Phelps Y-DNA Genealogy – A Breakthrough!!

Changed 10/08//2006

I am convinced that after years and years of trying to get back past James Phelps, we have gotten nowhere.  Unless a major break through a Bible or something, there is NO way we are going to go further back and be confident.  Just too many Anglican Church records have been lost, for one thing.  HOWEVER, DNA testing can break through this barrier.  In 7/2005 a NPR radio show presented the DNA genealogy concept as the most exciting new breakthrough for genealogy ever.  Said it is now like the internet was for genealogy 10 years ago.

We now have 12 Phelps lines tested.  Our main web page list those lines and their Y-DNA at http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Phelps/index.aspx

The Thomas Phelps d 1751 Albemarle, VA line and the James Phelps d 1786 Caswell Co, VA lines share a common ancestor.

After considerable discussion and review of the Y-DNA 25-marker results for the lines of Thomas Phelps d 1751 Albemarle VA and James Phelps d 1786 Caswell Co, VA,  there is consensus that these two lines share a common ancestor.  This conclusion is quite remarkable considering countless hours of research over the years were not able to arrive at that conclusion.  We should all congratulate ourselves for a true breakthrough!!   That common ancestor may have been a close kin of these two Phelps living in Virginia in the late 1600s to early 1700s. This hypothesis seems reasonable since these two lines lived relatively near one another.  If not in time period, then at least a common ancestor in a country of origin.

If we consider that all the Phelps in these two lines have a common DNA ancestor and look at one of the closest related Phelps from each line, FTDNA provides these raw probabilities (with no value given to physical location) using 25 years as the average generation:

  8 generations, 200 years: 59%

10 generations, 250 years: 70%

12 generations, 300 years: 79%

14 generations, 350 years: 85%

20 generations, 450 years: 95%

It is important to note that the single Pond (with a possible name alternative) has essentially the same probabilities of a common ancestor with all these Phelps and lived relative close by.  One implication is that a Pond could have been the common ancestor of all.

For more detail on this analysis, go to the Phelps DNA Project at http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Phelps/index.aspx and click on the “Ancestry” link.  Then look for the James Phelps and Thomas Phelps section.

Understanding the Y-DNA test

How does this work?  The Y-DNA is passed from father to son largely unchanged over the centuries.   Always remember that all your male Phelps in your family have basically the same Y-DNA.   The idea is that Phelps of known and documented lines would get a Y-DNA genealogy test using a present day known male Phelps in their family.   They then list publicly their earliest male Phelps along with the Y-DNA results.  That effectively says that we know the DNA of that earliest Phelps.  For example, Mark and Latham Phelps can name James Phelps for certain and can prove the ancestry.  Either they or one of the male Phelps in their family posts his DNA posted with the ancestry on a web site for others to see.  If the DNA results of other current day Phelps matches that DNA then they know for CERTAIN that they are both from the same ancestor.  The more DNA tests that are posted the more likely it is to link for CERTAIN to an ancestor. 

If someone from England had an ancestor in the 1500s and posts that and his DNA - and your DNA matches, then you have common ancestors!!   Of course then you would try to fill in the missing links. 

Does the test hurt and is it private?  A simple mouth swab. The Y-DNA test is considered “junk” DNA data and has no implications for personality or anything.  If you have reservations, one can also name another as the recipient as you pay for it on the order.  Just make sure it can be delivered by the post office.   Remember that all your male Phelps in your family have the same Y-DNA.  In fact there is no way to prove that the test result at the lab actually belongs to a named person – short of another DNA test to prove that.

 Who does the test and what is the cost?   

·         The test is preferably conducted by Family Tree DNA, of Houston TX, the World's leading testing company for Surname DNA Projects.  The cost per participant is dependent on the number of markers tested, but all tests include an estimate of the Haplogroup (an indication of deep ancestry).  We personally recommend the largest number of markers that you can afford.   We expect that most serious researchers will eventually upgrade to 37 markers - if they don't start there.   Either the 25 or 37 marker test can be useful in identifying other families that share a common ancestor.   It is highly likely that a 12 marker test will ultimately require an upgrade.  We recommend the 12 marker test only for those folks who are sponsoring other families in search of a match to their own family or those who cannot afford a 25 marker test. 

o        59 Marker test $269

o        37 marker test $189

o        25 marker test is $148

o        12 marker screening test is $99 

Add $2 for US postage and $4 for international postage

• The test is a simple cheek swab.  The kit will arrive and leave your house by mail.  You simply rub the inside of your cheek a number of times with a special scraper, put the kit back into the envelope, and put it in the mail.

Do I have to do the test to participate in showing my patriarchs?  To really get somewhere we need lots of Phelps DNA along with the ancestries.  To view the current postings go to http://members.cox.net/sailingdeac/phelps_dna_project_patriarchs.htm

Am I profiting in this?  I am the volunteer administrator of the Phelps DNA page and have no financial tie to FTDNA.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions.