Brick Wall Case Studies

Service Description

Brick walls are classic genealogy conundrums. Traditional genealogy research is always the bedrock of the research. This includes FAN group (FANG) creation and study: friends/family, associates and neighbors. FANGs are created from multiple sources including links in records, photographs, family histories, and scientific study results, including DNA. Case studies will be presented to demonstrate strategies, objectives, methods and results. Terrell Davis was found in Wilson Co., Tennessee in 1830. His origins were unknown. His wife's Joplin family was from Wake Co., NC where Jeptha Terrell posted a bastardy bond for fathering a child with Sally Davis. My Davis cousin's Y-DNA matched no Davis but many Terrell. "Reverse genealogy" identified a patrilineal descendant of Japtha's brother who was an excellent Y-DNA match. Subsequent, more informed research, completed the puzzle proving Terrell Davis' parents and more distant ancestors. DNA testing revealed matches to unknown persons, presumably cousins. The strategy involved using DNA results from known cousins to triangulate the line from which the newly discovered cousins emerged. Some of these new cousins were acknowledged illegitimate children, others not, or still others were adopted out of the family. The descendants of a legitimate child adopted out of the family were also identified by DNA studies. The Stinnett family has two genetically distinct branches living as neighbors in colonial Maryland. The R-haplogroup Stinnett have Y-DNA matches to the Calvert family who were Catholic proprietors of the colony. This includes a distant Calvert relative whose exhumed remains DNA testing matches living R-Stinnetts. The I-haplogroup Stinnett had a more modest heritage. Despite the absence of a patrilineal common ancestor, descendants in both branches have many shared DNA matches. We are using newly developed at-DNA graph analytic methods to triangulate matches many generations back. They are helpful in testing hypotheses and identifying candidates for further research. Examples will be reviewed. The Valencia family oral history includes an ancestor who spoke a Native American language and lifestyle was atypical. Y-DNA from his son, now deceased, was Q-haplogroup, establishing his Native American connection. There are few matches and the more distant lineage remains a brick wall.