Several months ago, I posted a message about persuading a Cave cousin
to participate in the Y-chromosome DNA project. The results indicate
that he is a perfect match at the 37-marker level to two people in the
database. I do not know the etiquette for mentioning individuals on the
mailing list, so I shall not use specific names until someone clarifies
that point for me. In general terms, my cousin's DNA profile matches a
man in England whose lineage descends from Valentine Cave in the middle
part of England. The second match was to a man in GA whose ancestry can
be traced to the John Cave who moved from Albemarle County, VA, to
Barnwell District, SC, with his father-in-law in 1769. My Cave ancestry
can be traced to the Thomas Cave Sr in Prince George's County, MD, in
the 1770's or earlier. To me that suggests that the Cave families in VA
and the branches in Maryland and South Carolina are related and can be
traced back to central England. My cousin's DNA profile at the 37
marker level varies from two other participants in the study by a
single mutation, and from two more by two mutations. I have sent e-mail
to the exact matches and received a reply from the man in England. I
have not heard from the other. Today I sent e-mail to the two
individuals who matched 36 out of 37 markers. I hope that a clearer
picture of Cave family relationships can be worked out, but that cannot
happen if we do not respond to requests for earliest known ancestors
and lines of descent. I have heard from Hugh Cave of the Cave Family
Society once, but additional information has not been forthcoming. Does
anyone have suggestions about how to proceed?
Roger Robison
San Antonio, TX