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It has been several years since I asked if anyone would have information on the following individual:
FLEMING CHILDRESS b @ 1781 d 28 Nov. 1845. I do not have a birth place. He is buried in the Richardson Cem. Spencer Co. IN.
It appears that he had a first marriage to NANCY PUGH. They were married 29 November 1803 in Campbell Co. VA. She died before 1808. He married second time to ELIZABETH BOYD, b @1788 d 12 Feb. 1845. She, also, is buried in Richardson Cem. Spencer Co. IN. He and Elizabeth (Betsy) Boyd (daughter of Thomas Boyd and unknown mother) were married in Halifax Co. VA on 25 Jan. 1808.
I have been able to document the family quite thoroughly from their marriage in 1808 through their early years in Halifax County, VA (and occasionally Caswell Co. NC) to their arrival in Spencer Co. IN in the late 1830s. Their birth and death dates are recorded on their tombstones.
I have been unable to find parentage for Fleming Childress. I have suspected (no proof) that he may have had a brother---Vaulton Childress, who married Polly A. Taylor on 19 December 1804 in Campbell Co. VA.
I would appreciate any information or ideas that anyone may have to pass along.
I realize that the name "Fleming" is one that appears more than once in the Childress line.
Thank you.
Marilyn Garrison
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CHILDRESS of 1848 FLUVANNA CO., VIRGINIA
Preface
A recent genealogical inquiry sought the parents of Benjamin Franklin
Childress (m. Herndon) of 1848 Fluvanna Co., Virginia, and other
assistance. [See Kathy Best, "Benjamin Franklin Childress - Fluvanna
Co., VA," Childress Family Genealogy Forum, Genforum @ Genealogy.com, 6
Jan 2004]
The posting read:
"Need parents of Benjamin Franklin Childers who mar. Nannie Elizabeth
Lewis Herndon, 1848 or 1849. Family tradition has his being of Irish
origin, coming to VA to work on packet boats. 1850 Census lists him as
Boat Carpenter. He was born c. 1822. Their children were: Virginia
R.b.1849, Wm. Lewis b. 1851, Mary Susan b. 1854, George Glover Gough b.
1856, Christopher Columbus b. 1858, Nannie Elizabeth b. 1861 (my gm.),
Benjamin Franklin b.1864, Catherine Lee b. 1866,and Annie B. b. 1869.
All children b. Flu. Co., VA."
The listowners of Childress-L@Rootsweb offer the following monograph.
Citations and comments have been inserted as endnotes identifiable as
bracketed roman numerals, e.g., [i], [ii], [iii], [iv], etc.
Transcriptions retain the original spelling, punctuation, capitalization
and grammar. The "long -s" ("-fs" for "ss") is also retained, e.g.,
"Childrefs" for "Childress," "afsigns" for "assigns," "witnefs" for
"witness," "lefs" for "less," "Sefsions" for "sessions," etc. Deeds are
separated from one another by dashes (e.g., - - - - -).
Birth
Benjamin Franklin Childress was born circa 1822 in Buckingham Co.,
Virginia. We know this because Benjamin F. Childress was 28 years old
on the 1850 census for Fluvanna Co., Va. and his place of birth was
given as Virginia. We know that he was born in Buckingham Co., Va.
because the 1850 federal census for Buckingham Co., Va. tells us that
his father (still alive in 1850) was born in Buckingham County in 1790
and still there when the 1850 census was conducted. [i]
Parents
Benjamin Franklin Childress's father was William Childress (m. Gough).
We know this because Benjamin Franklin Childress's daughter Virginia R.
Childress (m. Johnson) left a Bible record of her family in which the
death of her paternal grandfather William Childress (m. Gough) is
recorded as having occurred November 1850 (just after the 1850 census).
The Bible does not give a day of death. That Bible record is held at
the Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia
23219-8000. A full transcript can be found in endnote "ii" (below).
[ii] The death of William Childress (m. Gough) is consistent with the
census records in which he appears on the 1850 census for Buckingham
County (enumerated 23 Sep 1850, 2 months before his death) and is
missing from the 1860 census.
Benjamin Franklin Childress's mother was Susanna (nee Gough) of
Buckingham Co., Va. She was 54 on the 1850 census for Buckingham Co.,
Va. (born circa 1796). Her death is recorded in the Virginia R.
(Childress) Johnson family Bible as having occurred 25 Dec 1861, very
likely in Buckingham Co., Va. where she is found on the 1860 census and
had been a resident for at least a decade. Susanna Childress's maiden
name is deduced to be Gough partly because Benjamin Franklin Childress
and wife Nancy named one son George GLOVER GOUGH Childress after Susanna
Childress's brother Glover Gough of Buckingham Co., Va. [iii] and partly
because Nancy's in-laws William and Susanna Childress are found living
in the Glover Gough household in adjacent Buckingham Co., Va. (across
the James River). The 1850 federal census for Buckingham Co., Va.
records the household of Glover Gough as the residence of Glover Gough,
sister Nannie Gough, and in-laws William and Susanna Childress. We know
that Nannie and Glover Gough were sister and brother because when Nannie
Gough died in 1858 at the age of 75, Glover Gough reported her death and
his relationship as the reporting party. [xii]
The 1850 census entry for the Glover Gough household reads thus:
1850 U.S. Census, Buckingham County, Virginia
District # 2, Jas. H. Forbes, Assistant Marshall
September 23, 1850
Household 475:
Glover Gough 44 M Farmer (pl.birth) Buckingham
Nancy Gough 70 F (pl.birth) Buckingham
William Childress 50 M (pl.birth) Buckingham
Susan Childress 54 F (pl.birth) Buckingham
Grandparents
Benjamin Franklin Childress's paternal grandfather was Thomas Childress
of Buckingham Co., Va. [xvi] We know this from the Land Tax lists of
Buckingham Co., Va. and the 1820 federal census. They disclose that in
early 19th Century Buckingham Co., Virginia there was but a single
William Childress resident in the county. And his age is consistent
with being William Childress (m. Gough). [xv] The Buckingham County
Land Tax Lists further disclose that in 1797 a Thomas Childress died
leaving to his estate land at "Rock Mill" on the Willis River,
Buckingham Co., Va. According to the Land Tax Records, William
Childress of Buckingham County (the father of Benjamin Franklin
Childress) was one of the heirs of Thomas Childress "of Rock Mill" and
sold his 72 acre inheritance to Samuel Agee in 1827. [xiii] Thomas
Childress would have been born circa 1757 [= 25 years, being
approximately one generation, prior to his earliest appearance (1782) in
the Buckingham Co., Va. Land Tax records]. Because Thomas Childress's
will was probated in Cumberland Co., Va. his roots appear to be there.
Thomas Childress had one other identifiable heir, Alfred Childress of
Buckingham Co., Va. [xiv] In 1838 Alfred Childress sold his 72 acre
inheritance to John Robertson of Buckingham Co. and disappeared from the
Buckingham County Land Tax Records. Alfred Childress's fate is unknown.
Marriage
Benjamin Franklin Childress married Nancy Herndon (daughter of Lewis
Herndon) on 2 Jan 1849 according to the family Bible of their daughter
Virginia R. (nee Childress) Johnson. [vii] The "consent to marry" was
dated 25 Dec 1848 [iv] ; there is no minister's return.
Their marriage bond and consent reads thus:
"Know all men by these presents that we Benjamin F. Childrefs & Peter R.
Dunnington are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Virginia
in the sum of One Hundred and fifty Dollars for the true payment whereof
well and truly to be made we bind ourselves our heirs executors and
Administrators firmly by these presents Sealed with our seals and dated
this 25th day of December 1848.
The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a
marriage shortly intended to be had and solemnized between the above
bound Benjamin F. Childrefs and Mifs [sic: Miss] Nancy L. Herndon
daughter of Lewis Herndon of said County now if there shall be no lawful
cause to obstruct the said marriage then the above obligation to be void
otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. Attest B F Childefs P R
Dunnington"
"[T]o the Clerk of Fluvanna County this is to certify that I have given
my consent for Benjamin F. Childrefs and my Daughter Nancy L. Herndon to
marry - given under my hand and seal this 25 day of December 1848[.]
Lewis Herndon[,] George W. Herndon
Witnefs
Peter Dunnington" [iv]
Children
The children of Benjamin Franklin Childress (m. Herndon) and wife
Susanna were: Virginia Reynoldson Childress (b. 15 Nov 1849), William
Lewis Childress (b. 23 Aug 1851) [named for his paternal grandfather
William Childress (m. Gough) and maternal grandfather Lewis Herndon],
Mary Susan Childress (b. 13 Nov 1854) [middle name from her paternal
grandmother Susanna nee Gough, and paternal gr-grandmother Susanna
Gough], George Glover Gough Childress (b. 21 Aug 1856) [named partly for
his paternal grandmother's brother Glover Gough of Buckingham Co., Va.],
Christopher Columbus Childress (b. 28 Dec 1858), Nannie Betty Childress
(b. 27 Jun 1861) [named for her paternal grandmother's sister Nannie
Gough of Buckingham Co., Va.], Benjamin Franklin Childress, Jr. (b. 1
Apr 1864) [named for his father B.F.Childress, Senior], Kate[Catherine]
Lee Childress (b. 29 Dec 1866), and Annie B. Childress (b.1 Oct 1869).
We know these names and birthdates because they're listed in the family
Bible of Virginia R. (nee Childress) Johnson, daughter of Benjamin
Franklin Childress. [see en."ii," below]
Mary Susan Childress, daughter of Benjamin Franklin Childress and wife
Nancy, married John W. Minter, 28 Oct 1871, in Fluvanna Co., Va. [viii]
Nannie B. Childress, daughter of Benjamin Franklin Childress and wife
Nancy, married to Charles M. Pace, 14 Oct 1880, in Fluvanna Co., Va.
