Jeanne,
FTDNA has many different DNA projects. For a general understanding of the
FTDNA tests and its partnerships, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FamilyTreeDNA
While the Carpenter Cousins Y-DNA Project only tracks Y-DNA that is passed
down virtually unchanged over the generations. Other projects, studies or
groups focus on other types of DNA. See the general article on "Genealogical
DNA test" and its internal related links for more information at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogical_DNA_test
I belong to the mtDNA J Haplogroup study for example. For general info on
mtDNA haplogroups see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_mitochondrial_DNA_haplogroup
I also belong to the Y-DNA R1A1 Haplogroup project. For general info on
Y-DNA Haplogroups see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y-chromosome_haplogroup
Others can belong to geographic area studies. For example, the Azores
Project looks at DNA ancestry from from that particular area.
See:
http://www.ourfamilyorigins.com/azores/dna.htm
FTDNA Family Finder is a variant autosomal DNA testing. You compare your
results to others taking the same type of test.
* For men or women.
* Autosomal DNA test.
* Matches are related within about the last 5 generations.
* Provides percentages of your ancestral make-up (Native-American, Middle
Eastern (including Jewish), African, West and East European)
* Includes matches with predicted relationship ranges.
* Great for confirming close relationships regardless of gender.
See:
http://www.familytreedna.com/landing/family-finder.aspx
Then you have Tribal or ancestral specific DNA tests which are other
versions of autosomal DNA testing. It measures, often based on a very
limited sampling or database the percentage of European, Asian, African &
Native American ancestry. Some break this down further by using just, for
example, African ancestry to try to determine which tribe you are from. The
problem with these types, beside the limited sampling or database, is that
when you test with different DNA testing companies you get different
results.
Another example of caution involved Native American groups who tried to use
this type of DNA to determine who belonged to which tribe. They found out
that in some cases the variances between siblings was enough to disprove
some members of the same family while excluding others in the same family of
a certain percentage of Native American ancestry.
DNA testing is a buyer beware situation. One needs to understand enough
about the particular test to understand its real capacity and its
shortfalls. While FTDNA is good in describing what it tests can do and can
not do, other DNA testing companies do not have that positive reputation.
In my opinion, for genealogical testing purposes, the Y-DNA test provides
"the most bang for the buck."
I hope this helps.
John R. Carpenter
La Mesa, CA
Carpenter Cousins Y-DNA Project
http://members.cox.net/johnrcarpenter/index.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: jbeauvais3634(a)comcast.net
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 9:43 PM
To: CARPENTER(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [CARPENTER] FTDNA family finder
I know that there is a Y-DNA project for the Carpenters, I was just
wondering if any one is doing the X or the FTDNA family finder results.
Several of the matches that came up in my family finder matches seem to be
on my Rehoboth Carpenter line.
The line is as follows:
William Carpenter b. 1605 m. Abigail Briante
..Samuel Carpenter m. Sarah Readaway
...James Carpenter m. Grace Palmer
....Ebenezer Carpenter m, Susannah Perrin (she is also a descendant of
William Carpenter)
.....Benjamin Carpenter m. Elizabeth Round
.......Polly Carpenter m. Joseph Webber
.........Polly Webber m. Abiel Washburn
..........Mary Jane Washburn m. William Wirt White
............William Leroy White m. Ellen Taylor Merrill
..............Alma White m. Albert Beauvais (my grand parents)
Jeanne Beauvais