Announcing the Rushing DNA Project for the surnames Rushen, Rushan, Rushant, Rushent and Rusher.

We encourage you to join today!

I am excited to announce that the Rushing DNA Project has been established at Family Tree DNA, and it is ready for participants to join and order a test kit.

I have tested and represent my family tree in the results. Ideally, our goal is to have two distant direct line males test for each family tree.

The YDNA test tells you about your direct male line, which would be your father, his father, and back in time. You must be male to take this test, and you should have one of the surnames shown. If you believe there is a Rushen or variant in your direct male line, although you have a different surname, you are also welcome to participate. If you are female, please find a direct line male to participate, to represent your tree.

We encourage males to order a Y DNA test for 37 markers, if possible. If you order fewer markers, you can upgrade later, though this costs a little more.

As our project grows, we will have many exciting discoveries. I have discovered I am of Viking descent and I have cousins in the United States.

Participating is an opportunity to uncover information not provided in the paper records, which will help with your research of your family tree. We will also discover which family trees are related. As the project progresses, the results for the various family trees will provide information about the origin and evolution of the surnames.

The goals of the project are:

*Discover information to help with our family history research

*Discover which family trees are related

*Discover information to help with brick walls

*Confirm surname variants

*Validate family history research

* Get on file a DNA sample for trees at risk of extinction of the male line

*Discover information about our distant origins

The test is a harmless genealogy test of locations on the Y chromosome, called markers, which are passed from father to son, typically unchanged. The test result is a string of numbers, and contains no personal information. You will be an exact or close match to those men to whom you are related. By also testing a distant direct line male in your family tree, if possible, you will validate the family tree research to the common ancestor shared by both men who test. In addition, the test result will tell you about your distant origins.

We have also established a General Fund, to accept donations in any currency via credit card. These funds will be held at the testing company,and used to help sponsor test kits for key males who are unable financially to participate. We encourage you to make a donation. Click on the link below to visit the project web site, and then click"Contribute to the Project General Fund" on the left to make a donation. If you decide to donate, please specify "Rushing Project General Fund" in the top box of the Donation form.

Both males and females may also be interested in learning about their direct female line, which would be their mother, their mother's mother, and back in time. You would order a mtDNA test. For matches in a genealogical time frame, order the mtDNA Plus test.

We encourage you to join us in our discoveries. Use the link below to order your test kit TODAY!

As a bonus all UK participants will get my help to build their family tree– For Free!

Peter Rushen

Note: Peter Rushen is our new group's new Co-Administrator.