[ix]
Virginia R. Childress, daughter of Benjamin Franklin Childress and wife
Nancy, married to John R. Johnson on 13 Apr 1878, according to Johnson
family Bible (1817-1894) record at the Library of Virginia. [xi]
George Glover Gough Childress, son of Benjamin Franklin Childress and
wife Nancy, died of dysentery at the age of 8, 3 Jul 1865, in Fluvanna
Co., Va. [x]
Death
Benjamin Franklin Childress, Senior (m. Gough) died 27 Jul 1882, in
Fluvanna Co., Va. according to his daughter's family Bible. The death
of his wife Nancy [Nannie Lewis Childress] is acknowledged in that same
family Bible but the date was left blank. They both died intestate; no
wills were probated for either of them. [v]
Siblings
According to the 1820 federal census for Buckingham Co., Va., as of 1820
Benjamin Franklin Childress (m. Herndon) had two older brothers (but no
sisters). One is confirmed to have been William Nicholas Childress (m
Ferrell & Sargent), of Upshur Co., West Virginia, born 26 Aug 1819, in
Buckingham Co., Va. [vi] This is confirmed by Cuthright's 1907
"History of Upshur Co., West Virginia" [see "vi"] in which the parents
of William Nicholas Childress) are stated to be William and Susanna
(Gough) Childress. The other brother's name and fate is presently
unknown.
Deeds, Bonds & Liens
Benjamin Franklin Childress left only a handful of county documents.
They are all transcripted herein below in their entirety (original
spelling, punctuation and grammar retained).
- - - - - - - - - -
Fluvanna County, Virginia Deed Book 16, pp. 501-502
Adams & Wife to Childrefs } Deed
This Deed made the 6th day of January in the year One thousand eight
hundred and fifty three (1853) Between Wm. C. Adams and Mary Ann his
Wife of the one part and Benjamin F. Childrefs of the other part, all of
the County of Fluvanna. Witnefseth that for and in consideration of the
sum of Nine hundred and Seventy Dollars due by four bonds bearing dates
on the bills: January 1853 each for Two Hundred and forty two Dollars
and fifty vents, all to bear interest after twelve Months from date till
paid, and payable each, one year, two years, three years and four years
after date, to him in hand paid by the said Benjamin F. Childrefs at and
before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof
is hereby acknowledged, the said William C. Adams and Mary Ann his Wife,
doth grant unto the said Benjamin F. Childrefs his heirs and afsigns
forever, all that tract or parcel of Land lying in the County of
Fluvanna adjoining the Lands of said Adams, Edward Terrell, Powel Morris
and Alfred Burgefs, containing Ninety Seven Acres, be the same more or
lefs and beginning at a Corner on a red Oak, in the lines of said Adams
& Morris, thence S12-1/2 E8 poles, S 75-1/2 W2 poles, S4-1/2 W 15 poles,
N88-1/2 E47 poles, S72 E 90 poles, N35-1/2 E115 poles, N65-1/2 W17-1/2
poles, N 23 E 47 poles, N75-1/2 W83-1/2 poles to the beginning. To have
and To hold the said Tract or parcel of Land unto him the said Benjamin
F. Childrefs and his heirs forever the said William C. Adams and Mary
Ann his Wife, doth hereby covenant and agree to warrant and defend
against the claim of all persons whatever claiming under them. And the
aforesaid Adams & Wife doth also hereby convey to [the] said Childrefs
all the appurtenances belonging to the above described tract of land.
Witnefs our hand and seals this day and date first in this Deed written.
Wm. C. Adams Mary Ann Adams
County of Albemarle to Wit:
I M. Blair a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid in the State
of Virginia do certify that William C. Adams whose name is signed to the
within writing bearing date on the 6th day of January 1853 has
acknowledged the same before me in my County aforesaid. Given under my
hand this 15th day of January 1853. M. Blair J P
State of Virginia, County of Albemarle to Wit:
We M. Blair and Jas W. Mason Justices of the peace for the County of
Albemarle in the State of Virginia do certify that Mary Ann the Wife of
Wm. C. Adams whose names are signed to the writing within bearing date
on the 6th January 1853 personally appeared before us in our County
aforesaid and being examined by us privily and apart from her husband
and having the writing aforesaid fully explained to her she the said
Mary Ann acknowledged the said writing to be her act and declared hat
she had willingly executed the same, and does not wish to retract it .
Given under our hands this 15th day of January 1853. M.Blair J P J. W.
Mason J P
At a Court of Monthly Sefsion [sic: Session] held for Fluvanna County at
the Courthouse thereof on Monday the 25th day of July 1853. This Deed
was this day presented in Court and thereupon together with the
Certificate thereon endorsed of the acknowledgment thereof by William C.
Adams and Mary Ann his Wife parties thereto to be their act[s], she the
said Mary Ann being first privily examined as the Law directs before two
Justices of the peace for the County of Albemarle. Ordered to be
recorded. Teste
Abra: Shepherd C.C.
- - - - - - - - - -
Fluvanna County, Virginia Deed Book 18, pp. 406-407
Childrefs & Wife &t. to Griffin } Deed
This Deed made this 5th day of January 1860 between Bn. F. Childrefs &
M.A. Childrefs his Wife & Martha V. Goolsby of the first part and W. H.
Griffin of the other part. Witnefseth that Whereas the above named recd
some years past from E. Herndon Dec'd a Deed for a piece of Land in the
County of Fluvanna near Scottsville Containing a little over 18 Acres,
which Deed is of record in the Clerk's Office, County Court of Fluvanna
County, and whereas the said B. F. Childrefs sold a tract of or parcel
of Land to M. V. Goolsby, but has not deeded the same to her. Whereas
the said M. V. Goolsby, has recently sold the said tract or parcel of
Land to W. H. Griffin
- Now therefore in consideration of the sum of $250 Dollars to them the
said Childrefs and said M.V. Goolsby in hand paid by the said W. H.
Griffin the recpt [receipt] whereof is hereby acknowledged, the said B.
F. Childrefs and Nancy L. Childrefs his Wife and the said M. V. Goolsby
do grant unto the said W. H. Griffin all of that tract or parcel of Land
lying in the County of Fluvanna near Scottsville where on the said W. H.
Griffin now resides, it being the said tract or Land deeded to said
Childrefs by E. Herndon, to which Deed reference is made for further
particulars, the said land is at present adjoining the Lands of J. L.
Brady, Wm. H Terrell and Wm. D. Davies, and the said B. F. Childrefs &
Nancy L. his Wife, and the said Martha V. Goolsby do covenant with the
said W. H. Griffin to Warrant and defend the title of said Land against
all persons Claiming under them. Witnefs the following signatures and
seals. B. F. Childrefs[,] Nancy L. Childrefs[,] Martha V. Goolsby
County of Fluvanna to Wit: I Wm. C. Adams a Justice of the peace for
the County aforesaid in the State of Virginia do Certify that Benjamin
F. Childrefs whose name is signed to the writing above bearing date on
the 5th day of January 1860 has acknowledged the same before me in my
County aforesaid. Given under my hand this 5th day of January 1860. Wm.
C. Adams J P
State of Virginia County of Fluvanna to Wit:
We Robert A. Kane & Wm. C. Adams Justices of the peace for the County of
Fluvanna in the State of Virginia do certify that Nancy L. Childrefs
whose the Wife of Benjn. F. Childrefs whose names are signed to this
writing above bearing date on the 5th day of January 1860, personally
appeared before us in the County aforesaid and being examined by us
privily and part from her husband and having the writing aforesaid fully
explained to her she the said Nancy L. Childrefs acknowledged the said
writing to be her act and Deed and declared hat she had willingly
executed the same and does not wish to retract it. Given under our
hands this 5th day of January 1860. Robt. A. Kane[,] Wm. C. Adams J.P.
County of Fluvanna to Wit:
I Robert A Kane a Justice of the peace for the said County in the State
of Virginia do Certify that Martha V. Goolsby whose name is signed to
the writing above bearing date on the 5th day of January 1860 has
acknowledged the same before me in my County aforesaid. Given under my
hand this 5th day of January 1860. Robt. A. Kane J. P.
At a Court of Monthly Sefsion held for Fluvanna County at the Courthouse
thereof on Monday the 23d day of January 1860. This Deed was this day
presented in Court and thereupon together with the three certificates
thereon endorsed of the acknowledgment thereof by Benjamin F. Childrefs
and Nancy L. his Wife and Martha V. Goolsby parties thereto to be their
act[s] (she the said Nancy being first privily examined as the Law
Directs) before two Justices of the peace for the said County. Ordered
to be recorded. Teste
Abra: Shepherd Jr. C.C.
- - - - - - - - - -
Fluvanna County, Virginia Deed Book 18, p. 435.
This Deed made this 10th Day of January in the year 1860 Between Thomas
L. Pleasants of the one part and Benjn. F. Childrefs of the other part.
Witnefseth that Whereas the above named B.F. Childrefs executed a Deed
in trust to Thomas L. Pleasants dated on the 6th January 1853 on a
certain tract or parcel of Land in the County of Fluvanna near
Scottsville containing a little over fifteen Acres to secure the payment
of certain bonds due from said Childrefs to Wm. C. Adams as stated in
said Deed in Trust, which Deed is of record in the Clerks Office of the
County Court of Fluvanna County And Whereas the said Wm. C. Adams has
consented to the release of said tract of Land. Now therefore the said
Thomas L. Pleasants doth release unto the said B.F. Childrefs all his
claims upon the said Land. Witnefs the following signature and seal.
Tho: L. Pleasants
County of Fluvanna to wit:
I Wm. C. Adams a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid in the
State of Virginia do Certify that Thomas L. Pleasants whose name is
signed to the writing above bearing date on the 10th Day of January 1860
has acknowledged the same before me in my County aforesaid. Given under
my hand this 10th Day of January 1860. Wm. C. Adams JP At a Court of
Quarterly Sefsions held for Fluvanna County at the Courthouse thereof on
Monday the 26th day of March 1860. This Deed of Release was this day
presented in Court and thereupon together with the Certificate thereon
endorsed of the acknowledgment thereof by Thomas L. Pleasants a party
thereto to be his act before a Justice of the peace for the said
County[.] Ordered to be recorded. Teste Abra: Shepherd, Jr. CC"
- - - - - - - - - -
Fluvanna County, Virginia Deed Book 19, p. 105
Nicholas v Childrefs } Deed
This Deed made this day of June in the year 1862 between John S.
