Childers/Childress Family Association, Inc

We wish to thank the coordinators and hosts, Sue & Lem Compton and Paul Childress, of the 2004 meeting held in Independence Missouri. The planning and arrangements were excellent and we had another great meeting.

Julia Childress did another great job working tirelessly as our treasurer. She always had a smile on her face as she kept track of the paid members and collected the dues, conference fees, and the luncheon tickets. We all seem to forget just how much work is involved in paying for the hotel conference room, coffee, soda and tea in the meeting room and the luncheon catering. Julia, you are greatly appreciated by all of the members. Thank you from all.

The meeting in Independence was a lot of fun and the Mid-Continent library had a lot to offer us genealogists. There were many interesting places to visit and most of us took advantage of them. It wasn’t hard to find a nice restaurant in which to eat. Independence is filled with great places for dinner. A visit to the Truman Library was very special.

The genealogical reference assistant of the Mid-Continent Library, Angela McComas, came to our meeting and told us what to find there and how to use the library. She also explained how anyone can become a member for a small fee and use the internet to gain access to the publications at that library. For more information, you can access the library at www.mcpl.lib.mo.us or 317 W US 24 Highway, Independence, MO 64050. Phone: 816-252-7228. Some of the books can then be sent to a library near your home if they are not research only copies. For a small library it had a lot to offer a researcher. We were all greatly impressed. We presented her with a book of the Childress Wills for the library.

Jack Childers explained the DNA project to us so there was a much better understanding of the meaning of the various terms. He is very knowledgeable and made this easier for all of us. See page 9 about more on DNA.

Jack Childers, Anne Ruggiero & Julia Childress

The officers all wish that more of you could come to these meetings. They are a lot of fun and we look forward to visiting with our friends every year and sharing what new information we have learned since the last visit. Next year the meeting will be hosted by Bob and JoAnn Childers and held in Charlotte, North Carolina. If there are problems with arrangements in Charlotte we will go to Raleigh. We have planned for an October meeting so we hope that you will be able to attend. More about the exact dates and location will be in the future issue of the Newsletter. Those of us who live in the South will be excited to see the fall color in the mountains while in North Carolina.

Billy Gold Childress & Sue Compton

Ann Ruggiero & Mac Childears

Attending the meeting were Martha Lydia Allen, MO; Dorothy Berg, MO; James Bogan, Jr, TX; Mac Childears, KS; Bob & JoAnn Childers, SC; Jack & Cindy Childers, DE; Larry and Nita Childers, SC & their guests; Paul A. Childers, MO; Robert E. & Flo Childers, OH; Robert K. & Janet Childers, OH; Victor E. Childers, IN; William K. Childers, OH; Billy Gold and Waldine Childress, KY; Robert A. & Julia Childress, MI; William & Betty

Childress, TN; Lem & Sue Compton, MO; Sarah Compton and Terry Peterman; MO; Martha Childress Ferris, FL; Fred & Cookie Lamon,, TN; Melba McDowell, MO; Lorlei Metke, WA; Dan & Anne Ruggiero, FL; Irma and Jim Summers, SC; Winter Ann Summers, SC; Janis C. Taylor, KS; Bill & Wanda Trott, TX; and Arthur Paul Winnans, MO.

There were two members elected to the Board of Trustees, William Childress, TN for a second term and Martha Ferris, FL, was elected for her first term replacing Earl Farabee.

EMAIL

The members now have a choice of how they want to receive their newsletter. It can be snail-mailed to them or we will send it by email. If you want to receive your CFA Newsletter by e-mail, please send your address to the editor, Martha Ferris, at (ferr9330@bellsouth.net) so a special email mailing list can be created. We want to begin this new system by the winter issue. It can only be done with your help.

