About us
12 Mar 2016
We have several members who have genetic matches to other members, but do not carry the Van Meter surname. In the case of Ted Duffy, mentioned in 2008, it was the case of illigitimate birth and an oral family history of a Van Meter father. Testing verified the connection. In other cases where there are matches, but not the name, it is important to remember that matches just indicate a probability of a relationship within a certain period of time. It does not prove a relationship without other supporting evidence. The possibility of a common ancestor may be welcome or very disturbing. Further research of the paper documentation may or may not resolve the issue. In these cases it is helpful to have a 3rd or 4th male cousin, with the same surname, tested. This would help determine if the paternity event, if any, happened before or after that generation.
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30 Apr 2008
By virtue of Y-STR DNA testing Ted Duffy (“Smith”) is a Van Meter descendant and matches Mr. Ralph H. Smith at 24 of the 25 markers. His genealogical paper trail also leads to Laban V. Smith. Mr. Ralph H. Smith and Mr. Van Metre match exactly, therefore, the mutation between Mr. Ralph H. Smith and Mr. Duffy must have occurred after the birth of Laban V. Smith (1818-1821) as he is the MRCA (most recent common ancestor) of Mr. Ralph H. Smith and Mr. Duffy.
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4 Sep 2007
Generation 1: Jan Joosten (1626-1704)
Generation 2: Joost Jansen (1659-?)
Generation 3: John(1683-1745) Isaac(1692-1757) Henry(1695-1759)
• At the 25 marker level John and Henry's descendants have identical results (3 participants).
• Isaac's descendant shows a variation in one marker out of 37 markers, from John and Henry's descendants.
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05 Feb 2007
The results for our two members descended from Jan (John) Van Meteren are identical.
The results from our member descended from Isaac Van Meteren show a one step variation from the descendants of Jan (John) Van Meteren. We do not have enough data yet to determine where/when the mutation occurred.
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24 Apr 2006
The results for our first member have revealed a mystery!
He had an exact match with a man with the last name of Smith on the Y-DNA 25 marker test. When contacted Mr. Ralph H. Smith told him that his oral family history told of a Catherine (Katie) Smith who had an affair with a Seneca Indian who worked on the “van Meter” farm. Catherine lived in Pendleton County VA (now WV) at the time. Catherine’s father supposedly would not permit her to marry an “Indian.” The child was born ca.1818-21 in Pendleton County VA (now WV) and was named Laban V. Smith. The oral history refers to the father as “Indian van Meter.”
Catherine married ca.1826 in Pendleton County to a George Greenawalt. Laban V. Smith moved to Randolph County VA (now WV) between 1850 and 1860. Catherine died in Randolph County WV ca. 1866.
The DNA testing proved that “Indian's” father was a van Meter match but does not exclude that “Indian’s” mother was an American Indian. Exactly which “van Meter” was the father remains a mystery, as does whether he was “Indian” at all and the oral history apocryphal.
There is a “Smith” family cemetery in Dry Fork, Randolph County WV where Laban and many of his descendants are buried. (Thanks to Ted Duffy for clarification of this oral family history.)
The census data for Virginia (including what is now West Virginia) don't begin until 1810. The earlier records were destroyed. In 1810 there were ten families in Berkeley County with the last name Van Metre. In 1820 there were 12 Van Metre families in or near Berkeley County. There were also 7 Van Meter families in Hampshire and Hardy Counties. The 1830 census show two Van Meter families in Pendleton County. They are both sons of William Van Meter and Phoebe Harp. There is additional evidence that this family was in Pendleton county when Catherine Smith conceived Laban. Will our testing help to narrow down the possible father?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
We have several members who have genetic matches to other members, but do not carry the Van Meter surname. In the case of Ted Duffy, mentioned in 2008, it was the case of illigitimate birth and an oral family history of a Van Meter father. Testing verified the connection. In other cases where there are matches, but not the name, it is important to remember that matches just indicate a probability of a relationship within a certain period of time. It does not prove a relationship without other supporting evidence. The possibility of a common ancestor may be welcome or very disturbing. Further research of the paper documentation may or may not resolve the issue. In these cases it is helpful to have a 3rd or 4th male cousin, with the same surname, tested. This would help determine if the paternity event, if any, happened before or after that generation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
30 Apr 2008
By virtue of Y-STR DNA testing Ted Duffy (“Smith”) is a Van Meter descendant and matches Mr. Ralph H. Smith at 24 of the 25 markers. His genealogical paper trail also leads to Laban V. Smith. Mr. Ralph H. Smith and Mr. Van Metre match exactly, therefore, the mutation between Mr. Ralph H. Smith and Mr. Duffy must have occurred after the birth of Laban V. Smith (1818-1821) as he is the MRCA (most recent common ancestor) of Mr. Ralph H. Smith and Mr. Duffy.
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4 Sep 2007
Generation 1: Jan Joosten (1626-1704)
Generation 2: Joost Jansen (1659-?)
Generation 3: John(1683-1745) Isaac(1692-1757) Henry(1695-1759)
• At the 25 marker level John and Henry's descendants have identical results (3 participants).
• Isaac's descendant shows a variation in one marker out of 37 markers, from John and Henry's descendants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
05 Feb 2007
The results for our two members descended from Jan (John) Van Meteren are identical.
The results from our member descended from Isaac Van Meteren show a one step variation from the descendants of Jan (John) Van Meteren. We do not have enough data yet to determine where/when the mutation occurred.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
24 Apr 2006
The results for our first member have revealed a mystery!
He had an exact match with a man with the last name of Smith on the Y-DNA 25 marker test. When contacted Mr. Ralph H. Smith told him that his oral family history told of a Catherine (Katie) Smith who had an affair with a Seneca Indian who worked on the “van Meter” farm. Catherine lived in Pendleton County VA (now WV) at the time. Catherine’s father supposedly would not permit her to marry an “Indian.” The child was born ca.1818-21 in Pendleton County VA (now WV) and was named Laban V. Smith. The oral history refers to the father as “Indian van Meter.”
Catherine married ca.1826 in Pendleton County to a George Greenawalt. Laban V. Smith moved to Randolph County VA (now WV) between 1850 and 1860. Catherine died in Randolph County WV ca. 1866.
The DNA testing proved that “Indian's” father was a van Meter match but does not exclude that “Indian’s” mother was an American Indian. Exactly which “van Meter” was the father remains a mystery, as does whether he was “Indian” at all and the oral history apocryphal.
There is a “Smith” family cemetery in Dry Fork, Randolph County WV where Laban and many of his descendants are buried. (Thanks to Ted Duffy for clarification of this oral family history.)
The census data for Virginia (including what is now West Virginia) don't begin until 1810. The earlier records were destroyed. In 1810 there were ten families in Berkeley County with the last name Van Metre. In 1820 there were 12 Van Metre families in or near Berkeley County. There were also 7 Van Meter families in Hampshire and Hardy Counties. The 1830 census show two Van Meter families in Pendleton County. They are both sons of William Van Meter and Phoebe Harp. There is additional evidence that this family was in Pendleton county when Catherine Smith conceived Laban. Will our testing help to narrow down the possible father?
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