Disappointing

[berserkbishop]

So, the family "legend" has always been that we came from the Isle of Raasay, descending from the MacLeod's of Raasay. I have been doing some research, and using a great Aunt's research and found that our ancestor Joseph "MacLeod" Rasey is not a MacLeod at all. DNA testing has proved that there is no way he was related to Malcolm MacLeod who was said to be his father. This connection was supposed to have been fabricated by a preacher years and years back. Anyway, the Joseph Rasey that I descend from was supposedly born in Skye, Argyll but I really cant find a second source substantiating that claim. Anyone know of any Rasey's or Rasay's in Scotland in the 1700's? Well, as disapointing as it is to find out that I am not actually a MacLeod, I can still take pride in my Cunningham heritage which is irrefutable!

Bishop

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Not that I'd refute DNA testing, but who was tested, and what was the benchmark for comparison?

[O'Neille]

Family and DNA are two different critters. Remember that adoptions are a modern convention. Someone's "son or daughter" may not have been their biological child. It was not uncommon to take the children of deceased friends and neighbors as your own if they passed.

[gilmore]

Surname Profiler, here: http://www.nationaltrustnames.org.uk/Surnames.aspx shows Rasey as being in two counties in the south of England west of London, and and no results for Rasay or Raasay, which means that there were fewer than 100 people by those surnames in England, Scotland and Wales in 1998.

There is the possibility of what the genetic genealogists delicately call a non-paternal event, or NPE, that is, a misattributed fatherhood. This is estimated to have occurred in 3.7 to 4% of births in Europe and America. (Some say 1.27%, others as high as 10%, but 4% seems to be accepted by most.) One out of 25 may seem like a small number, but over the generations the probability of one have occurred increases with each generation until at 17 generations (or 425 or so years, assuming 25 years per generation) it becomes more likely than not (that is, it exceeds 50% probability) that an NPE has occurred.

Here is the formula and how it was used to determine the likelihood of an NPE within the last 25 generations:

"The proper formula to be followed in this situation (according to the mathematical law of unions of independent events) is: P(robability) = 1-[0.96]^25. When we solve this equation, we find that P=0.64, or just about 64%. See, you have to figure out what the chances are of an NPE not happening in any given generation (in this case, 96%). You then multiply that 0.96 by itself 25 times (to reflect 25 generations, represented here by 0.96 to the 25th power). Finally, you subtract that number from one, because it's actually the inverse, or complement, of the probability of the event's never happening (all probability pairings of occurrence/non-occurrence must equal 1.0).

So after 25 generations, there is 64% chance of one or more non-paternal events occurring."

It may be disappointing that the DNA does not support the paper trail, but genealogical research is like that, and if we prefer fact to fiction we must follow it wherever it takes us.

If I were you, I would go back and look at every point in the patrilineal line to see where the NPE could have occurred. If the test was done at Family Tree DNA, or if you enter the resutls at www.ysearch.org, the results will show the surnames of the men you are most closely related to. This may be a clue. You could then look for a man or men by that surname who were on the scene when each of your patrilineal ancestors was conceived.

True, it may be disappointing to not have the ancestors you thought you had, but on the other hand this is where genealogy gets juicy and interesting, doing original research to discover things no one knew previously.

As to the "fabrication by a preacher," could it have been the custom at that time and place for foundlings to be left on the church door? It's time for detective work.

[gilmore]

Also, it might be a good idea to go over your great aunt's work to see if there are any loose ends or mistakes in it.

[berserkbishop]

I do do plan to fully go over my Aunt's work at some point but right now I know nearly nothing about genealogical research and have even less time to worry about it. I am just going to beware before I go claiming myself a MacLeod of Raasay. Disappointing yes, but I still am just as proud of my Cunningham heritage! My Grams is a great lady after all!

Bishop

[Graywolf]

There are several websites available, and I will try to locate them, which will do a free quick check into Scottish anscestry. It may be a lure the fly in, but if you get any useful information for free, nobody is forcing you to pay for additional info.

[SteveB]

berserkbishop,
Genealogy is actually quite simple. The best place to start is with yourself. Write down your own birth date and place as well as marriage and place (if applicable) spouses birth info (if Applicable). Then write down Birth Marriage and death (if applicable) of your father and mother. Then move up a generation at a time. If possible collect records or certificates of each event.
Here in the U.S. many of us do research via subscription websites. I do not know any of your family tree. If you would like some guidance and maybe some assistance (if I have the resources available to me) please feel free to PM or email me.
If you have traced back to Scotland, there is a wonderful group on Scotland's Family Tree, http://scotfamtree.11.forumer.com/index.php They will provide limited assistance to people who make some inquiries there. I am a subscription member, which isn't expensive ( 10 GBP ) about $ 20.00 US for a year.
Cheers ---- Steve

[berserkbishop]

berserkbishop,
Genealogy is actually quite simple. The best place to start is with yourself. Write down your own birth date and place as well as marriage and place (if applicable) spouses birth info (if Applicable). Then write down Birth Marriage and death (if applicable) of your father and mother. Then move up a generation at a time. If possible collect records or certificates of each event.
Here in the U.S. many of us do research via subscription websites. I do not know any of your family tree. If you would like some guidance and maybe some assistance (if I have the resources available to me) please feel free to PM or email me.
If you have traced back to Scotland, there is a wonderful group on Scotland's Family Tree, http://scotfamtree.11.forumer.com/index.php They will provide limited assistance to people who make some inquiries there. I am a subscription member, which isn't expensive ( 10 GBP ) about $ 20.00 US for a year.
Cheers ---- Steve

My Great Aunt has traced us back to Scotland but I worry about how well done her work is. Unfortunately,the family can be difficult to track as I was a foster kid and my blood family really doesnt get along. I will try my best.

Bishop

[Jack Daw]

One of my inspirations to take up piping was that the MacIntyres were hereditary pipers to two major clans.