Remembering Two Women Who Married Driver Men – My New England Connections

2014 has begun with the passing of two special ladies who married into the DRIVER family.  On January 08, 2014, the first to pass was my Aunt Aloo (Ava "Aloo" Jhabvala) Driver who was married to my Uncle Edwin D. Driver for at least 64 years.  She was an accomplished person born in Mumbai, Bombay, India who became a college professor as well as the mother to three of my cousins.  I did not see much of her or her family, but when I did it was great.  I remember, as a child, I had a strong dislike for funerals.  Aunt Aloo and I had this in common.  The times we did see each other, I do remember a soft-spoken person who had a kind heart.  In the early 90’s, I had the chance to visit her and my Uncle at their home in Massachusetts.  This was a memorable time for me and my family.  She will be missed and my prayers are with the family.

My aunt Loretta (Loretta B. Carrey) was the second to pass on Feb 07, 2014.  She preceded my Uncle Bill (William Thomas Driver) by 20 years.  Both had been married since the 1940’s and lived the majority of their lives in Connecticut. I spent many of summers with Uncle Bill and Aunt Loretta.  I remember whenever I would see them, they would make me feel loved and welcomed.  She loved to read her romance novels as Uncle Bill and I would do things like fish, make a table in his workshop or just hang out.  When the both of them were working, they always made sure I had friends my age in their neighborhood to play with.  I have such fond memories of them both. When I think back on my childhood, the days I spent in their home were some of the best days of my life.  Later in like I would see them more during family functions at my Aunt Rena’s house in Washington, DC.  They would love to be around the family and play cards.  I know all of them are enjoying a card game in heaven this day.

(William T. Driver, Loretta B. Driver and Rena Harris)

Now, there is only one person left of that generation.  I have witness the passing of many ancestors over the years.  These ancestors help to mold the person that I am today.  Although I dearly miss them all, they will always have a place in my memory and heart.  May God bless their surviving families for many generations to come. 

Posted 7/24/13 on the MAPP Family Facebook Group

Last night marked the return of the show “Who Do You Think You Are” on the TLC cable channel.  The person featured was Kelly Clarkson and through her research she found that her great (3X) grandfather was a Union Soldier in the Civil War. 

http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/who-do-you-think-you-are

Well, we too have our very own Civil War hero by the name of Appy MAPP.  Like Kelly Clarkson’s ancestor, Appy MAPP was wounded in battle.  Here is a little information concerning his service and the USCT Regiment he served.  Pass this along to your children so they can proudly participate in their history class when the Civil War discussion is presented.

Appins Mapp is listed in our Civil War Soldiers & Sailors book: Mapp, Appins (Appinus) alias Napp, Happy. Black. Union. Enlisted 1863 in 2nd US Colored Cavalry Co. I. Wounded in foot. Discharged 1865. In Grangeville in 1890 Union Veterans Census. Service Record not found.

2nd Regiment Cavalry

http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/uncolcav.htm#2ndcav

Organized at Fort Monroe, Va., December 22, 1863. Attached to Fort Monroe, Va., Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to April, 1864. Unattached Williamsburg, Va., Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to June, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Corps, Army of the James, to August, 1864. Unattached 3rd Division, 18th Corps, to December, 1864. Unattached 25th Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to May, 1865. Cavalry Brigade, 25th Corps, Dept. of Virginia and Dept. of Texas, to February, 1866.