Nicholas of Buckingham County of the one part and Benjamin F. Childrefs
of the County of Fluvanna of the other party. Witnefseth that in
consideration of the sum of One Hundred Dollars to him in hand paid he
the said John S. Nicholas dot grant unto the said Benjn. F. Childrefs
all that tract or parcel of land which the said Nicholas purchased of
Sm.l Thompson lying on the North side of the James River & R. Canal in
the County of Fluvanna a little below the Lock No. 22 containing One
Acre and bounded as follows, viz: begin[n]ing at the Mouth of a branch
on the Canal running up said Branch Seventy yards thence a line parallel
with the Canal seventy yards, thence to the Canal seventy yards And
thence along the Canal Seventy yards to the begin[n]ing. the said John
S. Nicholas will warrant generally the property hereby conveyed.
Witnefs the following signature and seal. J. S. Nicholas
State of Virginia Buckingham County to wit
I John W. Brown a Justice of the peace for the State & County aforesaid
do hereby certify that Jno. S. Nicholas whose name is signed to the
within writing personally appeared before me and acknowledged the same
to be his act. Given under my hand this 15th day of August 1862.
Jno: W. Brown JP
At a Court of Monthly Sefsion [sic: Session] held for Fluvanna County at
the Courthouse thereof on Monday the 27th day of October 1862 This Deed
was this day presented in Court and thereupon together with a
certificate thereon endorsed of the acknowledgment thereof by John S.
Nicholas a party thereto to be his act before a Justice of the peace for
the County of Buckingham Ordered to be recorded. Teste
Abra: Shepherd Jr CC
- - - - - - - - - -
Fluvanna County, Va. Deed Book 22, pp. 306-307
Childrefs, B.F. to Allison & Addison } Lien Bond
This Agreement made this 15th day of Oct 1877 between Allison & Addison
of the City of Richmond and State of Virginia of the first part and B.
F. Childrefs of the County of Fluvanna and State of Virginia, of the
second part. Witnefseth that the said Allison & Addison in
considerations of the covenant of the party of second part, herein after
written, hereby covenant and agree with the said B.F. Childrefs that
they will advance to him 5 bags of their wheat Manure between two dates
of January 1, 1877 and January 1878 is to be delivered at the Richmond
basin bank of the James Riv[er] and K[anawha] Canal Co. for the sum of
thirty five 50/100 dollars, payable Oct. 16th 1878. And for and in
consideration of the covenants above written the said party of the
second part hereby promises and agrees to execute a bond for the sum
above specified payable at the time mentioned; and being engaged in the
cultivation of the soil, he the said party of the second part does
hereby promise to send and deliver to the said Allison & Addison his
crop of wheat to be grown in the year 1877 upon the land hereinafter
specified as promptly as pofsible after its maturity to be sold by the
said Allison & Addison or - who[ever] is agreed on as agent to be
employed by them for the purposes and the net proceeds after payment of
commifsions and charges to be applied to the payment of the bond or
other obligation given by the said party of the second part as
covenanted in this agreement whether the same shall have matured or not
and the balance if any to be applied to the credit of the said party of
he second part. And the said party of the second part hereby specially
covenants and agrees to create and do hereby give, create and made in
favor of the said Allison & Addison a lien on the crops which may be
made during the year 187- [sic], upon the following land in the
cultivation of which the advance above recited is intended to be
expended: that is to say a certain tract of land lying in Cunningham
Township, in the County of Fluvanna and State of Virginia known as - - -
[blank in original] on which B. F. Childrefs now resides and upon
another land in said State in the cultivation of which the said advance
shall be wholly or in part expended. And the said party of the second
part hereby affirms that he has given no previous lien on said crops.
Should the said party of the second party pay the bond mentioned on or
before maturity then this agreement is to be null and void otherwise to
remain in full force and effect. Witnefs our signatures and seals the
day and year first above written. B. F. Childrefs
Virginia, County of Fluvanna } to wit:
I H. C. Burgefs [sic: Burgess] a Notary Public of the county aforesaid
in the State of Virginia do certify that B. F. Childrefs whose name is
signed to the foregoing writing bearing date on the 14th day of Oct.
1877, has acknowledged the same before me. Given under my hand this
23rd day of Oct 1877. H. C. Burgefs [Burgess] Not. P.F.C.
In Fluvanna County Court Clerks Office Feby 5th 1878.
This Lien Bond from B.F. Childrefs to Allison & Addison was this day
received in said office and thereupon together with the certificate
thereon endorsed admitted to Record. Teste. William Schater C.C.
Family Tradition
The fact that Benjamin Franklin Childress was born in Virginia (by his
own admission on the 1850 federal census for Fluvanna Co., Va.)
contradicts the proffered tradition that he emigrated from Ireland to
Virginia to work on packet boats. The roots of Benjamin Franklin
Childress extend back at least 2 generations in Virginia, perhaps 6
generations to late 17th Century, Henrico Co., Virginia.
Regards.
Mark & Gary Childress
Co-listowners CHILDRESS-L(a)Rootsweb.com & CHILDRESS-DNA-L(a)Rootsweb.com.
Endnotes
[i] 1850 U.S. Census, Fluvanna Co., Va., population schedule, Benjamin
F. Childress hh. 102/103: Benjamin F. Childress, 28, m, "boat
carpenter," born Virginia, Naney [or Nancy] L. Childress [wife], 20, f.,
born Virginia, Virginia R. [Childress], 7/12, f, born Virginia. 1850
U.S. Census, Buckingham Co., Va., population schedule, District 2,
Glover Gough et al. hh. 475; see too Benjamin B. Weisiger II, comp.,
Buckingham County, Virginia 1850 United States Census (Richmond, Va.:
Weisiger publisher, 1984), p. 133 (household of Glover Gough et al.)
[ii] Childress family Bible (1849-1902), Archives and Manuscripts Room,
Call No. 26848, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. A transcript
of the Benjamin F. Childress family Bible [more accurately the Virginia
A. Childress-Johnson family Bible] at the Library of Virginia follows:
[punctuation and spelling retained from original; the "-fs" spelling
reflects the "long s" of that era and is the equivalent to our
present-day "double -ss"]
Family Record
Marriages
Benjamin F. Childrefs to Nancy L. Herndon January 2nd AD 1849
John R. Johnson to Virginia R. Childress April 13 1876
Births
Virginia Reynoldson Childress Born 15th [n]ovember AD 1849 1 st
William Lewis Childress Born August 23rd 1851
Mary Susan Childrefs Born February 13th 1854
George Glover Gough Childrefs Born August 21st 1856
Christopher Columbus Childress Born December 28 1858
Nanie Betty Childrefs Born June 27th 1861 [sic: Nanie with one "n"]
Benjamin Franklin Childrefs Born April 1 1864 [Jr. - ed.]
Kate. Lee. Childrefs Born December 29th 1866
Annie B. Childrefs Born Oct 1 1869
Deaths
William Childrefs November 1850
Susanah Childrefs December 25th 1861
George G. Childrefs July 4th 1865
B.F. Childress Senior July 27th 1882
Annie B. Childrefs Died July 9th 1891
Nannie Lewis Childress died [blank]
Births
Martha Lewis Johnson Born March 16 1878
Mary Broker Johnson Born December 25 1881
Virginia Franklin Johnson Born July 27 1884
John Henry [?] Johnson Born Oct 23 1886
Annie Lee Johnson Born sept 25 1889 [sic]
Miriam Casandra Johnson Born March 1st 1895
[iii] See Family Bible of Virginia R. Childress, loc.cit.
[iv] Marriage Bonds & Consents, "Certificates of Marriage 1781-1849,
1848 Folder/Envelope, County Clerk's Office, Fluvanna County, Virginia."
[Note: this marriage is not found in the general index]
[v] The "Index of Wills Fluvanna County, Virginia" does not have a
listing for Benjamin Franklin Childress. The first Childress will
indexed is Albert Childress, 1970. Neither does the "Index to Devisees
& Heirs 1777>, Fluvanna County, Virginia" refer to Benjamin Franklin
Childress. The first Childress entries found are Henry & Phillip in
1931 as heirs of Ella O. Jenkins.
[vi] W. B. Cuthright, "History of Upshur County, West Virginia"
(Buckhannon, W.Va.: 1907; Parsons, W. Va.: Reprinted by McClain
Printing Co. for Upshur County Historical Society, 1977), p.527-528.
The writer is advised that the dates of birth and death for Wm. N.
Childress are confirmed from his tombstone in Chestnut Flats Cemetery in
the southern part of Upshur Co., W.Va. Email from Jean Loudin to Mark &
Gary Childress, 2001.
[vii] We know that Nancy Herndon's father was named Lewis Herndom from
the "consent to marry" filed in Fluvanna Co., Va. in which his
relationship is specifically stated.
[viii] "Fluvanna County, Virginia Marriage Register # 2" Page 21, line
30, Oct. 28, 1873.
John W. Minter, 21, single, born Fluvanna, living Fluvanna, parents
Willis S. & Suzy Minter, occupation farmer, to Mary Susan Childress, 19,
single, born Fluvanna, living Fluvanna, parents Benjamin F. & Nannie L.
Childress, married by J.H. Fox. Remarks column blank.
The marriage date is confirmed by an entry in the Minter family Bible
(1852-1968) (also in the Library of Virginia): "Marriages. By Rev. J.
H. Fox Oct 28th 1873 J.W. Minter and M. S. Childress." The dates of
birth of Mary Susan (nee Childress) Minter and husband John W. Minter
are given in their family Bible: "J.W. Minter borned Feb 12th 1852.
M.S. Minter borned Feb 18th 1854." According to the "Deaths" page in
this Bible, Mary Susan (Childress) Minter died 13 Jan 1917. Below her
death record is listed J. Willis Minter Dec. 23 1918, but he is likely
her son "John Willis Minter borned Oct 15th 1886" listed on the births
page in the family Bible.
[ix] "Fluvanna County, Virginia Marriage Register # 2" Page 36, line
20, Oct. 14, 1880.
Charles M. Pace, 28, single, born Fluvanna, living Fluvanna, parents
James & Mary Pace, occupation farmer, to: Nannie B. Childress, 19,
single, born Fluvanna, living Fluvanna, parents B.F. & N.A.[sic]
Childress, married by J.H. Fox. Remarks column = white persons.
[x] "Fluvanna County Death Register 1853-1896"
1865. Childress, George G[ough], white male, died 3 July 1865 of
dysentery, aged 8 years, son of Benjamin F. and Nancy J. Childress
[sic]. Born Fluvanna County, B.F. Childress, father reported.