DUES

Dorothy Berg, Lydia Allen, & Robert Childress

It is that time of the year again. Your dues for the 2004/2005 year are now due. Even if you just paid for the 2003/4 dues in the spring, look on your mailing label and you will see the year. Be sure to check your mailing labels on this newsletter. If your label shows ‘04 at the top it means that you have not yet paid your 2005 dues for the Childers/Childress Family Association. Please try to send in your dues ($10.00 for a single and $15.00 for a married couple, with $1.00 for each child) as soon as possible so we can keep you on our list and you won’t miss any of the news. We will miss you terribly if you leave us. We need all of our relatives to keep in touch. Send the dues to Treasurer: Julia Childress, 10993 Clear/P.O. Box 302, Hamburg, MI 48139

Please notify Anne Ruggiero, 8982 Baytowne Loop, Ft. Myers, FL 33908,email at (ruggierodhsd@earthlink.net) or myself, Martha Ferris, 71 Dorset B, Boca Raton, FL 33434 , email at ferr9330@bellsouth.net

“IN THE MAILBOX”

Note from Virginia Childers Zeboski, 4538 Juno Way, Sacremento, CA 95864-753

Email: VCZEB@aol.com or VCZEB@ hotmail.com

Does anyone have information on a Confederate veteran named Starling Childers or Childress who applied for a pension in Weakley Co, TN? His widow, Melvina, later married a “Richie”. This is not my line but is often confused with mine as thy both came from Caswell Co, NC and Henry Co, TN. They may be related to each other.

From Mrs. L. Reilly, Ohio

(Ed. This was sent to the website and there are many pictures of the Childers Family. Those of you with computers can go to the link below and take a look.)

I have just up loaded 315 Childers family photos. These photos were sent to me from CA. So please check them out to see if there is a connection to anyone. Click on the link: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~parrottreilly/ChildersUnknown/index.html

From: JHenry6309@aol.com [mailto:JHenry6309@aol.com]

Sent:, September 23, 2004

My great grandmother Susan (Susannah) Childress/Childers, born about 1817 TN, married Hilliard J. Hand before 1840 Hillliard J. Hand, probably in Alabama. Her parents were born in Tennessee. She died after 1880 MS. Does anyone have Childress/Childers parents with a daughter named Susah/Susannah? Jeanne

From Julia Childress, Michigan

I had to write and tell you this one. We just got our telephone books in the mail and I looked in it to find my name and low and behold I found another spelling for our surname. CHILDERSTON was just above my name….look in your own phone book for names to contact.

(Ed. There are many ways to spell our name. Julia just found a new one.)

From: JustGranni@aol.com Sent: August 21, 2004

Subject: : Major James Childress

Request any information you may have about Major James Childress (For Example: date and place of birth; father's name; mother's maiden name; date and place of death; inclusive dates of military service; name and date of birth for each child) Robert of San Antonio

Lifetime Members

"Just a reminder” For those members who are age 80 or over, who have paid their dues for the past ten years, "Life Membership" is available upon request. There is no charge for this and the newsletter will continue to be sent. Please notify the Registrar, JoAnn R. Childers, 960 River Road, Woodruff, SC 29388 and a certificate will be sent to you. Our association appreciates your support.

B-25 Dorothy R. Aubrey Berg

Dorothy Berg, Billy Gold Childress & Robert Childress

Dorothy descends from William David Childress who arrived in Abbyville Co, SC in 1800. William David Childress, Jr born 8 August 1802 in Fairfield Co, SC married 13 June 1819 to Mary Graham who was born in Fairfield Co, SC. Their son Ransom Lorenzo Childress was born in Choctaw Co, Ms on 26 April 1836 died 26 May 1912 in Cairo, MS. He married Nancy Caroline Parham circa 1855. She was born in MS 1838 and died circa 1881 in TX. Their son William Lorenzo Childress was born in Pensacola MS 20 January 1860 died 2 October 1951 and married Lydia c. Childress born in Lewisville, MS 11 May 1861 died October 1931 in DeWitt, Carol, MO at 70 year of age. Their daughter Fannie Ola “Ona” Childress was born in Cairo, Clay, MS died 25 April 1963 in Clay, Clay Co MO married Elmer Russell Aubrey on 27 December 1907 in Dramright, OK.