SERVICE.--Duty at Fort Monroe, Portsmouth and Williamsburg, Va., until May, 1864. Demonstration on Portsmouth March 4-5. Action near Suffolk March 10. Reconnaissance from Portsmouth to the Blackwater April 13-15. Butler's operations on the south side of James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 4-28. Capture of Bermuda Hundred and City Point May 5. Swift Creek May 8-10. Operations against Fort Darling May 10-16. Actions at Drury's Bluff May 10-13-14-15 and 16. Near Drury's Bluff May 20. Duty in trenches at Bermuda Hundred until June 13. Point of Rocks June 10. Richmond Campaign June 13-July 31. Baylor's Farm June 15. Assaults on Petersburg June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to February 18, 1865. Duty before Petersburg until July, 1864. Moved to Deep Bottom July 25. Action at Deep Bottom July 27-28. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Actions at Deep Bottom September 2 and 6. Chaffin's Farm September 29-30. Darbytown Road October 7. Battle of Fair Oaks, Darbytown Road October 27-28. Near Richmond October 28-29. Duty in trenches north of James River until February, 1865. Ordered to Norfolk February 18. Duty in District of Eastern Virginia at Norfolk, Suffolk, etc., until May. Ordered to City Point, Va.; thence sailed for Texas June 10. Duty on the Rio Grande and at various points in Texas until February, 1866. Mustered out February 12, 1866.

Who is Appy MAPP?

This is a posting for my MAPP Family Group on Facebook.

Who is Appy MAPP?

For many of us on this group page, we are related through the recent bloodline of Appy MAPP.  For others, we have a common European connection through John MAPP I (circa 1625 in England and died February 1671 in Northampton County, VA). John MAPP I was the great grandfather of Littleton MAPP, Sr. who was born in Northampton County, VA and died in Georgia. Littleton MAPP, Sr. also had connections (land) to North Carolina and South Carolina.

One of my goals concerning the MAPP Family genealogy is to do further research about Appy MAPP.  What I know at this time is the following documented facts;

1.    DOB: June 01, 1842 in Accomack County, VA
2.    Died: November 01, 1916
3.    Married Mary Susan HARMON on August 04, 1892 in Accomack County, VA.  It looks like they had 10 to 15 Children throughout their marriage(s).
4.    Severed in the Civil War - 1863 Virginia, United States of America Private, Co. I 2nd Colored Cavalry.
5.    From 1870 to his death he lived in the Pungoteague Magisterial District of Accomack County, VA.  This also known as Saint Georges Parrish.
6.    His death certificate states that he was the son of Appie PARRAMORE and Leah MAPP.  It also states that he was buried in the Red Hill Church cemetery on November 02, 1916 by the undertaker W. E. REID and Company from Keller, VA.  His death was reported by Edward MAPP who lived in Wachapreague, VA.  NOTE: Keller and Wachapreague are towns in Accomack County, VA.
7.    Appy MAPP had several aliases or misspelling of his name.  His first name was recorded as “Happy”, “Appie” or “Appe”.  In his pension file, he was listed as Appy Mapp alias “Happy NAPP”.

By far this is the most information that I have found on any one person as long as I have been involved with genealogy.  With that said, I still have many questions than answers concerning Appy MAPP.

1.    Who was his father Appie PARRAMORE?  I find little information concerning him or his wife Leah MAPP. 
2.    Was Appy MAPP a runaway slave that joined the Union Army to fight in the Civil War?  I have searched the Registers of Free Negroes for Northampton and Accomack counties and have not found an Appy MAPP.  I did find several other men with the first name Appy, but no last names of MAPP or PARRAMORE.  On the flip side, I have not any documents listing an Appy or any variation of that name as slave inventory, engaged in legal proceedings, etc.
3.    What was the relationship between Edward MAPP and Appy MAPP?  Edward was the informant listed on Appy’s death certificate.
4.    What was the relationship between Appy and his wife Mary Susan HARMON?  They both married late in life, but the children look like they are theirs together.  Mary also seems to have been married to a Peter Taylor.
5.    What was the connection between the Black and White MAPP’s?  How are we connected to Littleton MAPP, Sr. slaves and/or family?

I hope to find the answers to these questions and develop a framework for a book. 

