About us
This project is dedicated to documenting the genetics of the early European settlers in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Membership consists of those who can document that their direct paternal lineage, direct maternal lineage, or one of their in the middle autosomal line ancestors traces back to the first settlers who arrived as early as 1620.
Preference is given to those who can document an ancestor before the end of the Great Migration (1620-1640), but others may be accepted by petition. The final decision for membership is the sole discretion of the administrative group. It is not meant to be a general geographic project for those from New England.
Joining The NEW ENGLAND Early Colonist Project
If you are interested in joining the project and you have not yet tested through Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) or one of their affiliates, you may do so by ordering a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA), or a Family Finder (FF) test.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing is the proven method to find and add to the proof for genealogical connections between women using genetic technologies. Matching combined with traditional genealogical research effectively demonstrates relationships.
For successful comparison and matching, you should order the mitochondrial DNA full genomic sequence test. This is sufficient resolution to ensure that your matches are not coincidental. Because mtDNA is passed on only by women, the person tested needs to be a direct maternal descendant of an early colonist. Contacting others with an early colonist's lineage is often required.
Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA): Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) testing is the proven method to find and add to the proof for genealogical connections between men using genetic technologies. Matching and partial matching combined with traditional genealogical research effectively demonstrates relationships for 1 to 15 generations. For most researchers who have reached a brick wall in their genealogy, this is the ideal test.
For successful comparison and matching, you should order a Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, or Y-DNA111 test. This is sufficient resolution to ensure that your matches are not coincidental. Because Y-DNA is inherited only by men, the person tested needs to be a male direct paternal descendant of an early colonist. Contacting males with an early colonist's lineage/surname (brothers, fathers, uncles, cousins, etc.), is often required.
Family Finder (FF): The Family Finder test is a new way to find genetic connections that support traditional genealogy. It uses your autosomal DNA to match you with cousins within six generations. These matches may come from any of your 32 great-great-great grandparents. They will include both your male and female relatives and anyone may take the test.
Because the Family Finder test is new, you will need to reach out to potential matches from your suspected line asking them to also test. They may be of either gender, and it does not matter if their relationship to your common ancestor crosses back and forth between male and female lines. It is important that they be related to you within six generations.
If you have already tested with FTDNA or an affiliate (National Genographic, IGENEA, African DNA, etc.), you may join the project using your existing results.
Resources and References
Related Projects
- Researching...
Databases
- Family Tree DNA's open Y-chromosome Database: ySearch
- Family Tree DNA's draft Y-chromosome Tree: Y-Tree
- The Sorenson Family of Companies non-profit Foundation's proprietary database: SMGF Database
E-mail Lists/Forums
Journals and Newsletters
- American Journal of Human Genetics
- Annals of Human Genetics
- European Journal of Human Genetics
- Family Tree DNA Newsletter: Facts & Genes
- Family Tree DNA Newsletter: Facts & Genes Archives
- Genome Research
- Human Genetics
- Journal of Genetic Genealogy
- Society for Molecular Biology
Organizations
- ISOGG, International Society of Genetic Genealogy
- YCC, Y Chromosome Consortium
- National Human Genome Research Institute
- Human Genome Project
Donating to the NEW ENGLAND Early Colonist Project
The project has a general fund to which you may contribute. You may donate to all testing efforts, or you may specify the kit or lineage for which you would like to pay for testing. Should you donate to a specific kit, I will do my best to obtain consent for the upgrade from the owner of the kit.