Scottish Ancestors

[Drillagent]

That sounds great! Wish I had that much detail. So far I've been able to trace back to James King (very generic name IOW lots of James out there). He and his family came to the colonies in 1750. One of his sons, George (my direct ancestor) fought against the British during the Revolutionary War. When James arrived in New Jersey, he helped found the First Presbyterian Church in Succasunna, New Jersey. The church records only list him as being from "the North of Ireland".
Near as we can figure, his family was part of King James' transplantation from Scotland to Ireland in the 1600's. Unfortunately, we can't find any info (ie birth, marriage, christening) from Northern Ireland. The only place I can think to look is the PRONI, but they don't have anything online. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears. (eyes)

[gilmore]

...Unfortunately, we can't find any info (ie birth, marriage, christening) from Northern Ireland. The only place I can think to look is the PRONI, but they don't have anything online. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears. (eyes)

You might try testing your Y DNA, if it is a patrilineal (father's father's father's, etc) brick wall. Family Tree DNA at www.ftdna.com is the leading company, has the largest database, and is therefore the place you are most likely to find a match or near match to your own Y DNA. You are not likely to uncover hard, documents, but it may give you a clue to where to look, and as importantly, clues where it wouldn't be useful to look. FTDNA has a FAQ that does a fairly good job of explaining what you can and cannot expect. While you are there, you might take a look at their list of surname projects to see if some one has organized one for your name.

Although they have $99 test for 12 markers, most people get 25 or 37 tested. You can test fewer and upgrade to more markers later.

If you get tested there (or anywhere) you can enter your test results at www.ysearch.org, to see if there are matches or near matches with men who have tested with other companies. Or you could just go there and do a search for your surname and see what you find.

Good luck!

[bjproc]

You might try testing your Y DNA, if it is a patrilineal (father's father's father's, etc) brick wall. Family Tree DNA at www.ftdna.com is the leading company, has the largest database, and is therefore the place you are most likely to find a match or near match to your own Y DNA. You are not likely to uncover hard, documents, but it may give you a clue to where to look, and as importantly, clues where it wouldn't be useful to look. FTDNA has a FAQ that does a fairly good job of explaining what you can and cannot expect. While you are there, you might take a look at their list of surname projects to see if some one has organized one for your name.

Although they have $99 test for 12 markers, most people get 25 or 37 tested. You can test fewer and upgrade to more markers later.

If you get tested there (or anywhere) you can enter your test results at www.ysearch.org, to see if there are matches or near matches with men who have tested with other companies. Or you could just go there and do a search for your surname and see what you find.

Good luck!

this sounds ok, is there a uk version of this?

[gilmore]

this sounds ok, is there a uk version of this?

It is international. You order a kit, which I think is free, swab the inside of your cheek, and mail the kit back to the US. In a few weeks the results are posted on their website, www.ftdna.com, which is accessible from anywhere in the world.

You have the option of keeping the results confidential, but I personally think it is a good idea not to do so. It can be helpful to other researchers, and eventually to yourself, to share the information.

[bjproc]

It is international. You order a kit, which I think is free, swab the inside of your cheek, and mail the kit back to the US. In a few weeks the results are posted on their website, www.ftdna.com, which is accessible from anywhere in the world.

You have the option of keeping the results confidential, but I personally think it is a good idea not to do so. It can be helpful to other researchers, and eventually to yourself, to share the information.

thanks Gilmore

one more question

i'm named after my fathers mothers side of the family, so the male test would not be accurate to my surname ?

(my dad doesn't know who his father is & grans keeping quite about it )

[gilmore]

thanks Gilmore

one more question

i'm named after my fathers mothers side of the family, so the male test would not be accurate to my surname ?

(my dad doesn't know who his father is & grans keeping quite about it )

That's correct. The Y DNA test will show you men whose patrlineal ancestors match or, more likely, closely match, your own patrilineal ancestors, whatever the surname.

(In some cultures and ethnic groups, such as Scandanavians and Eastern European Jews, were not used until relatively late in history [well, later than elsewhere in Europe], so the results there often show several surnames.)

In your case it would not be unreasonable to expect to discover your father's biological father's surname.

[bjproc]

That's correct. The Y DNA test will show you men whose patrlineal ancestors match or, more likely, closely match, your own patrilineal ancestors, whatever the surname.

(In some cultures and ethnic groups, such as Scandanavians and Eastern European Jews, were not used until relatively late in history [well, later than elsewhere in Europe], so the results there often show several surnames.)

In your case it would not be unreasonable to expect to discover your father's biological father's surname.

very interesting

thanks a lot for that

edit;

got an email back from them (i emailed them earlier on today) and they say it would be better to put it in the adopted group, because of the unknown grandfather (male side)

(btw, my mother thinks theres a bit italian in him )