Appy MAPP’s Whereabouts

1863 Civil War

Virginia, United States of America Private, Co. I 2nd Colored Cavalry

1870 Census – Saint Georges Parish, Accomack CO, VA

George S. Mears - 26 - W - Farmer

Mary Anna Mears - 23 - W - Keeping House

VA Mears - 1 - W

Thomas White - 12 - B - Domestic Servant

Soyo (?) Jubilee - 11 - M - Domestic Servant

Molinaa (?) Mears - 21 - B - Domestic Servant

Appie Mapp - 28 - B - Farm Laborer

Mary Mapp - 25 - M - Farm Laborer

Luke Mapp - 2 - M

Eliza Mapp - 5 - M

1880 Census - Pungoteague Magisterial Dist. 8

1890 Veteran Census Index

Mapp, Appias                                      Pungoliaguo District

Napp, Happy                                       Pungoliaguo District

Looks like a duplicate entry with two different spellings of his name.  According to the Pension File, Happy Napp was an alias. Why would he have an alias?

1900 Census – Pungoteague Magisterial Dist. 13

South Boundary line commences at the mouth of Pungoteague Creek, continuing up said Creek to a point known as The Ware House, thence from said point along the County road to Bobtown, thence to Keller, thence turning S.W. along…

1910 Census - Pungoteague Magisterial Dist 15

Excludes Belle Haven town and Wachapreggue town, beginning at line north go as far south as the north side of Nandua Creek, then taking a by-road coming out in the main county road to the L J Hyslop lot, then following main county road to Pear Tree and then turning at the J R Sturgis farm and follow road to Painter, thence follow RR to point of beginning…

What is in a name?

Part 1

I will never forget the day I found out that my grandfather had an additional birth name.  I thought his formal name was EDWIN DOUGLAS DRIVER and his nickname was “BUBBA”.  I later found in the 1910 census someone by the name of HOBBED D. DRIVER who was the same age as my grandfather.  I was puzzled as to who this new person was.  Was he another brother that died young or was there a complete misspelling of my grandfather’s name?  This puzzle was solved when I had a chance to visit my grandfather’s brother and my Godfather, ELIJAH MORRIS DRIVER (also known as “BUSTER”).  I informed UNCLE BUSTER that I have been engaged in genealogy and found a person by the name of Hobbed.  He smiled and said that the name was actually HOBART and it was my grandfather.  My grandfather dropped the name and went by the remaining EDWIN DOUGLAS.

Over the years I tried to make since of family names and their origin.  I will be making several more postings concerning the DRIVER names, but I first want to finish my story about my grandfather’s name.

When I found out his first name was HOBART, I tried to find other older family members with that first or last name.  There were none, but I did notice that HOBART was similar to ROBERT.  Census takers were notorious for misspelling people’s names.  Often after a long day/week of going from house to house (by horse or cart and down long dusty roads), the census taker was exhausted and made mistakes.  If my grandfather’s first name was ROBERT that would have made plenty of sense.  After all I had found 15 other ROBERT DRIVER in our family from the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  That assumption was too easy and debunked by my uncle BUSTER when he informed me that the name was indeed HOBART.  So I had to go back to the drawing board and do some more research about the name.  I found that when my grandfather was born and named, the name HOBART was becoming popular and peaked in use in 1901.  I now understand where the name came from, but I am still curious as to why his parents did not follow the standard naming convention of the day.  If they had followed this convention, my grandfather (1^st oldest son) would have been named after his paternal grandfather, ADDISON DRIVER.  After all my uncle BUSTER (2^nd son) was named in accordance to the standard naming convention.  He was named after his maternal grandfather ELIJAH MORRIS.

Early Naming Conventions in the 18th and 19th Century

Child: - - Named for:

1st son: - - father's father

2nd son: - - mother's father

3rd son: - - father

4th son: - - father's oldest brother

5th son: - - father's 2nd oldest brother or mother's oldest brother

1st daughter: - - mother's mother

2nd daughter: - - father's mother

3rd daughter: - - mother

4th daughter: - - mother's oldest sister

More to come…….

MAPP FAMILY COMMON ANCESTRY (EUROPEAN BLOOD LINE)

I think I have found some potential links to the MAPP’s from VIRGINIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, TEXAS AND EDMONTON, ALBERTO CANADA. 