[xi] Johnson family Bible Record, 1817-1894, at Archives and
Manuscripts Room, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, call no.
39954.
[xii] Jeanne Stinson, Buckingham County Virginia Death Records,
1853-1868 (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Publishing Company, 2000).
[xiii] Roger G. Ward, Land Tax Summaries & Implied Deeds, 1815-1840,
Vol. 2 (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Publishing Co., 1994), p. 66.
[xiv] Roger G. Ward, Land Tax Summaries & Implied Deeds, 1815-1840,
Vol. 2 (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Publishing Co., 1994), p. 66.
[xv] The only William Childress on the 1820 federal census for
Buckingham Co., Va. was listed as being 26-45 years old. See William
Childress hh., 1820 U.S. Census, Buckingham Co., Va., population
schedule, National Archives micropublication M33, roll 132, New Canton,
Part 1, p. 86.
[xvi] We know that Thomas Childress was formerly a resident of
Cumberland Co., Va. because of documents held in the Valentine Papers
Collection. His will was probated in Cumberland Co., Va.
[xvii] Nell Marion Nugent, "Cavaliers and Pioneers" (Baltimore, MD.:
Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974), Vol. 2 (1666-1695), p. 16,
154, Vol. 3 (1695-1732), p. 81 ["Childrey" sic, "Childress ?"].
Dear List
Well how many people can we get to take the 37 marker upgrade test?
(that particular upgrade test is available to those who already taken
the 25 marker test)
Family Tree DNA now has available an additional 12 markers you can add
to the 25 marker test most of you already have taken. The additional 12
markers cost $59...a true value. All you do is sign in at
FamilyTreeDNA.com using your code to access your results. At the top of
YOUR PERSONAL web page you will see a hyperlink called
"pricing"....click on it... and you will be offered an upgrade as a
"returning customer" for $59.
Not all of you need to take it the upgrade test but it would be very
helpful if the majority of you would....if you still want DNA to help
you with your genealogical research. Here are some of the people who
should consider upgrading.
Myself, Gary M. Childress (I've signed up for the 37 marker refinement)
Joseph W. A. Childress of Goochland, and
Dr. Joseph (Jay) Childress of Knox County, TN.
Kenneth Childres
(And even the family of Freeman Cratus Childers and Jerry Claude
Childress who are R1b would be helpful to see 12 more markers. What
markers were present in our ancient common ancestor?)
We have a lot of mutations between us...which is unusual...Kenneth
Childres also has very similar results to the Scotland Childress but
with a tad few more mutations. We need more evidence to help sort out
what the DNA looked like before mutations. We are still guessing about
what the common ancestor to this haplogroup had as his DNA
pattern....more markers would help us determine how closely related we
are. All in this R1b haplogroup are related by a common ancient
ancestor....the question is are we also related by a common ancestor
since the inception of surnames 800 years ago...we are still guessing
about where to draw the line...who is within and who is outside the 800
year threshold...we need more evidence and more markers to help. We need
to determine how fast our markers have mutated...is the DNA of this
haplogroup mutating in excess of the norm.
Also....I think I have some good news/bad news....The good news is I
think I found a living descendant of the Sarah Childress Polk line out
of her brother John Whitsitt Childress Sr......the bad news he isn't yet
talking to me....But if we could get his DNA tested it would show a
common ancestor perhaps back as far as the mid or early 1600's as well
as give us clear evidence of what mutations and DNA pattern are
indicative of being directly related to the father of Sarah Childress
Polk, the infamous Joel Childress. I've signed up for the 37 marker
test...but I need to be able to compare it to others for it to be
useful....can you guys send me some more help and sign up for 12 more
markers.
Everybody in Haplogroup I the Viking Haplogroup... should definitely be
considering upgrading 12 more markers...This 37 marker test was made
with you in mind.
Bradd M. Childress has 2 mutations
Bazz Childress has 1 mutation
Benjamin Childers has 1 mutation
Daniel Ray Childress has 1 mutation
All 4 of the above parties have the potential to have common ancestor
outside the United States...by which I mean, that when Abraham,
Philemon, Thomas and others first immigrated to Virginia in the mid to
late 1600's it is possible that they were already cousins, related by an
earlier common ancestor overseas and that is shown by the fact that
there are more mutations in their descendants. Mutations occur during
conception and the more generations between the common ancestor and the
present the greater the likelihood of mutations. So these four lineages
have the potential to have separated early from others....but it is only
a potential. More markers would shed more like on an earlier branching
of their family tree from the bulk of the other test results.
Clyde O Childress
Steve Childress
William (Bill) A Childress
Bruce C. Childress
Cody Childress
Larry Lee Childers
Jack Childers
Indiana Jack Childers
Clayton Robert Childress
Robert E Childers
Larry Wayne Childress
Patrick Childress
Mark Alan Childers
Maurice A. Childears
James Ronald Childress
Ronald Brent Childress
Rex Elton Childress
All of the above 17 people match 25/25 yet they spell their names in a
variety of ways.... which suggests what? Eleven are Childress, 5 are
Childers and one is Childears. Is the spelling any indication of a
closer relationship to others with similar spellings. If so then more
markers may prove that. Do the "Childress" spellings in this group
continue to match other "Childress" spellings at 37 markers and do
"Childers" spellings continue to match other "Childers" spellings at 37
markers. What will 12 more markers say about that. Can we find
distinctive markers, distinctive mutations, that parallel the spelling
and pronunciation choices for this haplgroup. Distinctive mutations,
shared between two parties, could also suggest a more recent common
ancestor...a recent family branch off the main tree. The same mutation
on the same marker would suggest that perhaps two researchers should
combine their research. Right now there are not enough mutations to
help researchers....more evidence is needed to help...this is no time to
stop looking for DNA clues...I encourage all those mentioned above to
consider the $59 upgrade and get 12 more makers.......... lets all find
mutations, and see if that can shed any more light on the branching of
these families.
You 40 people in this DNA study are the cutting edge. You have achieved
successes already. There are 10 different unrelated families in this
study....we all have to be conscious of whose records are whose. We are
starting to see a pattern emerging in two groups.
We see a large Viking Haplogroup. Unfortunately The Viking Haplogroup's
DNA is so stable and unchanging that it prevents seeing the branches for
the tree. The Viking Haplogroup cries out for more markers to start to
refine the branches of this group.
The 2 haplogroups HGI R1b Celtic Atlantic Modal and HG2 I Viking
Germanic Norwegian interact in several counties and separating them is
now made easier with DNA testing. DNA test results have apparently
separated two families of in Knox County, VA., Mitchel Childress from
John Childress of Knox County, TN as being unrelated since each belongs
to a different haplogroup. Both parties were born in the decade of the
1750's and their lives and family relatives, crossed paths several
times. DNA has shed vast new light on research in that area.
In 2004 we would like to see those in the Viking Haplogroup refine their
DNA testing even more. The Viking Haplogroup needs to be able to tell
who is more closely related to whom. Viking Haplogroup needs more
mutations and the only way forward is increase the number of markers
tested and hope for some distinctive mutations. I don't know that it
will give us any breakthrough...but there is only one way to find out.
If you are curious....I invite all to look at their next 12 markers
together.
So in that spirit can everybody who is still of a mindset to go
exploring, take one more step up the ladder...to the 37 marker
test.....by signing on to YOUR INDIVIDUAL FTDNA results page and
clicking on the word "PRICING" at the top of the web page and following
the trail to the $59 upgrade to 37 markers for "repeat customers"...We
need each other now more than ever...results only have meaning when we
can compare them to each other. We are recapturing clues that were
otherwise lost with the death of our ancestors. My thanks go to
everybody for getting involved. You 40 people are carrying the load for
all Childress-Childres-Childers-Childears yet to be born. Thanks to
everybody for leading the way in this DNA research.
Questions, insights and comments are welcome.
Gary Childress
DNA Project Admin.
Roberta, I meant to contact you back in September '03. Sheldon Childers was
my great grandfather. His daughter, Laura, married George Gilland and they
lived in Muncie, IN. I have quite a bit of information on the Childress
(Childers) line. Grant Childers, his son and the brother of my Laura was
the mayor of Charleston at one time. He was killed while in office. Andy in
Texas
> [Original Message]
> From: roberta childers <robertachi(a)msn.com>
> To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> Date: 9/23/03 6:11:11 PM
> Subject: Re: [Childress-L] TO; rickysmithson(a)comcast.net Goochland
Childresses
>
> Dear Gary, I have been unable to find my first male cousins, Jimmy, Bud
and
> Sheldon Childers. I believe Goochland, Va. is near Pittsylvania, Va.,
right?
> That is where my Childress relatives started from. Sincerely,
> Roberta Louise Childers
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark and Gary" <london2001(a)earthlink.net>
> To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 10:43 PM
> Subject: [Childress-L] TO; rickysmithson(a)comcast.net Goochland Childresses
>
>
> > Hello rickysmithson(a)comcast.net
> >
> >
> >
> > I have been reading your postings on Rootsweb.
> >
> > Do you know of any living descendants of the Goochland VA Childress
> > lineage you are tracing who carry the "Childress" surname to this day?
> >
> >
> >
> > I am trying to find a descendant who is willing to take a DNA test and
> > establish a DNA pattern for that lineage. They must be Male and carry
> > the "Childress" surname to have the correct DNA that we are testing for.
> >
> >
> >
> > If you know of any of your "cousins" who qualify, I'd like to talk to
> > them and explain why their DNA would be helpful in our research.
> >
> >
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Gary Childress
> >
> > Group Coordinator
> >
> > Childress-Childers DNA Project
> >
> >
> >
> > ==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
> > View the archives of PREVIOUS POSTINGS to the CHILDRESS list at
> > http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
> >
> >
>
>
> ==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
> Unsubscribe by writing ONE & ONLY ONE word UNSUBSCRIBE: e-mail to either
> Childress-L-request(a)rootsweb.com
> or Childress-D-request(a)rootsweb.com
> Contact List Owners Mark or Gary Childress at London2001(a)earthlink.net
DNA EDITORIAL - CHILDRESS and CHILDERS
A DNA study is currently underway in an effort to shed more light on the
lineages using Childress/Childers or similar surnames. A spreadsheet
showing the DNA results can be viewed at www.Childers-Childress.com or
the most current update can be obtained by e-mail from this list
administrator upon request (london2005(a)charter.net ). The editorial
below is the best effort of the Childress-Childers DNA Project to
combine DNA results with the paper trail. It is a fluid study and is
subject to interpretation. Genetics is a science. Genealogy is an art.