C-41 Billy Gold Childress

Billy Gold descends from Benedict Childrey born in VA, married to Jenny Childrey (born circa 1755 died after 1828 in Mecklenberg Co, VA) in VA circa 1780. Benedict died circa 1794 in Charlotte Co VA. Their son Jesse Childress was born in Charlotte Co, VA 29 April 1792, died 14 March 1867 in Trigg Co, KY, married Lucy Jackson (born 1787, Mecklenberg Co, VA, died 14 May 1863 in Trigg County, KY at 75 years of age) on 18 May 1814. in Mecklenberg Co, VA. Their son James Madison Childress was born in Mecklenburg, VA 12 January 1817 married Elizabeth Julia Owen in Caldwell Co, KY 14 January 1840. James died 13 Sep 1895 in Paducah, KY at 78 years of age. Elizabeth was born in Mecklenburg VA 13 June 1825. She died 4 March 1882 in Paducah KY at 56 years of age. Their son Pleasant Gold Childress was born in McCracken Co, KY 9 Dec 1851 Married Mary Frances Pitt in McCracken Co, KY 23 Sep 1876. Pleasant died 26 Nov 1911 in Christian Co, KY at 59 years of age and Mary Frances died 12 May 1902 in McCracken Co, KY at 41 years of age. Their son Delon Gold Childress was born McCracken Co, KY 20 July 1880, married (2) Anna Lynn in McCracken Co, KY

G-2 John B. Gayle

John descends from John Childress born circa 1775 married Mary (Polly) Kirby in Blount Co, TN on 8 Nov 1796 and died 1840 in Jackson Co, AL: Mary was born in VA circa 1775 and died after 1840 in Jackson Co, AL. Their son John Kirby Childress was born in Knox Co, TN on 6 Nov 1815 died 24 Nov 1897 and married Ruth Brown Burgess in Jackson Co, AL 1840. She was born in GA 1821 and died 23 April 1877 in Scottsboro, Jackson, AL. Their son John Alonza Childress was born in Scottsboro, Jackson, AL 17 July 1856 and died 26 Oct 1896 married circa 1883 Margaret Adoline Williams in Scottsboro, AL. Their daughter Sarah Ruth Childress born in Scottsboro Jackson, AL 17 April 1893 and died 9 Feb 1983 married John Bentley Gayle in Scottsboro Jackson AL, on 4 July 1920.

H-2 Virginia Hanks

Virginia descends from Robert Childers, son of Henry and Susannah (Goolsby) Childers. Robert was born in 1762 n Amherst Co, VA and died in 1831 in Grant Co, KY. He married Nancy Pryor on 24 March, 1783 in Amherst County, VA. Their son, Robert Childers, Jr. born in 1798 in Campbell Co, KY, was married to Sarah A. Landrum on 24 January 1818 in Pendleton Co, KY. Later descendants moved to Scotland Co, MO and the state of Washington where Virginia was born.

W-4 Mary Ann Willis

Mary Ann descends from Benedict Childrey born in VA, married to Jenny Childrey (born circa 1755 died after 1828 in Mecklenberg Co, VA) in VA circa 1780. Benedict died circa 1794 in Charlotte Co VA. Their son William Marion Childress was born in Charlotte Co, VA 14 October 1785 died 8 November, 1865 in Caldwell Co, KY. William married Nancy Jane Hanks (born 17 April 1792 in VA, died 8 December 1864 in Caldwell Co, VA) in VA on 16 August 1821. Their son William Marion Childress, Jr. was born in Virginia in 1827. He married Permelia Ann Heston in Trigg Co, KY, 1851. William died in 1871 in Caldwell Co, KY at 44 years of age. Their son Charles Appleton Childress was born in Caldwell Co, KY in 1859. Married Permelia Ann Boaz in 1886 and died in Caldwell Co, KY in 1945.

CHILDERS/CHILDRESS FAMILY ASSOCIATION

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

18 September 2004

Independence, Missouri

The meeting of the CFA was called to order by President Robert Childers at 10:05 am.

The minutes of the 2003 Annual Meeting held in Nashville, TN were read and approved.

Treasurer Julia Childress presented the financial report for 1 September 2003—3l August 2004 as follows:

The budget was approved.

Julia gave the following membership report: 32 states represented with 141 members, 9 life members, l8 new members, l reinstatement, and 41 lapsed memberships.

Jo Ann Childers gave the annual meeting report for 2005. Charlotte, NC has been selected, and will be hosted by Bob & Jo Ann. If some difficulty should arise the meeting will be held in Raleigh, NC.

Life memberships were presented to Dorothy Berg and Billy Gold Childress. New member Martha Lydia Allen was also presented with a certificate.

Jack Childers reported the DNA coordinator’s e-mail address (london2005@charter.net) is on the web site. Any questions may be directed to him.