The common thread leads back to EASTERN SHORE, VA.  Littleton was born circa 1735 at NORTHAMPTON Co, VA. He had a son by the name of Col. John MAPP who served in the Revolutionary War.  Col MAPP relocated to SPARTANBURG, SC where he married Mary “Molly” WHITE.  They had 3 sons and a daughter.

SC/GA/AL CONNECTIONS

 (http://espl-genealogy.org/MilesFiles/p553.htm#i55212)

John was born circa 1785 at SPARTANBURG, SC. He married Sarah 'Sally' BROTHERS on 25 April 1830 at PUTNAM Co, GA.1 John died after 1860 at CAMPBELL CO, GA. John MAPP was shown in the 1850 & 1860 census for CAMPBELL CO, GA

Burwell was born circa 1787 at SPARTANBURG, SC. He married Martha 'Patsy' Morre HUCKABY on 30 June 1807 at HANCOCK CO, GA.1 In 1809 he moved to LAWRENCE CO, AL.

Littleton was born in 1796 at GEORGIA. He married Lucretia MCGIBONEY, daughter of William MCGIBONEY and Nancy CONE, on 23 July 1818 at GREENE Co, GA.1 Littleton died on 26 October 1839 at GEORGIA. Littleton and Lucretia had 10 children.  Some owned slaves.

OBSERVATION:  It is interesting that in the 1870 Census (first census after the Civil War), Lucretia (Widow living alone) is living among the Black MAPP’s and some other Caucasian MAPP’s.  Practically next door (farm) neighbors. 

TX/KS/OK/CANADA CONNECTIONS

(http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162337/http://www.albertasource.ca/blackpioneers/people/MAPP.html)

Thomas MAPP, the oldest of 10 siblings, was born in GEORGIA in 1884 and moved with his family to Wilikie, OKLAHOMA, where he worked on his father’s corn farm.

When Thomas married Misouri BROOKS in 1906, he left his family to start one of his own: Thomas and Misouri left for their new home in KANSAS, where they had three children: Veola, Genieva, and Ferris. In 1912, the family relocated temporarily to EDMONTON, where Thomas worked on construction for the Macdonald Hotel. Although they did not stay long in Edmonton, Thomas and Misouri had yet another child there, a daughter they named Eva, before moving out to a homestead in AMBER VALLEY later that same year.

Thomas was the son of Lorenzo MAPP who was born in TALIAFERRO, GA (same geographical area as the MAPPS from GREENE County) and lived in SMITH, TX (1900 Census).

CONCLUSION: I would encourage anyone from these blood lines to have a DNA (Genealogy) test.  This is really the only way to trace the MAPP line back to EUROPE.  Also, there are more comprehensive test to identify your genetic makeup.  I took several of these test years ago and my makeup is

Africa (West African) – Yoruba - 62.08%

Middle East - Palestinian, Adygei, Druze, Iranian, Jewish - 11.03%

Europe - Orcadian, Finnish, Russian - 26.89%

Negro Group Questions Ridley Board - TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1968

Delaware County TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1968

Negro Group Questions Ridley Board

RIDLEY TOWNSHIP — The Ridley School Board was asked Monday night why it did not order its schools closed today in memory of slain civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King' Jr.

The 3rd Ward Community Club, a group of Negro residents, also asked the board:

•  If provisions have been made for teaching Negro history in the school system.

• Whether plans have been made in the 1968 - 69 year to purchase multi-ethnic history books.

School Supt. Robert V. Donate said letters were sent home Monday with every school child, telling parents that if they wished to have their children excused from school today in respect to Dr. King, they could do so.

The- letter said a note would be required when the children' returned to school Wednesday.

Funeral services for Dr. King, who was assassinated Thursday in Memphis, Tenn., were conducted today in Atlanta.

Donate said a  study of Negro history and the history of other ethnic included in the groups is school curriculum and teachers can order books such as the ones suggested by the group.

