About us
The Balch Y-DNA project was started on July 30, 2006 in the hopes that we might be able to determine whether the seemingly disparate Balch lines were all from the same family. Happily as more and more Balch men tested, we would see that there is indeed one primary Balch line with deeps roots in England.
There are two known Balch immigrants to the United States: John Balch b. 1579 Somerset, England d. 1648 Massachusetts and the more mysterious John Balch b. about 1630 who can be found in early colonial Maryland records. The Maryland John's approximate year of birth (based on court records) would align with him being John Balch b. 1630/1631 Bridgwater, Somerset, England, son of Edward Balch and Mary Calle, but that is not proven. While present-day researchers have no evidence what became of John beyond the early court records, he is presumed to be the father or grandfather of Hezekiah Balch of Deer Creek, Harford Co., Maryland from whom all the "Maryland Balch" descendants descend.
On the other side of the coin, John Balch of Beverly, MA is very well documented as are his descendants compliments of very good record-keeping in New England. In a great stroke of luck, there also are Y-DNA mutations carried by all Massachusetts Balch descendants that make it very easy to distinguish men from that branch of the family from all other branches.
In addition to the U.S. Balch men who have tested and formed those two branches, there are several Balch men tested from England, Canada and Australia who are also from this old English family. The Big-Y 700 test has enabled us to form some additional branches of the family, but the common ancestor of these branches are not known. I encourage any male Balch considering the Y-DNA test to start with the Y-DNA 37 test, and then upgrade to the Big Y 700 if funds allow.
My name is Jane Gilbert, and I'm the volunteer administrator of the project. My great grandmother was Lizzie Balch who descends from John Balch of Warren Co., KY and Giles Co., TN.
If you're on Facebook, please join us in the Balch Genealogy and DNA Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/534523860046099
There are two known Balch immigrants to the United States: John Balch b. 1579 Somerset, England d. 1648 Massachusetts and the more mysterious John Balch b. about 1630 who can be found in early colonial Maryland records. The Maryland John's approximate year of birth (based on court records) would align with him being John Balch b. 1630/1631 Bridgwater, Somerset, England, son of Edward Balch and Mary Calle, but that is not proven. While present-day researchers have no evidence what became of John beyond the early court records, he is presumed to be the father or grandfather of Hezekiah Balch of Deer Creek, Harford Co., Maryland from whom all the "Maryland Balch" descendants descend.
On the other side of the coin, John Balch of Beverly, MA is very well documented as are his descendants compliments of very good record-keeping in New England. In a great stroke of luck, there also are Y-DNA mutations carried by all Massachusetts Balch descendants that make it very easy to distinguish men from that branch of the family from all other branches.
In addition to the U.S. Balch men who have tested and formed those two branches, there are several Balch men tested from England, Canada and Australia who are also from this old English family. The Big-Y 700 test has enabled us to form some additional branches of the family, but the common ancestor of these branches are not known. I encourage any male Balch considering the Y-DNA test to start with the Y-DNA 37 test, and then upgrade to the Big Y 700 if funds allow.
My name is Jane Gilbert, and I'm the volunteer administrator of the project. My great grandmother was Lizzie Balch who descends from John Balch of Warren Co., KY and Giles Co., TN.
If you're on Facebook, please join us in the Balch Genealogy and DNA Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/534523860046099
Note: As of 2024, we had a John Balch of Beverly, MA descendant generously donate funds to get another descendant Big-Y 700. Barring other DNA evidence of known Balch Y-DNA, the Y-DNA 37 would be ordered first to ensure that, and then the Big-Y 700 upgrade afterwards. Please contact the project admin if interested.