Thanks Tom, The Kerchner article is very good, I had found this some years ago and his
writings and DNA experience encouraged my interest in the DNA approach to reinforcing my
genealogical research. He was mystified with his first DNA analysis and thinking there
must be an error did it again with the same result which brought about further research on
his part as to the spread of civilization that brought far eastern influence into the same
area of Europe that Mr. Kerchner and the Kegels are from. Tying into the article Tome
shared brings to mind an ancestor on my mother's side. The surname was von Kaenel in
Aeschi, Switzerland in 1532, by 1625 the family had migrated to Steinsfurt, Germany
(something to do with a 30 year war) and the surname became von Kehnell, in 1666 it
changed again to von Kennell. In early 1700s they were in Pennsylvania as von Kennen and
von Konnen and by the mid 1700s in North Carolina they were called Voncannon, Vuncannon
and Fincannon. The first!
record
ed Fincannon spelling is in a report written by Col. David Fanning regarding William
Fincannon, a Loyalist and my ancestor(yes we had some of those too). After the Civil War
one of two brothers moved to Cherokee County, Georgia a the name became Cannon. The other
brother, Peter Fincannon, my gr,gr,gr, grandfather was captured and died in Camp Douglas.
Now to the point of this escapade, William Fincannon, Peter's grandfather had a son
that was known as John "Dutchman" Fincannon. When the Fincannons left Germany
they left from the Palatinate area and later became neighbors to the Cagles in North
Carolina. This took us around the mountain but it demonstrates how names can migrate,
change, confuse the researcher and even cause controversy. Best wishes, Earl Cagle