Mrs. Earl Driver, a club member, took issue with Donate over the letter the children received in school Monday. "By giving the children the privilege of staying home Tuesday, you segregated the whole thing," Mrs. Driver said.

Donato said giving the students a choice of attending school today was not intended to single out any ethnic group.

"The district is not officially closed but if we open Tuesday with no children in class, it will be fine with us," Donato said.

 Donato told the residents he hoped they would not see the opening of schools as an act of disrespect to the memory of King.

Donato later said the decision to keep the schools open but allow students to stay home was patterned after a similar directive given by Gov. Raymond P. Shafer to state employees.

He also noted that federal offices were not officially closing.

Mrs. Driver reminded the school board that the Philadelphia Catholic Archdiocesan schools had closed for the day.

Mrs. Driver told Donato that Negro parents must strive to give their children a background of their history at home so they can identify with their own ethnic group.

"Our children do not have the opportunity to identify with their own ethnic group in the schools," Mrs. Driver said.

"Just as the Italians are proud to identify themselves with their explorers, we want our Negro children to be proud of Matthew Henson." (Arctic explorer).

"Don't put us in a special place in the sun—just give us the same place as others have."

"The entire history of all ethnic groups in America should be taught in its entirety in the schools;" Mrs. Driver added.

"My children should know just as much about others as they know about themselves."

Mrs. Driver, using her own son as an example, said many Negro students feel uncomfortable to be the only Negro in a classroom.

She said she feels the teachers should strive harder to eliminate this feeling.

Donato said this problem is a "self-imposed feeling." He said no teacher to his knowledge deliberately makes a Negro student feel uncomfortable in class.

Mrs. Driver agreed and said most teachers are unconscious of the situation.

"We want to do everything we can to make every student feel at home," Donato said, and if we aren't then we want to know about it and I speak for the school board and the administration."

There are about 200 Negro students in the 8,300 pupil Ridley School District, according to Donato.

Donato told the group every child in the district has exactly the same educational and attendant opportunities.

SOURCE: http://delawarecolib.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewer.aspx?img=92245219&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0&currentPage=0

DRIVER FAMILY – US Colored Troops (USCT) – Civil War

John DRIVER – born abt 1838 in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. 89 US Col’d Infantry - enlisted September 10, 1863 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Promoted to Sargent and transferred to the 92 US Col’d Infantry on May 20, 1865.

Thomas DRIVER – born abt. 1818 in Logan, Kentucky. 16 US Col’d Infantry – enlisted Dec 24, 1863 in Clarksville, Tennessee. Rank of private. Thomas was the slave of Mary Florence DROUILLARD from Davidson County, Tenn. Mary F. DROUILLARD filed a claim with the Board of Claims for compensation for Thomas serving in the war. March 18, 1867 the Sec of War awarded Mary $300.00. Mary had inherited Thomas DRIVER from her grandfather Anthony Van LEE (or LEER) who died in 1863.

William DRIVER – born abt. 1828 in Suffolk, Virginia. 10 US Col’d Infantry – Enlisted November 24 1863. Rank of Private. 

William DRIVER – born abt. 1836 in Wilmington, Delaware. 6 US Col’d Infantry – drafted November 22 1864. Rank of Private.

William DRIVER – born abt. 1824 in Charles County, MD. 19 US Col’d Infantry – enlisted January 4, 1864 in Charles County, Maryland. Rank of Private. William was the slave of Alfred GARDINER and was freed (deed of manumission) on April 19, 1864 by his master.

Mosses DRIVER – born abt. 1840 in Dorchester, Maryland. 19 US Col’d Infantry – enlisted March 8 1864. Rank of Private.

John DRIVER – born abt. 1841 in Philadelphia, PA (21st Ward). 32 US Col’d Infantry – enlisted February 27, 1864. Rank of Private.

Robert DRIVER – from South Carolina. Rank of Private.

This is just a sample that I compiled during a visit at the US National Archives in Washington, DC on September 24, 2010. Someday I will complete the list.