THE ORIGIN OF THE CHILDRESS and CHILDERS NAME
There was a 19th century study of the language of the Eastern half of
Yorkshire. The entirety of East Riding as well as the Eastern half of
the North Riding has vestiges of a different dialect from other parts of
Yorkshire including West Riding and the Western half of the North
Riding.
According to (http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/Misc/Books/FolkTalk )
YORKSHIRE FOLK-TALK, written in 1892 by the Rev. M.C.F. Morris B.C.L.,
M.A, in Chapter II., GRAMMATICAL, "child becomes childer in the plural",
in the vernacular of Yorkshire as it does in some other regions. Childer
meant children and was widely used. This vernacular was likely rooted in
Middle English origins before 1600, and was in use even in the late 19th
century.
Dr. Morris says regarding the Northern counties in England, p. xix, "As
early as the latter part of the twelfth century we find a tendency in
northern writers to adopt the es as the genitive inflexion of feminine
as well as of masculine nouns." What that means is that by adding "es",
Childer [meaning Children] becomes genitive inflexion (possessive) as
Childeres [meaning Children's].
Therefore as applies to the word "children" in Yorkshire, "Mary and
Elizabeth Children of John their father" could have been written in
Middle English as "Mary and Elizabeth Childer of John their father". We
can translate a modern English phrase using that Medieval rule of
grammar of adding "es" for possessive as follows. "John's Children's
names were Mary and Elizabeth his daughters", might have been written in
Middle English in Yorkshire as "Johnes Childeres names were Mary and
Elizabeth his daughters".
This was a regional dialect eventually overtaken by other regional
dialects. I speculate that it is possible that old dialect eventually
got embedded as a surname. The arcane Eastern Yorkshire dialect
survived in a few speakers as a regional artifact long enough to still
be heard in Yorkshire in 1892, the date of publication to the book by
Dr. Morris that studied this dialect. And Middle English plural cildre
still survives today in Lancashire dialect as childer.
The Oxford English Dictionary has about 2 or 3 pages dedicated to the
word "Children" that seems a likely candidate to be the root of the
Childress/Childer surnames. We know from the Oxford English dictionary
the following:
"Children" has been spelled in Britain as "Childres, Childir, Childiris,
Childru, Childre, Childer, Cidru, Cildra, Childere, Childur, Chylder,
Chyldren, Childrene, Chyldyr."
Importantly, in Britain there were regional preferences for spelling the
word for "children". How the word "children" was spelled and pronounced
indicated something about the region of origin of the person (or clerk)
using the spelling or pronunciation as follows:
Southern England spelled children with the "N" in early literature.
Childrene, Chyldren
The Midlands and North Midlands preferred the "R" sound.. Childer,
Childre... (which suggests that the origin of the Childress/Childers
name links to the Midlands)
Northumbria, the northern most county bordering Scotland, did not use
the "R" but used "Childo, Cidas".
Scotland spelled children as "Chields" and often used the suffix "IS" to
make words plural.
To put some dates to when these "children" spellings first occurred:
975 Cildra appears in literature ("c" was pronounced "ch")
1000 Cidru,
1175 Childre
1225 Childrene
1300 Childir
1525 "Childers children" (translated as "children's children")
1549 Childir (in Scotland)
1578 "Childiris children" (translated as "children's children") is sung
in a ballad.
There is a place-name, a village called Childer-Thorton (no "s") in
Cheshire, England. The web site
http://www.fhsc.org.uk/genuki/chs/childth.htm describes Childer-Thorton
as "a township in Eastham Parish, Wirral Hundred" (a peninsula that was
a major Viking settlement). "In 1933 the civil parish was extended to
include part of Hooton, and in 1950 Childer Thornton became part of
Ellesmere Port civil parish and included the hamlet of Thornton Heath.
The population was 112 in 1801, 319 in 1851 and 685 in 1901."
Childer-Thorton is adjacent to Liverpool on the Irish Sea coast.
In bygone centuries this small community of "Childer" hypothetically
could have given its name to several local inhabitants with different
and unrelated DNA that could explain some of what we are seeing today
with multiple unrelated DNA patterns ("haplotypes").
Additionally, the use of the words "Childer and Childeres" in a
Yorkshire or Northern English dialect to mean "children and children's"
may also have spawned several families to use it as a surname and the
several families would not be related by DNA.
DNA STUDY
Most participants in the DNA study are using the Family Tree DNA
laboratory's, Y-chromosome, 25 marker test. We are comparing the
results of each 25 marker test to others who have taken the test. When
two people match on all 25 markers, it is written as a 25/25 match.
Mathematically, a 25/25 match means there is a:
1) 50% probability that the testing parties are related to a Most Recent
Common Ancestor or MRCA within the last 7 generations or 175 years, if
each generation were roughly 25 years.
2) 90% probability that the Most Recent Common Ancestor lived within the
last 23 generations, which could mean as long as 525 years ago.
Definitions:
"HaploTYPES" are a DNA pattern. A haplotype is a distinctive test
result of numbers or "values". Most tests results in the
Childress-Childers DNA Project show 25 values though some taking the
test have optioned for the smaller 12 marker test. Two people who are
genetically related with a MRCA, a MOST RECENT COMMON ANCESTOR, by
definition, have matching haplotypes i.e. a matching set of numbers give
or take a few mutations. Haplotypes are most useful in identifying if
two parties DON'T share a common ancestor when 2 testing parties don't
match each other. It is easiest for DNA to prove the negative rather
than affirm a positive relationship.
The DNA Study clusters matching HaploTYPE tests into various families
labeled as follows:
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND CHILDRESS FAMILY,
CRAWFORD CO. GEORGIA CHILDRES FAMILY
FREEMAN CRATUS CHILDERS FAMILY
JOSHUA CHILDRESS FAMILY of PITTSYLVANIA
VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS/CHILDEARS FAMILIES
BARTHOLOMEW GORDON CHILDRESS FAMILY
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS CHILDERS FAMILY
HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA CHILDERS FAMILY
And 2 families who are keeping their results private.
Definition:
"HaploGROUP" are specific values on the Y-chromosome that are slow to
mutate and are relatively stable for tens of thousands of years. These
slow moving markers are used to track the broad movement of pre-historic
populations predating surnames. "Haplogroups" contain large
populations of millions of people that are NOT related with the same
"recent" parentage or MRCA. Population geneticists are interested in
tracking the movements of groups of humans over time scales of thousand
and tens of thousands of years and are able to identify a Haplogroup
population by its specific DNA marker. Haplogroups did at one time have
a common ancestor but that ancestor would have pre-dated surnames tens
of thousands of years ago. There are over 150 Haplogroups that have been
identified and more will emerge. Our DNA Study clusters test results by
their HaploGROUPS labeled as followed:
HG1 "R1b" Celtic-Atlantic Modal,
HG2 "I" Viking-Norwegian-Germanic
HG3 "R1a" Eurasian Steppes-Slavic-Indian
J2 Mediterranean-C. Asian-Jewish.
Each separate DNA lineage has a story to tell. The DNA is silent as to
when the surname was acquired and by what manner. Any child adopted
into a Childress/Childers household would produce a lineage with the
Childress/Childers surname, and with a different DNA haplotype pattern.
But that is not the only explanation or even the best explanation. The
DNA lineages possibly descend out of multitude of independent families
each selecting the surname between the 13th and 15th centuries with some
lineages dying off and some lineages still surviving.
HAPLOGROUP "HG1" or "R1b" or CELTIC or ATLANTIC MODAL HAPLOTYPE
The nomenclature for labeling haplogroups varies with scientific studies
and has yet to be standardized. The Childress-Childers DNA Study
combines two of seven nomenclatures so that the reader becomes familiar
with 2 designations.
R1b is the most often used reference to this group. Haplogroup R1b is
the most common haplogroup in European populations. It is believed to
have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last
glacial maximum 10-12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the
haplogroup containing the Atlantic Modal Haplotype." The Atlantic Modal
Haplotype is found mostly on the Atlantic Coast of Europe and includes
Celtic (Scottish, Welsh, Irish) origins. See a map at
http://www.dnaheritage.com/masterclass2.asp and
http://www.roperld.com/YBiallelicHaplogroups.htm
The members of R1b (HG1) are thought to be the descendants of the
Paleolithic hunter-gatherers who arrived in Europe before the last Ice
Age about 40,000 years ago (Aurignacian culture). That pattern is most
common in Western Europe, but is also found in all other parts of
Europe.
By definition all within a HaploGROUP are related by a common ancestor
within the past 10,000 years or longer. Haplogroups contain large
populations. Within the Haplogroups, are families, each with their own
individual DNA pattern called a HaploTYPE. The DNA Study is trying to
determine if there is a Most Recent Common Ancestor since the
introduction of surnames 800 years ago in each family by studying their
individual Haplotype DNA pattern.
So far there are 4 different "haploTYPE" families in the HG1 R1b
HaploGROUP. The 4 Haplotype families have been labeled as follows
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND CHILDRESS FAMILY,
CRAWFORD CO. GEORGIA CHILDRES FAMILY
FREEMAN CRATUS CHILDERS FAMILY and
JOSHUA CHILDRESS FAMILY of PITTSYLVANIA
The initial conclusion is that these 4 families arrived at their
surnames independently of each other and not because they shared a Most
Recent Common Ancestor. Using currently accepted mutation rates, the
non-matching markers between these families are too many to have a Most
Recent Common Ancestor.
It is not clear, however, if the mutation rates are different and faster
for these families than is normally the case. The 2 families of
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND CHILDRESS FAMILY and CRAWFORD CO. GEORGIA CHILDRES
FAMILY may yet be related by a Most Recent Common Ancestor if mutation
rates were shown to be faster than anticipated or if more markers where
tested and found to be matching. A new 37 marker upgrade test (an
additional 12 markers are tested for those who have taken the 25 marker
test) is available at FTDNA for $59 when ordered through our DNA study
with a group discount or when ordered by a "returning" customer by
signing in through the participants personal FYDNA web page, then
"clicking" on "PRICING" at the top of the web page. If those additional
12 markers matched between the 2 families, it would offer more insight
into whether these lines are related with a Most Recent Common Ancestor.
