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Beal Surname DNA

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  • Thomas Beals

About us

September 3, 2018

This chart and its description were made about September, 2006, and haven't been updated since. I'm posting it here because it is the only example I know of that shows what many participants in genetic testing want to do - relate their genetic results to traditional genealogies.

The goal of genealogical DNA testing, for many people, is to clarify, verify, or falsify a genealogy that has been assembled by traditional research methods. But in the analysis of molecular data, those traditional genealogies have not appeared. To combine traditional and molecular genealogies, we constructed the following chart, which we call a haplochart. The data are from the second-largest group in this project, the descendants of John Beal (b 1588) of Hingham, England and Hingham, MA.

haplotree

The chart shows an abbreviated traditional genealogical tree, father to son. Below the youngest descendant is shown a haplotype score for the vertically arranged markers (column, bottom left). Markers that are identical for all five haplotypes are shown with white background. Markers that are different in one or more individuals are shown with a grey background. The DNA donor is indicated by a DNA collection “kit” number.

Two individuals, 28617 and 2114, have recent ancestor Woodruff Beals (1814) and share the changed marker DYS390 = 21. A simple explanation for that shared haplotype is that the common ancestor had DYS390 = 21, and that the change DYS390 = 22 to DYS390 = 21 happened between Jeremiah Beal (1655) and Nathan Beals (1792). A descendant of any of these individuals might further identify a candiate individual in whom the change occured. If for example a descendant of Enoch Beals (1760) had DYS390 = 22 we would guess that the transition occurred with Nathan Beals (1792).

Donor 28617 shows a further change to DYS349 = 13, presumably from DYS349 = 12. From the tree we infer that this change occurred in one of the three individuals between 28617 and the Woodruff Beals, the common ancestor between 28617 and 2114.

Donor 13362 shows DYS464d = 19, presumably from DYS464d = 18. From the tree we infer that this change occurred between Lazarus Beal (1661) and the father of 13362.

Finally, donors 11274 and T24V9T show no apparent differences, and it is possible that these haplotype values were shared by the single common ancestor, John Beal (1588).

This brief description shows how the tree and the haplotype together in a haplochart allow visualization of the consistency of tree and haplotype and lead to testable predictions of haplotypes at various points in the tree.

Below, I have preserved the old, first results summary for the Beal* project. I suspect it was written by Charles Beal, the project's founder. I'll leave it up out of tradition and respect, until I have better summarized the current status of the project.


The Ancestral Haplotype (genetic signature) of William BEAL (b. 1664 of York, ME) has been established by test results, and validated by recorded genealogy. BEAL 101, 102, 104 and 114 have completed 25-marker testing to verify the results of a relationship of a 12-marker match and genealogical records and location of an earliest ancestor in York, ME. The 25 marker tests revealed a much stronger probability (99.9%) for a relationship in both the 24 & 25/25 matches, proving without any doubt that the genealogical records to William BEAL(E) & his sons in York, ME are correct and the search should now move into the UK for earlier ancestors!

With three participants, we have established an Ancestral Haplotype (genetic signature) for Arthur & Edward BEALE in York, ME. The additional markers obtained from Beal 115 shows a greater genetic distinction between between neighbors Arthur and William BEAL of York. These two men are therefore not closely related. Also, more testing will be needed to prove or disprove relationships to other known BEAL(E) immigrant ancestors in the U.S.A.

We now have an Ancestral Haplotype (genetic signature) for William BEALE (of Tuckley Glouchester & Ross, Herefordshire, England), found in test results for BEAL 106, 108 and 112, and 125. The surname spelling was changed to BEAL after this family moved to North America. It is also interesting to note that the haplotype for BELL 362 is similar. While there is a slight difference on at least 5 markers, this may imply that BELL 362 shares a common ancestor, prior to the time of William BEALE.

Test results for BEALS 202 forms what we call an Ancestral Haplotype (genetic signature) for John Beal of Hingham MA & Hingham England. In comparing BEALS 205, there is only a mutation of 1 in DYS 439, a frequent moving DYS. BEALS 203 has only two mutations in DYS 439 & DYS 464d, both rapidly moving DYS. BEAL 111 has only two mutations; one in DYS 439, a rapidly moving DYS, and one in DYS 390, not a rapidly moving DYS but acceptable enough to be a result of a different generation or a brother in the lineage. BEAL 103 needs to upgrade his test from 12 markers to 25 or 37 markers for more definition, but in the 12 markers, differs only by a rapidly moving DYS 385b. So the liklihood of Beal 103 being another match is pretty good, especially if his recorded genealogy validates him with the other participants's recorded genealogy. The test results for these participants validate their genealogy to John BEAL of Hingham MA and Hingham England! It is another positive step towards completing some of our objectives stated on the overview page!