Book Release - Great Gift for Black History Month

THE ROAD BACK TO ROUTE 606 - THE HISTORY OF THE DRIVER FAMILY FROM GLOUCESTER COUNTY, VA

View/Buy this new book on www.lulu.com http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-road-back-to-route-606---the-history-of-the-driver-family-from-gloucester-county-va/14713414

My DNA Results - DRIVER Family

My DNA Results

On December 23, 2010, after waiting for about 6 weeks, I received an analysis of my DNA.  The test would have been back earlier, but additional testing was required.  [I must be a complicated person.] This information is not always 100% accurate, but it is a start to piecing together the family puzzle.  DNA is a science and, for the purpose of human migration, is a useful tool to help discover our family group’s origins (Africa, Europe, Asia, etc.).  Keep in mind that my results are identical to my father’s, his father, his father’s father and so on.  So if you are a DRIVER male, your DNA and my DNA should match.  If myself or you or someone in our DRIVER paternal line was adopted, there will be a mismatch.  Later in this section I will encourage you get tested, but keep in mind that you may find out something you don’t want to share.  This is understandable.

In his book “One Blood”, Ken Ham explain how we are all one race and that would be the “Human Race” (Homo sapiens).  For those of us who proclaim to be Christians, the Bible states that we all originated from Adam and Eve.  The term “Race” as we know it today, was defined by racist people like Charles Darwin.  Yes, if you believe in Darwinism, then you are, in my opinion, subscribing to a racist theory that helped to lower the status (worth) of Blacks or darker skinned people in this country and throughout the world.  As you can see this is a sore spot with me and I hope through this research and your own research you will see how we are all related to each other – ONE BLOOD.

Acts 17:26 (King James Version)

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Understanding your/our DNA is a second step in building a family tree.  In this book you can see that I have reached back as far as I can go in the Americas, but beyond the Americas, through records and oral traditions, is still a mystery.  The use of tools such as DNA testing will help us probe our historical human origin outside of our obvious African roots.  Maybe someday through DNA testing and The National Geographic initiative “The Genographic Project” (https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html) we will be able to pinpoint our origins not only in Africa, but throughout the world.

Recently, there has been great interest in identification of ones “roots”.  TV shows like “Who Do You Think You Are”, “African American Lives 2” and “Faces of America” have profiled some well-known celebrities such as Emmitt Smith, Spike Lee, Brooke Shields, Mario Batali, Stephen Colbert. Chris Rock, Tom Joyner, Tina Turner and others.  If you have not seen these two series, I would encourage you to check them out online at http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/index.html  and http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/.  The tools used in these shows include DNA testing. One of the things I noticed as these celebrities were interviewed is there expression when they found out who they really are.  Most people live other people’s family history or follow tainted family traditions, but through DNA testing, you now have a more accurate picture of your ancestors and origin.  Every year we celebrate “Black History Month”.  How about dedicating the next “Black History Month” to discovering your roots and sharing them with your children. 

DNA testing for Genealogy is NOT used or stored for legal or medical purposes.  Results are private and you have a choice in sharing your results.  As I build the family tree, I would like to know our family medical history to understand health risks that run in the family.  For example; in 2007 I was diagnosed with a condition known as “Protein S Deficiency” (http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/205582-overview).   This disorder causes abnormal blood clotting and is passed down through families.  It occurs in about 1 out 20,000 people.  The way I found out about this condition almost cost me my life.  Long story short, I had a blood clot travel from my leg to my lungs which could have been fatal.  I was in the hospital for two weeks and went through a barrage of tests.  These tests were inconclusive to why someone my age would have blood clots.  I had one doctor who would not stop searching for the answer and finally, through some additional testing of my blood, found that I have this disorder.  Knowing this, through medicine (on a blood thinner for the rest of my life) and a restricted diet, I can prevent clotting in the future.  Other medical information about my family ancestors tells me that I am at risk for diabetes, stroke and cancer just to name a few.  Also I know through family tradition and first hand observations, that substance abuse is common in several branches of my tree.  I personally was on the road to alcoholism, but one day in the year 2000 God just took away my desire to drink alcohol.  It must have been all those prayers my mother was sending up during her life on earth.  I don’t think drinking alcohol is a sin or you are a bad person for taking a drink, but I do think if you know there is a pattern of abuse in your family, you may be at a higher risk for addiction and abuse.  I worked in a ministry that ran a substance abuse program and saw firsthand how it not only affected the individual, but also the entire family.  I believe this is what is called a “Generational Curse” and if you know that these types of curses exist, you can prevent them in your life as well as your children and grandchildren.  I am not a medical professional, but common sense tells me that knowledge and prevention makes for a better life.  Well that is enough preaching for now!

