This project is open exclusively to men who are Y-DNA descendants of the Malin family, as well as those who are mtDNA descendants of Randal Malin's two wives, Elizabeth (unknown) and Mary Hollingsworth.

Randal Malin was part of William Penn's community of Pennsylvania settlers. He was born in Netherton, Cheshire, in 1649, and his parentage remains unknown. He first married Elizabeth in 1676 while residing in Netherton, though her lineage is also unrecorded. In 1681, he purchased 250 acres in Pennsylvania through two deeds dated March 6 and 7. Upon his arrival in America, he settled in Upper Providence. Elizabeth passed away in August 1687. In 1693, Randal married Mary, the widow of Thomas Conway and daughter of Valentine Hollingsworth.

With his first wife, Elizabeth, Randal had three sons: John, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as one daughter, Mary. With his second wife, Mary Hollingsworth, he had four daughters: Hannah (who died young), Hannah, Rachel, and Katherine.

Some descendants have successfully traced their lineage to Randal Malin through traditional documentation, while others have faced challenges due to a lack of supporting records. Although some have attempted autosomal DNA testing, this method is limited to identifying relatives within the last five generations, making it ineffective for tracing ancestry back to the seventeenth century.

The next step is to conduct STR marker tests or the Big Y-700 test, which are designed to identify matches among Malin men on their paternal line, connecting them to our common ancestor. We aim to discover markers unique to the descendants of Randal Malin, as well as those specific to his sons, Isaac and Jacob. This research will enhance our understanding of the relationships between well-established paternal lines and those that have encountered obstacles.

If you have previously tested with AncestryDNA or 23andMe, you can transfer your data here and then purchase one of the following tests: Y-DNA STR markers or Big Y-700.

For those who descend from either of Randal Malin’s two wives, Elizabeth or Mary Hollingsworth, through an unbroken maternal line, we encourage you to purchase an mtDNA kit. This will help determine the haplogroup of both wives, tracing the female lineage (mother's mother's mother's, etc.) through mtDNA testing.

Your contribution of DNA to this project is greatly appreciated and will benefit both you and others in gaining a deeper understanding of Randal Malin and his descendants. Thank you!