Jack Childers further reported the internet is costing about $600. He requested membership participation by sending GEDCOM’s, and especially text files of their family history. Jack encouraged members to check the web page, posting their information to help others. He would like to see more of our publications posted on the web site.

Martha Ferris requested members send information for the news letter, such as pictures, even old family recipes. She stated January 30 will be her closing date for the winter newsletter, April 30 for spring, July 30 for summer and October 30 for fall. A vote was taken on receiving the newsletter by e-mail. There were 14 votes for -- none opposed.

The Necrology report was presented by Anne Ruggiero. Deaths since the last meeting were:

; Gertrude Allen, Paducah, KY, Charter Member

; Pauline Harris, Paducah, KY, Charter Member

; Heather L. Henderson, Paducah, KY, Billy Gold Childress’ granddaughter

; Michael Childress, Paducah, KY, Billy Gold Childress’ grandson

; Alexis Chandler Dane Childress, Manchester, MI, Robert & Julia Childress’ granddaughter

Prayers were offered.

Jim Bogan’s report on Publications stated the book “Virginia Wills and Some Land Records” had been presented to the library. This book will be republished. Jo Ann made a motion that the book be posted on the web site. Motion carried.

The nominating committee for new officers consisting of Bill Trott, Lem Compton and Julia Childress presented the following slate: Vice President, Ann Ruggiero, Bill Childress, Trustee and Martha Ferris, Trustee. The slate was accepted by acclamation.

Site location committee for 2006 has suggested Huntsville, Alabama.

Members voted to have the meeting in mid October.

Sue and Lem Compton were thanked for the excellent job they did preparing for this meeting.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Wanda J. Trott, Secretary

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES

17 September 2004

Independence, MO

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm with President Robert E. Childers presiding.

Board members present:

President: Robert E. Childers

Vice President Anne Ruggiero

Treasurer: Julia Childress

Secretary: Wanda Trott

Trustee: William Childress

Trustee: Sue Compton

Trustee: Robert K. Childers

The minutes from 2003 Board Meeting were read, and approved.

A web page report was presented by Jack Childers. He stated that the web site was averaging 600 hits per month, 650 hits for the month of September. He encouraged more participation from the membership and that we should consider putting more of our publications on the web.

Treasurer Julia Childress presented the financial report from 1 September 2003—31 August 2004

JoAnn Childers announced the annual meeting for 2005 will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina or possibly Raleigh, North Carolina. The 2006 Meeting will be in Huntsville, Alabama, and the 2007 meeting will be in Oklahoma, possibly Tulsa.

Registrar JoAnn Childers announced three new life members: Dorothy R. Aubrey Berg, John B. Gayle, Mary Ann Willis.

Newsletter editor Martha Ferris stated the closing date for the winter newsletter will be January 30, April 30 for spring, July 30 for summer, and October 30 for fall. She will need an agenda for the annual meeting to be printed in the July newsletter.

Projected budget for l October 2004 through 30 September 2005 was presented.

Board vacancies to be filled were president, vice-president, and secretary. The nominating committee comprised of Bill Trott, Bob Childers and Earl Farabee recommended Martha Ferris as Trustee

Julia Childress reported 141 paid members, 9 life members, 18 new members in 2004, 1 reinstated member and 41 lapsed memberships.

Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted: Wanda Trott, Secretary

DNA STUDY

[Gary Childress (london2005@charter.net)]

(Continued from the summer 2004 newsletter)

HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS

The nomenclature for labeling haplogroups varies with scientific studies. Some literature refers to this group as HG2 and some literature refers to this Haplogroup as "I" but usually not both at the same time. "I" seems most common. The Childress-Childers DNA Study combines both nomenclatures so that the reader becomes familiar with both designations.

HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/ CHILDERS Haplotype has a potentially distant Viking heritage pre-dating the use of surnames. According the Family Tree DNA Laboratory, in "the I, I1, and I1a lineages are nearly completely restricted to northwestern Europe. These would most likely have been common within Viking populations. One lineage of this group extends down into central Europe." See a map at ²

The members of HG2 are believed to be the descendants of two later waves of humans into Europe. The last of these waves arrived about 8,000 years ago and is credited with introducing agriculture into Europe.

There is no genetic test for Viking ancestry yet developed. Currently, the best that can be done is to identify haplogroups that might have been "invaders" in Britain. Haplogroup "I" suggests Northern Europe descent rather than Norse or Scandinavian. Danes share this Haplogroup but so do the Germanic Saxons (geographically, the regions are in close proximity).

