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The Smiths (also Smithes, Smyths, and Smythes) of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York DNA project now has a web page at http://smithconnections.com. This project is a means by which researchers can identify earliest known ancestors of this surname who lived in these states before the 20th Century. Participants must be male Smiths because the genetic characteristic measured (the Y chromosome) is passed along the male line from father to son. Right now we are limiting our study to these three states to keep it manageable because Smith is such a common name, and we want to identify as many groupings as possible in our database.
The DNA test involves a simple cheek swab that is analyzed by a research lab at a discounted price for those who are part of our group. The kit containing the cheek swab materials is mailed to participants, who are assigned a kit number and password for accessing their results after they have been analyzed.
Either a "12-marker" or a "25-marker" test can be selected. These markers (allele positions) can be thought of as "genetic fingerprints." If a participant's results match other participants' results on 12 out of 12 markers, we can say the probability is 50% that their Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) was no longer ago than 14.5 generations, and the probability is 90% that the MRCA was no longer ago than 48 generations. The cost is $101 ($99 + $2 postage) for the 12-marker test. Two individuals are considered to be related for the 12-marker test if they match on 12/12 or 11/12 markers — sometimes with 10/12. With such a match, upgrading to the 25-marker test is recommended. No additional cheek swab is needed; further analysis is done on the sample already obtained.
With a match on 25 out of 25 markers, there is a 50% probability that the MRCA was no longer ago than 7 generations, and there is a 90% probability that the MRCA was no longer ago than 19.8 generations. The cost is $90 additional to upgrade to the 25-marker test, so the total cost would be $191. If a participant wishes to have the 25-marker test done in the beginning, the cost is $171 ($169 + $2 postage), a savings of $20. Sometimes others in your family who are interested in the results are willing to contribute toward the cost.
The goal of the DNA project is to identify Smith family branches who are related.
For detailed descriptions of the testing by the testing company, see their web page at http://www.familytreedna.com. For a similar Smith/Smyth/Smythe DNA project for Smiths who lived in the South, see: http://www.halcyondays.com/Smith/SmithdNAProject.htm.
If you are interested in joining the Smiths of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York DNA project, contact me at cgaziano@prodigy.net. You may also join by clicking on http://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.asp?code=J83140
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