We have extensively researched the Edinburgh, Scotland Haplotype. It is
my family's genealogy. The Edinburgh heritage may reflect a migration
to Scotland from England and assimilation into the culture for perhaps a
period of hundred years or so in the 17th and 18th Centuries. The story
of this family is recounted in part in the gravestone of a Joel
Childress who died in 1819 and makes reference to his Childress
ancestors coming to America "in his own ship, with cargo, in 1745". The
date 1745 coincides with the date of the earliest extant Virginia
records for some of the Edinburgh, Scotland family's lineages.
The gravestone of Joel Childress the FATHER of Sarah Childress Polk
(wife of President Polk) enshrined in stone the only known, terse
reference to an ocean voyage in 1745. In 1819, the year the gravestone
was carved, 74 years had passed since the crossing of the Atlantic, when
the story was noted in stone. The children of the children of the
children of those who crossed apparently thought the tale of the ocean
voyage resonated enough to put something of that story on the tombstone
of their father, Joel Childress, who himself was not even born until 30
years after the crossing of the Atlantic by his ancestors.
In 1745, the deliberate policy of Britain was to populate America with
new immigrants. The new immigrants were intended to be a buffer between
civilized English colonists and hostile Indians and French. 40
immigrants were killed by Indians for every Indian killed over disputed
lands. One historian has called it a policy of genocide upon the
immigrant.
Land promotions in the Colonies were advertised in Ulster, Northern
Ireland from 1718 through about 1775 and targeted the Scots living in
Ulster. During economic downturns, emigration increased and ships
pressed into service left from all ports in the British Isles. In the
1740's, coinciding with the time of the Scottish Childress voyage in
1745, crop failures in Ireland spurred a major push to emigrate and
there was a concerted effort by Virginian land promoters to bring new
colonists to Virginia.
Against this backdrop, the Scottish Chidresses of 1745 came up with
their alternative, buying their own ship. The Scottish Childress ship
sailed from Wales according to the gravestone inscription. We are
searching for the records of this ship's existence. We are looking at
financing provided by Glasgow Guilds and Glasgow tobacco speculators who
financed tobacco plantations in Virginia. We hypothesize that the
families brought their professions and tools of their trade with them (a
handcrafted wooden shaft of a cane dating from 1775 from this family
measures 37.2 inches, a unit of Scottish measure called a Scottish Ell
used to measure clothe. The length of the walking stick may have had
something to do with the origin, a Scottish origin, of the lathe or of
the training used to carve the cane 30 years after immigrating to
Virginia). Also records indicate that the immigration of this family
included elder members of the family who would have been the most
veteran craftsmen of their trades. This was not a voyage for only the
young men in their 20's. It was a voyage for the whole family. We
speculate the family was small and that few were left behind.
There is a family in Edinburgh (Scottish Register Office & City Library)
that in all likelihood links to the Childresses of the 1745 ship
crossing to America, though we have found no complete paper trail. We
postulate that the Scottish Childresses all descend out of the same
patriarch back in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh family's surname appears in the records spelled as
"Childeris, Childers, and Childrey". (The "y" would likely have been
pronounced "th". For example, "Ye old shoppe" is actually pronounced
"THEE old shoppe" not "YEEE old shoppe". The Childrey entry in the
records may indicate that the clerk was trying to capture a sound
similar to Childreth or some similar Scottish accent). We have not found
any extant signatures for any members of the Edinburgh family.
A number of these Edinburgh family members are "Saddlers" and
"Hammerman" (blacksmith) by trade (which entailed on one occasion
upholstering the church pews) and are "Burgesses" (including
"Extraordinary Deacon to the Council") in the Saddlery and Hammerman
Guilds. One family member is a "town officer" and another is "royal
trumpeter" fundraising money from titled families for a theatrical
venture. The patriarch of the Edinburgh family seems to be a George
born, we estimate, about 1600-1610 and is the first of 5 Georges in the
Edinburgh family.
The patriarch George has kin and descendants named Robert, James, John,
George, Haerie, David, William and Neil in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh clan
marries into families with the following surnames: Hadden, Handyside,
Little, Gourlay, Burns, Muir, and Nicol/Nicolson. The Edinburgh family
disappears completely from the records just before 1700. There are ten
known children born to this Edinburgh family between 1671 and 1690 of
which 3 die in infancy. However, there are no further entries on the
lives of the seven surviving children as they became adults. The last
record in Edinburgh is for a "Neil Childers" who died in 1700 with an
entry next to his name..."poor". There was a famine in Scotland in the
1690's that decimated Scotland and may have had something to do with
this family's disappearance from Edinburgh.
Circa 1650, the Scottish Childresses in Edinburgh had a patriarch,
George, who appears to have had 2 sons. One son, Robert, stayed in
Edinburgh until his death working as a Saddler. In 1668 a land
ownership document is recorded for this family in Peebles
(http://www.touristnetuk.com/sc/BORDERS/towns/peebles.htm), Scotland, 20
miles southwest of Edinburgh and about 50 miles from Dumfries, Galloway
County, Scotland.
Records for the second son George Jr. are not extant after about 1660.
We speculate he and his family migrated to the Glasgow/Galloway County/
Dumfries/Irish Sea area to facilitate the purchase of hides being
imported from Ireland.
Galloway County and the Irish Sea coast were leather working areas.
Shoemakers were prospering from the salaries of local coal miners who
needed shoes. Leatherworkers were fitting out the tackle and riggings of
sailing ships which were everywhere along the coast off loading American
cargo onto ships destined for European ports. Much demanded leather
goods, including saddles, were being exported to America from Glasgow.
Cattle herds and tanneries thrived throughout coastal area on the Irish
Sea. And new wealth was being amassed and spent in the colonial tobacco
trade being run by Glasgow cartels financed in part by trade guilds.
Glasgow was a boom town built on American and Caribbean tobacco.
Glasgow was rebuilding itself after a devastating fire, dredging its
harbor to meet the shipping demands, opening up its guild memberships to
replace dead members lost in the plagues sweeping port towns. Tobacco
was a force for change. A few monopolistic cartels, some related by
inter-marriage, were financing this highly profitable trade. The
cash-flow strapped cartels turned to the craftsmen guild membership to
borrow the funds needed to keep solvent the tobacco merchants who were
buying, selling and financing transactions. There was an increasing
middle class, a chance for upward mobility, and even a nouveau riche
speculator class. Tobacco was bought and sold before it was grown or
shipped.... a futures market. Fortunes were being made for those who
would take risks which was in stark contrast to the poverty, the worst
in the British Isles, of an agrarian Scotland. British fees and taxes on
imported goods were rising which increased the incentives for the locals
to smuggle. British custom officials were taking bribes. Welsh farmers
worked part of the year on their crops and cattle herds and part of the
year hiding, repackaging and transporting untaxed contraband. There was
a flourishing black market trade and skillful deceit in avoiding tobacco
tariffs. If the Scottish Childresses were hardworking, thrifty guild
members, participating in the Glasgow boom, they likely were solicited
for investment money by the tobacco cartels. And if the Scottish
Childresses were savvy and street wise, the largest port in Wales,
Swansea, had a senior British Customs authority who took bribes during
very years the Childress ship would be in service. Things were in flux.
One could enter the elite world of the tobacco cartels by marriage, by
providing financing, or by owning a tobacco plantation.
In 1745, the Scottish Childresses sailed from Wales to buy farmland in
Virginia for tobacco. We hypothesize that it was the grandchildren and
great-grandchildren of these first Galloway-Irish Sea area
leatherworking Childresses that migrated to Virginia circa 1745 in a
ship that most likely was financed or inspired by tobacco speculators in
Glasgow. Typically, a ship would be bought by a partnership and would
make one round trip to America, returning with tobacco for the
speculators. Upon their return the ship would be sold to another
partnership.
We note that in Virginia some HG1 "R1b" Scottish Childresses are
connected to cattle and leather trades. There is a John Childress Jr.,
born 1759, who serves in the Revolutionary War herding cattle in the
army and whose father was a shoemaker. The Continental Army in the
Revolution owes payment in Amherst/Albemarle Counties, VA for taking
Childress cattle. There is a surname (Lindsay) into which the early HG1
"R1B" Scottish Childresses marry in Knox County, TN that has a tannery
in Knoxville. Circa the late 1800's a directory of Richmond, VA. shows a
Childress shoe business and by the 1900's there is a Childress family
manufacturing shoes (Propst-Childress Shoe Co, Roanoke, VA), There are
records of Childresses tanning leather, and operating a dairy
(Montgomery County, VA). And in San Antonio, Texas around 1840 there
surfaces a Childress family petitioning the US Government for a contract
to manufacture Army saddles (Rice & Childress Saddles).
To date, there are only 3 members of these Scottish Childresses who have
taken DNA tests. The most interesting test results come from comparing
the DNA of Joseph W. A. Childress, of Goochland, VA to that of Dr.
Joseph (Jay) Howard Childress of Knox County, TN. Their results match
21/25 and differ at 4 "hot spots". Hot spots are fast mutating sites on
the Y-chromosome, that are currently being studied by the University of
Arizona. It is not clear how fast they mutate or if the mutation rate
varies among different surnames. Currently "hot spot" mutation rates
have been estimated very loosely at 150 years per mutation, ie. a hot
spot mutation represents the passage on average of 150 years to attain
that one mutation on the 25 marker test. It may change and my estimates
are not stated as the mathematical probabilities that scientists
quantify. Indeed, already studies have determined that each marker has
its own mutation rate. An interpretation by Bennett Greenspan,
President of Family Tree DNA, stated that it was his opinion that these
two testing parties were related because their core stable markers were
identical and that all the mismatches were at hot spots. An
interpretation of how long it would take the DNA to mutate 4 times at
hot spots suggests about 600 years. If that is correct then a common
ancestor of these two testing parties might be expected circa 1400 or
earlier. However, it is not yet clear who in this family Haplotype
mutated at marker DYS (DNA Y-chromosome Site) number 390 which has both
values 23 and 24 among the testing parties. It is possible that Joseph
W. A. Childress, of Goochland, VA and Dr. Joseph (Jay) Howard Childress
of Knox County, TN both mutated to 23 independently of each other which
coincidentally concealed the mutation. If that is the case then they
don't differ by 4 mutations at hot spots but by 6 mutations, 2 of which
are concealed, which makes it a low probability that that many mutations
happened since the introduction of surnames 550-750 years ago. It would
be useful to get another cousin to test to determine which value at DYS
390, either 23 or 24 was the initial value and which parties have the
mutation.
HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS
The nomenclature for labeling haplogroups varies with scientific
studies. Some literature refers to this group as HG2 and some
literature refers to this Haplogroup as "I" but usually not both at the
same time. "I" seems most common. The Childress-Childers DNA Study
combines both nomenclatures so that the reader becomes familiar with
both designations.
HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS Haplotype has a potentially distant
Viking heritage pre-dating the use of surnames. According the Family
Tree DNA Laboratory, in "the I, I1, and I1a lineages are nearly
completely restricted to northwestern Europe. These would most likely
have been common within Viking populations. One lineage of this group
extends down into central Europe." See a map at
http://www.dnaheritage.com/masterclass2.asp and
http://www.roperld.com/YBiallelicHaplogroups.htm
The members of HG2 are believed to be the descendants of two later waves
of humans into Europe. The last of these waves arrived about 8,000 years
ago and is credited with introducing agriculture into Europe.
There is no genetic test for Viking ancestry yet developed. Currently,
the best that can be done is to identify haplogroups that might have
been "invaders" in Britain. Haplogroup "I" suggests Northern Europe
descent rather than Norse or Scandinavian. Danes share this Haplogroup
but so do the Germanic Saxons (geographically, the regions are in close
proximity).
The haplogroup results reported in the 12 and 25 marker Y-chromosome
test is extrapolated on minimal data and is not the definitive test to
determine a haplogroup. There are other tests available that may be
more precise or at the very least confirm the haplogroup for HG2 "I"
VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS. Better tests are being developed and at some
point one member of HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS should be
specifically tested to verify the Haplogroup designation. Not all
members of the group need to be tested. A new Haplogroup test will be
available in 2004.
Descendants of HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS's may have first
crossed the Atlantic as English colonists to Virginia in the mid to late
1600's (about the time as the Scottish Childresses were guild members in
Edinburgh). Records of "head rights" are the first evidence of the
immigration. Head rights were land promotions whereby 50 acres were
given free to new, young (mostly aged in their early 20's) English
immigrants. It was British foreign policy to try to increase the White
labor force in Virginia because of concerns that the Black slave labor
force was too large to control. Those immigrants with insufficient funds
to sail to the colonies could pre-sell their land parcels prior to
leaving England, and use the money to pay for the ship passage to
Virginia. The program was rife with corruption and the names in the
records may include some fraudulent entries. HG2 "I" VIKING
CHILDRESS/CHILDERS lineage's first recorded names in America likely
included Abraham, Philomen and Thomas.
HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS has the greatest number of descendants
tested so far. Of the 39 tests completed to date, HG2 "I" VIKING
CHILDRESS/CHILDERS currently has 23 members. A genealogical explanation
might be that if this group immigrated to America very early, perhaps a
hundred years before any other DNA group with a similar surname, the
number of surviving off spring in America would be substantially larger
in number than those groups who delayed immigrating for a another
century or more in Europe. A family's standard of living in Virginia,
even for pioneers, was more prosperous than those in most of Britain,
especially northern Britain and Scotland which were the poorest and most
destitute regions of that country. Families in Virginia, were less
hindered by polluted waters, disease and over-farmed land than their
counterparts in Europe. Britain's population was experiencing zero
population growth, ie. 2 parents would produce 2 surviving children who
reached adulthood. HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS's large number of
modern descendants may owe their numbers to one hundred years of a low
infant mortality rate in a prospering America since the mid 1600's.
HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS's modern descendants use both the
Childers and Childress spellings fluctuating around 50:50 ratio to date.
(Currently in HG2 "I" VIKING Childress/Childers there are 6 "Childers"
spellings and 15 "Childress" spellings, 1 "Childears" and 3 "Childers"
not returning their test kits.) It is not clear, what, if any,
genealogical clues may be surmised from the various spellings. It is not
clear if there was a bifurcation in the spelling in the Middle Ages or
if the spelling differences are a modern phenomenon.
British surnames became fixed over two hundred years, in the period
between 1250 and 1450. The question remains if and when did a Northern
English dialect with its possible grammatical declension of "Child" to
the plural Childer/Childers and plural possessive Childeres/Childress
become enshrined and imprinted on the family as a surname. Since most
surnames were in place by 1450, and Childers/Childress lineages did not
take another surname, it is probable that by the 1600's both spellings
of the surname were in place in the UK, long before the immigration to
the American colonies. Childers and Childress, if they derived from
Yorkshire or Northern Counties rules of grammar, were not originally
misspellings of each other. They were different words, one plural and
one plural possessive. There can be name changes and misspellings in
subsequent centuries and after immigrating to the American Colonies, but
it would seem reasonable to say that those errors should have moved in
both directions Childers to Childress and Childress to Childers for a
net gain of zero or a very small percentage change.
In the past, in our own writings prior to DNA testing, we labeled this
HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS lineage as "CHILDERS" some of whom
changed their name to "Childress". That may be an error or incorrect
assumption. Potentially it could be the opposite, "Childress" changing
their pronunciation to "Childers". For purposes of referring this
group, it is unclear what pronunciation the original progenitor used.
We have found it a less confusing label to refer to these descendants
and lineages simply as "Viking Childers" or "Viking Childress" which
may help the reader link them to their DNA group without having to look
up what "HG2 "I" Childress/Childers" means. Obviously at the time of
the Vikings, the surname of the ancestor would not have been either
Childers or Childress since the Vikings predate the transmission of
surnames. Bluetooth, Haraldr Fine-hair, Edith Swanneck, Eric Blood Ax,
Sven Forkbeard, Atli the Slender, or Ketil Flatnose might have been a
Viking ancestor of HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS, if we could test
their DNA.
If the spelling bifurcation happened before immigration to America, it
may indicate that those who spell their names identically in HG2 "I"
VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS are more closely related to others in that
group with the same spelling and less closely related to those with
different spellings in that group. For example, one could postulate that
there was an early split within the family into two different spellings
shortly after the selection of the surname by the original progenitor.
If so, then this 50/50 ratio of alternative spellings has been fairly
constant over the centuries. Genealogically, each spelling, Viking
Childers and Viking Childress in HG2 "I", would therefore trace to two
separate progenitors and both progenitors trace to a single, common,
original, ancestor whose pronunciation of the surname is indeterminate
and perhaps, at that point, immaterial or unhelpful to trace lineages.
DNA tests on HG2 "I" Childers/Childress surnamed people living in the UK
today, could be used to test the hypothesis that bifurcation of the
pronunciation of the surname happened in the UK prior to immigrating to
Virginia. If UK descendants who are related by their DNA are using both
spellings in the UK, today, it would support the hypothesis that
bifurcation of the pronunciation pre-dates events in America....and that
most of Viking Child*ERS are more closely related to other Viking
Child*ERS than they are to a Viking Child*RESS and vice versa.
A recent study of possible Vikings descendants in the UK (Wirral and
West Lancashire) has been published and was based upon the DNA collected
from a list of the surnames which appeared on a list in the year 1366
promising to contribute to the stipend of the priest of the altar of Our
Lady at Ormskirk. Childers and Childress are not on the list of
surnames in 1366, but "Childsfather" is which may be a church reference
to Child of Our Father, or Child of God, a birth outside of wedlock. We
speculate, without other evidence, that the one or more lines of the
surname Child, with possible later declensions to Childer and Childress
surnames, may owe its origin to the church's recording of an out of
wedlock birth of their ancestors, though that is not suggested in the
Viking study. The Viking study only references that the surname
"Childsfather" existed in 1366 in a community that was the site of a
previous and major Viking settlement in the UK. The Viking study is
summarized at http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~sczsteve/survey.htm
It should also be stipulated that HG2 "I" haplotype is both consistent
with Danish Viking invaders and Saxon (Germanic) invaders to Britain.
Members in HG2 "I" should monitor new and changing DNA research on
Vikings, especially Danish Vikings, as well as Saxon-Germanic and even
Norman (of Viking descent) research as it may shed light on their
haplogroup. HG2 "I" is an "INVADER" to Britain but which invader or
colonizer is unclear.
www.mbe.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/19/7/1008
There are questions posed by the test results. HG1 "R1b, Scottish
Childress lineages has 3 members who have each taken a 25 marker test.
Therefore, Scottish Childress lineages have a total of 75 markers which
have been tested, and 5 mutations are evident. Compare this to the HG2
"I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS, which also has 5 mutations but those 5
mutations are spread over 23 testing parties, with a total of 550 total
markers tested. The Viking Childers and Viking Childresses have 550
markers tested compared to 75 markers tested for the Scottish
Childresses lineages, yet each group shows a total of 5 mutations. Why
the dramatic differences in the observation of mutations?
One explanation for the differences in the mutation rate for each group
is that different Haplotypes and different Haplogroups, have different
mutation rates. This is what the University of Arizona is studying.
Another explanation is that the sample participants in HG1 "R1b" CELTIC
lineages, is too small to be representative.
Yet another explanation is that the number of replications is greater in
HG1 "R1b" Scottish Haplogroup than in HG2 "I" Viking Childress/Childers.
The Y-chromosome mutates during conception. If one family (e.g. HG1 R1b
Scottish) were descending from a Most Recent Common Ancestor who lived
in the year 1100 and the other group (e.g. HG2 I Viking) were descending
from a Most Recent Common Ancestor who lived in the year 1600, the group
branching earliest from their respective common ancestor (e.g. HG1 R1b
Scottish) would have more DNA replication events and more mutations
since branching off. It may not be the rate of mutation that explains
the difference in the number of mutations between Haplogroups HG1 R1b
and HG2 I, but the length of time back to their respective Most Recent
Common Ancestor.
