DNA Trail...

     I recently got the results of my Geno 2.0 DNA test.  This test gives results for distant ancestors and since I am female, it only gives mitochondrial DNA.  
     I already knew from Thomas' test at FTDNA that the haplogroup for our matrilineal line was J--J2a1a1a2. There is an interesting book written by Bryan Sykes entitled The Seven Daughters of Eve. 
     The "daughters" refer to the 7 haplogroups to which the mitochondrial DNA of Europeans can be traced. Sykes created a story to explain each haplogroup and its migration out of Africa. J or Jasmine as it is referred to, moved out of the Middle East toward Europe about 8,500 years ago, bringing agriculture with it.
     The test makes comparisons between the typical percentages of ethnicities in European populations and the individual (me).  I completed a survey of my known ancestors and their geographical origins.  My largest pool was British.  The typical makeup of that group is 49% Northern European, 33% Mediterranean and 17% Southwest Asian.
      For our line the results were:  43% Northern European; 37% Mediterranean; 18% Southwest Asian and 2% Native American. This last result was a bit of a surprise. 
     I went to a program sponsored by Irish Genealogical Society International and the speaker gave an overview of DNA & genealogy. I ran this result by her, wondering how far back this might be--she said, "think 1700s".  I then found information on the Geno 2.0 website saying that 2% Native American would mean that the DNA was introduced about 5 or 6 generations back.  
     Our matrilineal line is Hogan-->Morehead-->Grandelmyer-->Thompson-->Lewis-->unknown.
     Sarah Jane Lewis was born about 1822 in Tompkins County, New York.  Nothing is known of her mother.  Her father's name was likely John Lewis.  A John Lewis was with her & her family in the 1850 Federal Census in St. Paul, Minnesota Territory. 
     More digging to do!
     

Pullen DNA

     Our ancestor Martha Pullen was married to John Brown Morehead between 1857 and 1860 when she appears in the 1860 Federal Census in Winona, Minnesota. I couldn't find a marriage record for them in Winona.
    Her death records and the obituaries for her in St. Paul and Winona do not give any genealogical information.

    A Martha Pullen appears in the 1850 Federal Census in Illinois but there was no other clear evidence that this was "my" Martha.  One fact that did connect was that this Martha was born in Indiana and other census records have our Martha born there as well.
    There is now some DNA evidence that Martha belongs to the Dennis Pullen & Nancy Kingen family in that someone on Ancestry DNA shares DNA with me and her ancestor is the daughter of David Pullen & Elizabeth Duncan--Minnie Pullen Reynolds.
     That is probably as close as I'll get!
     David Pullen lived in Rock Island County, Illinois.  His first wife was Nancy Kingen. They were married in Boteourt, Virginia. They lived in Indiana for a while.  Martha was born there according to census records. Nancy died in 1844 in Illinois.  He later married Mrs. Jane Coulter.  He is buried in Eliza Creek Cemetery, in Mercer County, Illinois.
     Martha Pullen Morehead died in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1884 and was buried in Winona. She was the mother of Wilbert O. Morehead, father of Catherine Morehead, mother of Marguerite Luella Hogan.
   

RIP Patrick Thomas Burns 1930-2012

     Uncle Pat would appreciate this:

     Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, let perpetual light shine upon him.  May he and all the faithfully departed rest in peace.  Amen. 

He told me recently that he sends out the births and deaths of people to an email list, especially deaths, so people will be reminded of them and say an Ave.  
     So, say an Ave for Uncle Pat.

Marguerite Luella Hogan Burns, RIP

Yesterday was the 22nd anniversary of Mom's death.  Her wake was on Mother's Day.  Extremely fitting!

May she rest in peace.

5th cousin to my Grandmother's Cat

Well, the DNA is back on Colette's spit test!  We sent our DNA into 23andMe to see what we could find out about our relationship.  We do have a bit of DNA in common.  We were categorized as 3rd to distant cousins.

If we follow the information we have, I am about 7 generations from the common ancestor and Colette is 5 generations, so I guess that would be distant! We might be 3rd cousins twice removed.  Colette and my grandfather were 3rd cousins. There are still a few lose ends to clear up.  Anyway, it's the Herlihy name that is the connection.