IMPORTANT RESEARCH — The True Origins of Theophilus Dunning

If you are researching the Dunning family of colonial New England, this post is for you.

A comprehensive new study has finally resolved the century-old confusion surrounding Theophilus Dunning of Salem, Massachusetts (b. Edinburgh, 15 October 1618). For generations, genealogical records have incorrectly merged his identity with two entirely different men named Theophilus Downing — one a son of prominent Puritan Emanuel Downing of Salem, the other a fisherman of Marblehead. This study separates them permanently using primary records and Y-DNA evidence.

Key findings:

— Theophilus Dunning was NOT English, NOT Puritan, and NOT a fisherman — He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and was a Scottish Presbyterian artisan — His biological lineage traces to the Carruthers of Holmains, Dumfriesshire — confirmed by Y-DNA — His son Benjamin Dunning was Sealer of Leather in Boston in 1682 — Three independent male-line branches of the Dunning line all carry haplogroup I-FT191896 — the Holmains Carruthers specific branch — The Dunning and Downing families are biologically unrelated — completely different Y-DNA haplogroups

If your tree currently shows: — Elin or Ellen as the wife of Theophilus Dunning — this is incorrect — His arrival date as 13 March 1642 — this is a transcription error — His occupation as fisherman — this belongs to a different man entirely

Full research, all primary source documents, and a free downloadable scholarly paper are available at:

theophilusdunningproject.wordpress.com

Steve Colburn of Carruthers, FSAScot Director of DNA Studies, Clan Carruthers Society International