There may be other explanations also. Testing parties should monitor
all new findings regarding mutation rates, for each of the various
marker sites on the Y-chromosome, as it may have a bearing on the
interpretation of their results.
If those in HG2 "I" taking the DNA test had more mutations, it would
help identify sub-branches of related individuals. Unfortunately, most
participants of HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS do not have enough
mutations to help classify sub-lineages. A 100 marker test, if and when
one is developed, could help find still more distinctive differences in
DNA patterns and to cluster together those who are the most related
within their group. This is what all DNA studies want, more markers.
It is now possible to upgrade to a 37 marker test at Family Tree DNA.
Taking the 37 marker test, which has a number of volatile markers, may
show additional mutations and help sort out sub-branches of familial
relationships. We recommend that those who can afford the test, upgrade
to 37 markers and continue to upgrade to more markers in the future if
and when even greater number of markers can be tested. The Viking
Childresses and Viking Childers cry out for the need for more mutations
to help researchers cluster related families together and combine their
paper research. The cost for the upgrade from 25 markers to 37 markers
is currently $59 when ordered through the Group Discount of this DNA
study or by accessing your FTDNA web page, "clicking" on "PRICING" at
the top of the page and entering your own order as a "repeat" customer.
HG3 R1a1 EURASIAN CHILDRESS
Family Tree DNA laboratory results classify this group as Haplogroup
type R1a and says "the R1a lineage is believed to have originated in the
Eurasian Steppes north of the Black and Caspian Seas. This lineage is
believed to have originated in a population of the Kurgan culture, known
for the domestication of the horse (approximately 3000 B.C.E.). These
people were also believed to be the first speakers of the Indo-European
language group. This lineage is currently found in central and western
Asia, India, and in Slavic populations of Eastern Europe." See a map at
http://www.dnaheritage.com/masterclass2.asp and
http://www.roperld.com/YBiallelicHaplogroups.htm
The haplogroup R1a1 (HG3) is seen more frequently on the eastern side of
Europe (9% of the population of Turkey is R1a1). But R1a1 is also common
in Scandinavia, and is said by some to be indicative of "Viking blood"
when seen in paternal lines originating in the British Isles. R1a is the
"classic Viking signature" - which is one of the few things that all
researchers agree upon, assuming of course that the ancestor came from
Britain. In Britain the haplogroup is rare, except where the Vikings
settled. The forefather of all R1a1's is thought to have been born in
the Ukraine during the last Ice Age about 15,000 years ago.
The oldest common ancestor for this group that has been identified is
Bartholomew Gordon Childress, b. c. 1803 in SC or VA, Migrated SC or VA
> SC > GA > FL > MS> AL. More DNA testing parties are required to shed
more light on this lineage.
J2 MEDITERRANEAN CHILDERS
Family Tree DNA laboratory suggests that this group is haplogroup "J2".
"This lineage originated in the northern portion of the Fertile Crescent
where it later spread throughout central Asia, the Mediterranean, and
south into India. As with other populations with Mediterranean ancestry
this lineage is found within Jewish populations. The Cohen modal lineage
is found in Haplogroup J*. See a map at
http://www.dnaheritage.com/masterclass2.asp and
http://www.roperld.com/YBiallelicHaplogroups.htm
There were 2 waves of settlement by J2 in the British Isles. The first
was the Neolithic farmers into Europe about 10,000 years ago and the
second is the Jewish settlement about 2000 years ago, in Roman times.
The testing party James Lamar Childers has an unusual DNA marker called
a "double peak". This testing party has two values at a site instead of
one. Apparently the marker has duplicated itself, and both duplicates
then start to mutate separately. I received this information from the
Genealogy-DNA mail list on Rootsweb from Ann Turner the list manager in
response to my question.
"From: DNACousins(a)aol.com [mailto:DNACousins@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 4:36 AM
To: GENEALOGY-DNA-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: [DNA] What is a Double Peak
On the Y-chromosome test at marker 19, the testing party has a double
peak, 14 AND 15. Other testing parties in our study have either a 14 OR
15 at that marker but not both....what does a double peak
mean...what is it?
Gary
Ann Turner wrote:
I see the data entry form at http://www.ysearch.org/add_start.asp?uid=
has a dropdown list for DYS 19b, with a footnote that the result will be
0 for most people. The Y chromosome is full of duplications (that's the
basis for the multi-copy markers such as DYS385a/b and DYS464a/b/c/d).
It appears that somewhere, sometime, the DYS19 region was also
duplicated, and each copy has been mutating independently (19a and 19b).
I do recall reading some articles about a duplication of an STR (marker)
that is usually a single copy. I *think* it was DYS19, but I can't put
my hands on the article right now.
It would be interesting to know if the duplication itself was a one-time
event (a Unique Event Polymorphism). If so, it occurred recently enough
most people in the world don't have it, but long ago enough to
accumulate some variety in the two different copies (14/15 for Gary's
group and 12/15 for Orin's group). Come to think of it, I wonder if some
people get a single peak of say 14, but they are actually 14/14.
Ann Turner - GENEALOGY-DNA List Administrator
Search or Browse the archives, Subscribe or Unsubscribe at
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Miscellaneous/GENEALOGY-DNA.html".
GROUP NINE Records are private. One member. Doesn't match other
Haplotypes.
GROUP TEN
Records are private. One member. Doesn't match other Haplotypes.
One of the top stories in 2003 in this newsletter was the arrest of Elias Abodeely, a 23-year-old in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who ran a string of pseudo genealogy sites. His arrest didn't seem to deter him: 2004 has started off with a rash of the same advertising.
For those who missed it, let's briefly recap this scam. The sites involved included GenSeeker.com, GenSeekers.com, genealogydevelopments.com, familydiscovery.com, genealogyfinders.net, genlocator.com, genealogy-express.com, and probably many others. Abodeely would send out spam mail from one site, then collect money until the complaints mounted, and his site eventually would be shut down by the hosting service. A week or two later he would appear with a new name and a new site on a different hosting service conducting essentially the same business. To access his sites, the hapless buyer paid $40 to $60 (the exact amount varied from time to time). None of these sites contained any genealogy information; they simply had pointers to free sites where information could be found. In other words, the buyer paid $40 to $60 to access something that was already available free of charge.
Abodeely eventually ran into lots of legal difficulties. On August 1, 2003, he was arrested in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on felony charges of first-degree theft, money laundering, and ongoing criminal activity. He was released later that day, and a court appearance on those charges still has not yet been scheduled.
You can read about Abodeely's arrest in my newsletter at: http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0331.htm, in the Des Moines register at http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788998/21905604.html and at http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=elias+abodeely+arr....
His arrest did not slow Abodeely very much. A month later he appeared selling "self-renewing" genealogy CD-ROM disks under the name GenealogyTechs.com. That site actually was registered to Andrew Abodeely. I obtained one of these "self-renewing" genealogy CD-ROM disks and wrote about it in detail in the September 29, 2003 Plus Edition of this newsletter. GenealogyTechs.com was shut down the day after my article was published.
Things have been quiet for the past three months, but on January 2, 2004, a number of newsletter readers reported receiving some fishy-looking spam mail messages. In fact, the messages appear to be word-for-word the same as the old ads for "self-renewing" genealogy CD-ROM disks sent earlier from GenealogyTechs.com - except that the new ads are coming from GenealogyTechs.net. That's right: the only difference is the previously shut down dot-COM is now replaced by a newly-registered dot-NET.
A quick check of the WHOIS information shows that Genealogytechs.net is registered to the same address as GenealogyTechs.com: 1013 Agate Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92109, the business address of Andrew Abodeely. That is also the same address that ships the worthless "self-renewing" genealogy CD-ROM disks.
In short, the Abodeelys seem to have reappeared after a three-month hiatus. Elias Abodeely's earlier arrest for felonies doesn't seem to have fazed either of the Abodeelys at all. At the time these words are being written, http://www.genealogytechs.net is up and running and looks almost identical to the previously shut down http://www.genealogytechs.com.
It is also interesting to note that the new site is like the old one in several respects, especially in that it cannot handle credit cards. Instead, the buyer is suckered into paying by an "e-check" that extracts money directly from the buyer's checking account with no credit card involved. Beware! This is one method by which the earlier sites allegedly extracted money time and again from a buyer's checking accounts! Several buyers thought they paid once but, after examining their end-of-month checking account statements, found that they had been charged time and again without permission. That is one of the actions that led to Elias Abodeely's arrest.
Why would a company not offer payment by credit card? That is extremely rare in the online world. The answer is simple: the owner's credit rating is so poor that he cannot obtain the merchant account required to be able to accept credit cards. In this case, he cannot even obtain a PayPal account, which is easy for mostpeople to obtain. No credit card service will give a merchant account to someone awaiting trial on charges of money laundering by using credit cards! Without access to a credit card merchant account, the Web site owner is forced to resort to online checks, a risky method for any buyer considering an online purchase.
Remember that purchases made online with VISA, MasterCard or American Express are fully insured against fraud by the credit card companies. If you get "ripped off" by a shady merchant when using a credit card, the credit card companies will immediately refund all of your money and then will pursue resolution with the merchant. PayPal transactions are also fully insured in the same manner. However, if you pay by check, you have no such protection. That is true both for paper checks as well as for "e-checks." You receive only whatever insurance your local bank provides. Sadly, most banks provide no protection at all against fraudulent purchases made with a check or with a debit card.
Send a check to a con artist? You lose.
Any time you see a Web site offering something for sale and not accepting credit cards, ask yourself, "Why does this merchant not accept credit cards? Not even via PayPal?" Most of the time, it is because that merchant has severe financial problems. Then ask yourself if you really want to do business with such a merchant.
If you receive a spam mail from GenealogyTechs.net or any similar-sounding scam, please forward it to the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Police Department's Financial Crimes Division at k.washburn(a)cedar-rapids.org. I suspect they have an interest in the "business activities" of this person, who is awaiting a court appearance after being arrested by that department. Please feel free to also enclose a copy of this article. You can read more about the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Police Department's Financial Crimes Division at http://www.cedar-rapids.org/police/financial_crimes.asp.
Please feel free to also forward this article to other genealogists, newsgroups, mailing lists, and anywhere else you feel is appropriate.
What Do You Think? Comments and discussion are available on this newsletter's Discussion Board at: http://www.eogn.com/discussionboard
Michelle