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Experience With DNA Testing Leighton Cameron
November 11, 2010
[this article is reproduced from the Clan Cameron
Ontario Piper, 2010, Vol 33, No. 1, p.5]
Clan Cameron DNA Project
Clan Cameron Online has recently updated the
format and content of their DNA testing project
to make it easier to understand and find others
with similar DNA profiles. Briefly, a DNA
analysis takes DNA samples from an individual (a
swab from the inside of the cheek) and tests the
values of â*markersâ*, or common locations on
the DNA strand. Identical or close marker values
between individuals indicate a relationship and
they share a common ancestor. The more markers
that match, the closer the relationship,
expressed in terms of a Most Recent Common
Ancestor (MRCA), expressed in years or
generations.
The Clan Cameron DNA project had successfully
shown links between a number of participants, and
since my own family research had hit a roadblock,
I decided to take part in the project in order to
hopefully gain some insight into my roots. I
started with the basic 12-marker test, mailed in
the swab and anxiously awaited the results. When
the test results arrived, I was surprised and
disappointed. There was only one weak link to
another Cameron. Undaunted, I moved up to a more
sophisticated 25 marker test. The results were
the same.
MacMillans and Camerons
The sponsors of the various projects, with your
permission, will contact other individuals in
other clan projects of close DNA matches. I
started to receive notices of close matches with
six or so MacMillans, one of whom was the current
Clan Chief. The matches indicated we had a common
ancestor about 300 years ago, in the early
1700â*s.
I think that everyone who delves into their
ancestry hopes to find they are related to
someone famous, maybe The Gentle Lochiel or
another notorious Cameron. My family, as it turns
out, is indeed related to a noted Clan chief â*
the problem is, it is the wrong clan.
Graeme Mackenzie, Genealogist
At the 2009 Gathering, Graeme Mackenzie, in
conjunction with Chief George MacMillan and
Donald Cameron Jr of Lochiel made a presentation
discussing the strong historical relationship
between the Camerons and MacMillans. Records show
that MacMillans occupied the lands around Lock
Arkaig in Lochaber, before the Camerons until
they were defeated and driven out, settling in
Knapdale. A number of MacMillans returned to
LochArkaig. They were known as the MacMillans of
Murlaggan and were allowed to settle in what was
then Cameron territory, for sword service.
â*The Lochaber MacMillans were among Lochielâ*s
most important and loyal followersâ* and
â*tradition states that there were two
MacMillans who carried the Chief of Clan Cameron
from where he fell at the battle of Culloden.â*
However, Clan McBain makes the same claim.
The Jacobite forces planned to make their last
stand from the Clan Macmillan home in Arkaig, but
this plan was abandoned, and all fled.
When surnames became necessary in the Highlands
in the late 1700â*s, some of the â*children of
Maolanâ* were given or adopted the surnames of
the chiefs they followed. There are also stories
that a man who wanted to marry a Cameron woman
was obliged to adopt the Cameron name. There are
land records in Lochaber showing the same
families using both the Cameron and MacMillan
names.
This is my particular story of how DNA testing
added a completely new and unexpected chapter to
my family history. Since the Clan Cameron is
reputed to have come from the union of five
original Lochaber clans (the five arrows on the
crest), there is the strong potential there are
more interesting and diverse DNA relationships in
our Clan. As more individuals participate in the
DNA project, more fascinating stories will
unfold. If you have any of these stories, please
share them with us..
Much more detail on the MacMillans, the Cameron
Septs and the various branches of the Camerons is
given on the Clan Cameron Online site.
Filed under:
<
http://calcamerons.com/category/uncategorized/>Uncategorized by calcamerons
No Responses to My Experience With DNA Testing Leighton Cameron
1.
margaret cameron
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http://calcamerons.com/2010/11/my-experience-with-dna-testing-leighton-ca...
26th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Many Camerons have common family roots, so it is
probable that a DNA test would indicate a
connection to a Cameron. After all, clann
means family.
The MacGillonie Camerons [i.e. =
Inveruiskavouline} adopted the "Cameron" name];
also, the MacSorlie [MacDonald] Camerons
[Glennevis] adopted the Cameron name and, the
MacMartin Camerons adopted the Cameron name.
