Project News
The Roache Families DNA Project, which includes all variant spellings – in English and other languages – including those no longer in use – is for those who can’t entirely document their Family History using a conventional paper trail beyond a certain point in time.
The paper trail consists of birth, marriage and death indices, plus census documents, land grants, wills, immigration records, service records, etc. The Panal Laws in Ireland,the loss of life during the Diaspora, the sheer number of os with so few first names, and the loss or destruction of records that did exist has made it extremely difficult to accurately get very far back in time historically.
This has caused desperation at times and people have simply assumed linkages where they may or may not exist. We need to get around the roadblocks and confusion using another method – DNA analysis.
Since surnames came into existence, diverse spellings have evolved. For the most part, and contrary to popular opinion, these variations are of little significance.
With no Roache-Roach-Roche-Roch confirmed matches to date, it is interesting to see other "families" do so well. Even related families sharing our group have matches.
So if your name is Ro(a)ch(e), you are “into” family history, and you are stuck, yDNA testing may help. The cost has come down significantly in recent years, and, if you find a match, it is well worth it! There is no reason to fear :Big Brother" here --- if Big Brother wants a sample, he will get it from you; he will have no need to do to a labs in the U.S. for a sample.
Two things do perples me - one is that people pay for a test and then don't kkeep their e-mail contact current - so if a match is found, they cannot be reached. The second is when we find a match and people refuse to make contact and follow through to see if it is a false positive or if there really is a link. We have both in our Group, so I do hope, these membrs come around.