The haplogroup results reported in the 12 and 25 markers Y-chromosome test is extrapolated on minimal data and is not the definitive test to determine a haplogroup. There are other tests available that may be more precise or at the very least confirm the haplogroup for HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS. Better tests are being developed and at some point one member of HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS should be specifically tested to verify the Haplogroup designation. Not all members of the group need to be tested. A new Haplogroup test will be available in 2004.

Descendants of HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS's may have first crossed the Atlantic as English colonists to Virginia in the mid to late 1600's (about the time as the Scottish Childress’s were guild members in Edinburgh). Records of "head rights" are the first evidence of the immigration. Head rights were land promotions whereby 50 acres were given free to new, young (mostly aged in their early 20's) English immigrants. It was British foreign policy to try to increase the White labor force in Virginia because of concerns that the Black slave labor force was too large to control. Those immigrants with insufficient funds to sail to the colonies could pre-sell their land parcels prior to leaving England, and use the money to pay for the ship passage to Virginia. The program was rife with corruption and the names in the records may include some fraudulent entries. HG2 "I" VIKING HILDRESS/ CHILDERS lineage's first recorded names in America likely included Abraham, Philomen and Thomas.

HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/ CHILDERS has the greatest number of descendants tested so far. Of the 39 tests completed to date, HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS currently has 23 members. A genealogical explanation might be that if this group immigrated to America very early, perhaps a hundred years before any other DNA group with a similar surname, the number of surviving off spring in America would be substantially larger in number than those groups who delayed immigrating for a another century or more in Europe. A family's standard of living in Virginia, even for pioneers, was more prosperous than those in most of Britain, especially northern Britain and Scotland which were the poorest and most destitute regions of that country. Families in Virginia were less hindered by polluted waters, disease and over-farmed land than their counterparts in Europe. Britain's population was experiencing zero population growth, i.e. 2 parents would produce 2 surviving children who reached adulthood. HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/ CHILDERS's large number of modern descendants may owe their numbers to one hundred years of a low infant mortality rate in a prospering America since the mid 1600's.

HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/ CHILDERS's modern descendants use both the Childers and Childress spellings fluctuating around 50:50 ratio to date. (Currently in HG2 "I" VIKING Childress/Childers there are 6 "Childers" spellings and 15 "Childress" spellings, 1 "Childears" and 3 "Childers" not returning their test kits.) It is not clear, what, if any, genealogical clues may be surmised from the various spellings. It is not clear if there was a bifurcation in the spelling in the Middle Ages or if the spelling differences are a modern phenomenon.

British surnames became fixed over two hundred years, in the period between 1250 and 1450. The question remains if and when did a Northern English dialect with its possible grammatical declension of "Child" to the plural Childer/Childers and plural possessive Childeres/Childress become enshrined and imprinted on the family as a surname. Since most surnames were in place by 1450, and Childers/Childress lineages did not take another surname, it is probable that by the 1600's both spellings of the surname were in place in the UK, long before the immigration to the American colonies. Childers and Childress, if they derived from Yorkshire or Northern Counties rules of grammar, were not originally misspellings of each other. They were different words, one plural and one plural possessive. There can be name changes and misspellings in subsequent centuries and after immigrating to the American Colonies, but it would seem reasonable to say that those errors should have moved in both directions Childers to Childress and Childress to Childers for a net gain of zero or a very small percentage change.

In the past, in our own writings prior to DNA testing, we labeled this HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS lineage as "CHILDERS" some of whom changed their name to "Childress". That may be an error or incorrect assumption. Potentially it could be the opposite, "Childress" changing their pronunciation to "Childers". For purposes of referring this group, it is unclear what pronunciation the original progenitor used. We have found it a less confusing label to refer to these descendants and lineages simply as "Viking Childers" or "Viking Childress" which may help the reader link them to their DNA group without having to look up what "HG2 "I" Childress/Childers" means. Obviously at the time of the Vikings, the surname of the ancestor would not have been either Childers or Childress since the Vikings predate the transmission of surnames. Bluetooth, Harald Fine-hair, Edith Swanneck, Eric Blood Ax, Sven Forkbeard, Atli the Slender, or Ketil Flatnose might have been a Viking ancestor of HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS, if we could test their DNA.