My DNA Results.

Wayne K. Driver’s Y-DNA Haplogroup Test Results – At this time I choose to test my Y-DNA which only looks at my paternal (father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc.) branch of the family.  Simply said, I am only looking at the DRIVER line and through this testing I hope to identify a common relative.  Finding this common relative, will help to identify where the DRIVER family originated and possible who we are related to in this country.  This may take some time to make the right connections, but over the next several years I am confident that more people will add their DNA to the many databases, therefore creating more matches.

 

So what is a Haplogroup? 

According to FamilyTreeDNA (http://www.familytreedna.com/understanding-haplogroups.aspx), “…major branches on the family tree of Homo Sapiens.”

What is my Haplogroup?

Haplogroup R1b, M343 (Subclade R1b1b2, M269)

How to interpret my DNA?

Here is an excerpt from my report. My full report is available upon request via WKDriver@GMAIL.COM.  Future reports will be available on my blog http://route606.blogspot.com/.

The genetic markers that define your ancestral history reach back roughly 60,000 years to the first common marker of all non-African men, M168, and follow your lineage to present day ending with M343, the defining marker of Haplogroup R1b. 

If you look at the map highlighting your ancestors' route, you will see that members of haplogroup R1b carry the following Y-chromosome markers:

M168 > P143 > M89 > L15 > M9 > M45 > M207 > M173 > M343

(Less is known about some markers than others. What is known about your journey is reflected below.)

Today, roughly 70 percent of the men in southern England belong to haplogroup R1b. In parts of Spain and Ireland, that number exceeds 90 percent.

M168: Your Earliest Ancestor

Time of Emergence: Roughly 50,000 years ago

Place of Origin: Africa

M89: Moving Through the Middle East

Time of Emergence: 45,000 years ago

Place: Northern Africa or the Middle East

M9: The Eurasian Clan Spreads Wide and Far

Time of Emergence: 40,000 years ago

Place: Iran or southern Central Asia

M45: The Journey Through Central Asia

Time of Emergence: 35,000

Place of Origin: Central Asia

M207: Leaving Central Asia

Time of Emergence: 30,000

Place of Origin: Central Asia

M173: Colonizing Europe—The First Modern Europeans

Time of Emergence: Around 30,000 years ago

Place: Central Asia

M343: Direct Descendants of Cro-Magnon

Time of Emergence: Around 30,000 years ago

Place of Origin: Western Europe

What can I do with these results?

I can post these results to the following websites and look for matching markers that will identify common ancestry throughout the world.  Once I find this common ancestry, I can now narrow my scope of research outside of the US to other regions and countries.  This will help me/us understand out makeup and work forward to identify even more relatives to include in our trees.

http://www.africanancestry.com/index.html

http://www.ybase.org/default.asp

http://www.smgf.org/index.jspx

http://dna.ancestry.com/welcome.aspx

.I would encourage everyone reading this book to submit a DNA test and post your findings. 

What is next for me?

This is just one of many tests.  Throughout the next year or two, my plans are to take further test to discover my ethnic makeup and look at my mother’s branch.  These tests are becoming more affordable and accurate as more people get involved.  I hope this first test is of interest to you and will encourage you to take a test or two.