Thursday, May 13, 2010

DNA - The Short Version

Taking a break from 'Family Sketches' in order to share DNA news.

This is the short version of our DNA story. If you are interested in more detail, the next post will have much more detail.

DNA testing has verified the Hoffman branch of our family tree back to Virginia in the early 1700s. It has also verified the Norton family back to Connecticut before the American Revolution, verifying that Ebenezer Norton (born in 1715 in Durham, CT) is the 4th great grandfather of George Marcus Norton.

I am hoping that these success stories will spur at least one Stout and one Bagley man to also contribute to the database. Maybe there are others?

The 'paper' trail for both the Hoffman and Norton lines is very strong, but there is always a possibility of a mistake along the way, especially when tracking back six or eight generations. DNA testing creates virtual certainty that these are the 'clans' we descend from. We may be able to do the same thing with the other surnames in our family.

If you are interested in the science behind DNA testing, please stayed tuned in, I will write an extended article next.