If the spelling bifurcation happened before immigration to America, it may indicate that those who spell their names identically in HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS are more closely related to others in that group with the same spelling and less closely related to those with different spellings in that group. For example, one could postulate that there was an early split within the family into two different spellings shortly after the selection of the surname by the original progenitor. If so, then this 50/50 ratio of alternative spellings has been fairly constant over the centuries. Genealogically, each spelling, Viking Childers and Viking Childress in HG2 "I", would therefore trace to two separate progenitors and both progenitors trace to a single, common, original, ancestor whose pronunciation of the surname is indeterminate and perhaps, at that point, immaterial or unhelpful to trace lineages.

DNA tests on HG2 "I" Childers/Childress surnamed people living in the UK today could be used to test the hypothesis that bifurcation of the pronunciation of the surname happened in the UK prior to immigrating to Virginia. If UK descendants who are related by their DNA are using both spellings in the UK, today, it would support the hypothesis that bifurcation of the pronunciation pre-dates events in America....and that most of Viking Child*ERS are more closely related to other Viking Child*ERS than they are to a Viking Child*RESS and vice versa.

A recent study of possible Vikings descendants in the UK (Wirral and West Lancashire) has been published and was based upon the DNA collected from a list of the surnames which appeared in church records in the year 1366 promising to contribute to the stipend of the priest of the altar of Our Lady at Ormskirk. Childers and Childress are not on the list of surnames in 1366, but "Childsfather" is which may be a church reference to Child of Our Father, or Child of God, a birth outside of wedlock. We speculate, without other evidence, that the one or more lines of the surname Child, with possible later declensions to Childer and Childress surnames, may owe its origin to the church's recording of an out of wedlock birth of their ancestors, though that is not suggested in the Viking study. The Viking study only references that the surname "Childsfather" existed in 1366 in a community that was the site of a previous and major Viking settlement in the UK. The Viking study is summarized at…⁴^.

It should also be stipulated that HG2 "I" haplotype is both consistent with Danish Viking invaders and Saxon (Germanic) invaders to Britain. Members in HG2 "I" should monitor new and changing DNA research on Vikings, especially Danish Vikings, as well as Saxon-Germanic and even Norman (of Viking descent) research as it may shed light on their haplogroup. HG2 "I" is an "INVADER" to Britain but which invader or colonizer is unclear. ⁵

There are questions posed by the test results. HG1 "R1b, Scottish Childress lineages has 3 members who have each taken a 25 marker test. Therefore, Scottish Childress lineages have a total of 75 markers which have been tested, and 5 mutations are evident. Compare this to the HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS, which also has 5 mutations but those 5 mutations are spread over 23 testing parties, with a total of 550 total markers tested. The Viking Childers and Viking Childresses have 550 markers tested compared to 75 markers tested for the Scottish Childresses lineages, yet each group shows a total of 5 mutations. Why the dramatic differences in the observation of mutations?

One explanation for the differences in the mutation rate for each group is that different Haplotypes and different Haplogroups have different mutation rates. This is what the University of Arizona is studying. Another explanation is that the sample participants in HG1 "R1b" Scottish lineages, is too small to be representative.

Yet another explanation is that the number of replications is greater in HG1 "R1b" Scottish Haplogroup than in HG2 "I" Viking Childress/Childers. The Y-chromosome mutates during conception. If one family (e.g. HG1 R1b Scottish) were descending from a Most Recent Common Ancestor who lived in the year 1100 and the other group (e.g. HG2 I Viking) were descending from a Most Recent Common Ancestor who lived in the year 1600, the group branching earliest from their respective common ancestor (e.g. HG1 R1b Scottish) would have more DNA replication events and more mutations since branching off. It may not be the rate of mutation that explains the difference in the number of mutations between Haplogroups HG1 R1b and HG2 I, but the length of time back to their respective Most Recent Common Ancestor.

There may be other explanations also. Testing parties should monitor all new findings regarding mutation rates, for each of the various marker sites on the Y-chromosome, as it may have a bearing on the interpretation of their results.

If those in HG2 "I" taking the DNA test had more mutations, it would help identify sub-branches of related individuals. Unfortunately, most participants of HG2 "I" VIKING CHILDRESS/CHILDERS do not have enough mutations to help classify sub-lineages. A 100 marker test, if and when one is developed, could help find still more distinctive differences in DNA patterns and to cluster together those who are the most related within their group. This is what all DNA studies want, more markers.

It is now possible to upgrade to a 37 marker test at Family Tree DNA. Taking the 37 marker test, which has a number of volatile markers, may show additional mutations and help sort out sub-branches of familial relationships. We recommend that those who can afford the test, upgrade to 37 markers and continue to upgrade to more markers in the future if and when even greater number of markers can be tested. The Viking Childresses and Viking Childers cry out for the need for more mutations to help researchers cluster related families together and combine their paper research. The cost for the upgrade from 25 markers to 37 markers is currently $59 when ordered through the Group Discount of this DNA study or by accessing your FTDNA web page, "clicking" on "PRICING" at the top of the page and entering your own order as a "repeat" customer.

HG3 R1a1 EURASIAN CHILDRESS

Family Tree DNA laboratory results classify this group as Haplogroup type R1a and say "the R1a lineage is believed to have originated in the Eurasian Steppes north of the Black and Caspian Seas. This lineage is believed to have originated in a population of the Kurgan culture, known for the domestication of the horse (approximately 3000 B.C.E.). These people were also believed to be the first speakers of the Indo-European language group. This lineage is currently found in central and western Asia, India, and in Slavic populations of Eastern Europe." See a map at ²

The haplogroup R1a1 (HG3) is seen more frequently on the eastern side of Europe (9% of the population of Turkey is R1a1). But R1a1 is also common in Scandinavia, and is said by some to be indicative of "Viking blood" when seen in paternal lines originating in the British Isles. R1a is the "classic Viking signature" - which is one of the few things that all researchers agree upon, assuming of course that the ancestor came from Britain. In Britain the haplogroup is rare, except where the Vikings settled. The forefather of all R1a1's is thought to have been born in the Ukraine during the last Ice Age about 15,000 years ago.

The oldest common ancestor for this group that has been identified is Bartholomew Gordon Childress, b. c. 1803 in SC or VA, Migrated SC or VA> SC > GA > FL > MS> AL. More DNA testing parties are required to shed more light on this lineage.

J2 MEDITERRANEAN CHILDERS

Family Tree DNA laboratory suggests that this group is haplogroup "J2". "This lineage originated in the northern portion of the Fertile Crescent where it later spread throughout central Asia, the Mediterranean, and south into India. As with other populations with Mediterranean ancestry this lineage is found within Jewish populations. The Cohen modal lineage is found in Haplogroup J*. See a map³

There were 2 waves of settlement by J2 in the British Isles. The first was the Neolithic farmers into Europe about 10,000 years ago and the second is the Jewish settlement about 2000 years ago, in Roman times.

The testing party James Lamar Childers has an unusual DNA marker called a "double peak". This testing party has two values at a site instead of one. Apparently the marker has duplicated itself, and both duplicates then start to mutate separately. I received this information from the Genealogy-DNA mail list on Rootsweb from Ann Turner ⁷ the list manager in response to my question. “On the Y-chromosome test at marker 19, the testing party has a double peak, 14 AND 15. Other testing parties in our study have either a 14 OR 15 at that marker but not both…what does a double peak mean…what is it?”

Ann Turner wrote: “I see the data entry form at ⁶has a dropdown list for DYS 19b, with a footnote that the result will be 0 for most people. The Y chromosome is full of duplications (that's the basis for the multi-copy markers such as DYS385a/b and DYS464a/b/c/d). It appears that somewhere, sometime, the DYS19 region was also duplicated, and each copy has been mutating independently (19a and 19b).

I do recall reading some articles about a duplication of an STR (marker) that is usually a single copy. I *think* it was DYS19, but I can't put my hands on the article right now.”

It would be interesting to know if the duplication itself was a one-time event (a Unique Event Polymorphism). If so, it occurred recently enough most people in the world don't have it, but long ago enough to accumulate some variety in the two different copies (14/15 for Gary's group and 12/15 for Orin's group). Come to think of it, I wonder if some people get a single peak of say 14, but they are actually 14/14.

GROUP NINE

Records are private. Only one member. Doesn't match other Haplotypes.

GROUP TEN

Records are private. One member. Doesn't match other Haplotypes.