A DNA test is a clue, not a definitive solution
as to the relationship to a certain branch of a
Cameron family. Attempting, by a DNA Test, to
grab on to a family is rather ridiculous and
obscene.
i.e. == there have been attempts by socalled
genealogists to state that some families along
the Ottawa are closely related to Cameron
families within Stormont Glengarry, a supposition
only by socalled genealogists who are now using
DNA testing to try to prove their points.
[ie. = because a "Cameron" who settled on
property near Hawkesbury Ontario had the location
name "Dungallon" listed on his property, some
socalled genealogists have decided this gentleman
was of the Camerons of Dungallon family, a
complete supposition.} Another example of
grasping at 'straws" is the fact that a socalled
genealogist claimed erroneously that "John the
'Preacher" Cameron" from the Quebec side of the
Ottawa was a son of "John Cameron "The Wise" in
Glengarry, etc.
Another socalled genealogist 'argued' with me
that a certain man, a Cameron army officer,
living in Quebec, was a brother to my ggg, John
Cameron 8th of Inveruiskavouline [father to my
gg, Nancy Cameron] Also, another gen. actually
tried to steal the history of Nancys
husband
Donald Cameron [Clunes] who was crushed
by a falling tree in March 1809, etc., by
bestowing his history on another family in error.
[the errors have not yet been deleted from her
website, etc. or from the clan assocoiation
website with which she is associated..
It is rather amusing, but it is also sad to note
the desperation of socalled genealogists in their
attempts to 'trace' Gaelic families, but it is
sadder to think that clan associations take these
people in a serious vein, thus, in certain
instances, giving a tarnished image to a clan
society. After all, there was a society known at
one time as the "Ku=Klux clan". Despotism is not
needed in this day and age.
The same genealogical mess is being made of
MacMillan family history by people who do not,
personally, know the accurate history of these
family branches, and are now using "Genealogical"
DNA testing as a 'tool' to use in an inaccurate
manner.
"Genealogical" DNA does not state a name of
locale, name of person[s], dates, centuries,
ages, or exact number of years, etc. A clue to a
blood link==perhaps. NO NAME Genealogical
DNA.
MacMillans and Camerons intermarried for centuries.
The following is from the book The Camerons by
John Cameron of Ardvorlich, brother in law to the
deceased Lochiel Chief:
Mr John Stewart of Ardvorlch stated: Since I
wrote this chapter, there has been published and
printed for a private circulation,the Reverend
Somerled Macmillans Bygone Lochabe
I would pay
tribute to the value of those parts of his work
which deal with the descent of the various tribes
and families which formed the Clan. These will be
of much assistance to those who want to trace
their descent from one or other of these tribes
or families
lt may well be that those [lineages]
given by Mr. MacMillan are, where they differ,
preferable, for these represent years of diligent
research. ==
Also, the following is stated by Mr. Don McQuat,
at one time the Archivist for Ontario: I have
relied heavily on the exhaustive research carried
out by the Rev. Somerled MacMillan respecting the
various pre 1800 tribes and indigenous famlies of
lochaber
of outstanding value in that regard is
his scholarly book entitled, Bygone Lochaber ==
The Reverend Somerled MacMillan was the historian
for my
famiy[Clunes/Inveruiskavouline/Glenpean/Callich/Murlaggan]
He, personally, did research within the united
Counties of Stormont/Glengarry, and was a friend
to my fathers cousin, Cassie MacMillan[mentioned
at top of page 81 - Bygone Lochaber] who gave
Rev. Somerled MacMillan access to our family
papers.
Unfortunately, there are numerous socalled
genealogists who have attempted to discredit Mr.
Somerled MacMillan.
Allan MacMillan of Glenpean who organised the
Glenpean migration of 1802, took over property in
Finch Township, along with his Glenpean/Callich
relatives and they all settled very near to each
other in that townhip [Allan Glenpean's son,
Ewen, lived in Finch Township]. We dont need
socalled experts to tell us who we are. Most of
them were in diapers when I first visted
Glennevis. and Glenpean. We know who we are.
It is tragic to think that people are so
desperate to find relatives, and that there are
those who take advantage of this situation.
Genealogy is a thriving business in the case of
the Gaelic families,of the ones especially which
settled wilthin Stormont/Glengarry. The actions
of these socalled genealogists should be
considered.
Margaret Cameron
Long Sault Ontario
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