtDNAPlus test kit. It's a little more expensive than the basic mtDNA kit, but I knew I wouldn't be satisfied with lesser results and would end up ordering a second test.

The mtDNA tests give results only for the direct female line. I seldom think in terms of the a direct female (or male) line, so I looked up the lineage this morning.

Starting with my great-grandmother, here is my direct maternal lineage, as far as I can trace it (some are not verified):

Rachel Louisa Johnson
Martha Jane Garrett
Nancy Emeline Brookshire
Elizabeth Tilley
Catherine Powell (unconfirmed from here down)
Anna Barbara Albright
Anna Maria Keller
Juliana Kleindinst
Anna Maria ?

I never realized that my direct maternal line was Germanic, but Keller and Kleindinst are certainly Germanic names.

Any cousins reading this who come directly through the maternal line, you don't need to get tested. Your results will be exactly the same as mine and I will be glad to share.

Look for results in about seven weeks.

Revolutionary War Soldiers of Western North Carolina: Burke County, Volume I

I found a great source record last week at the library. It's a book called Revolutionary War Soldiers of Western North Carolina: Burke County, Vol. 1. The author is Emmet R. White and it was published in 1984 by Southern Historical Press, Inc. of Easley, S.C.

It has biographical sketches on many soldiers, including summaries of military service, later life, land holdings, and census locations. Two of my ancestors are included: Captain Thomas Hemphill and Captain Thomas Lytle.

Other soldiers and patriots detailed are:

and: