New Wild Goose Chase Part III

Parker Family 18
All is not lost, however, without the knowledge of where an ancestor died.  We may still find out where that ancestor was born or where his family hailed from.  How?  Family researchers today have a tool previous generations researching their brick walls did not have:  DNA.

Those who are interested may find the Parker Family DNA Project at:
http://web.utk.edu/~corn/parkerdna

Wilson Parker's DNA can be found under "family group 18."  His DNA is represented by a direct descendant along an entirely male line, of course.  When I was first made aware of this site, "family group 18" consisted of Wilson Parker Sr. and John Parker, the latter of whom is known to have died in Hampshire County, Colony of Virginia, as his will was proven 11 November 1760 and written 28 September 1760.  His heirs, including his wife, are named in the will.  Son Robert is the executor.

It may be of interest to note that the family and descendants of Wilson Parker Sr. have long set down the tradition that Wilson Parker Sr. was born in Virginia.  Of further interest is that, as of February 2009, "family group 18" has grown by two more ancestors - one (Nathaniel Parker) who is known to have been born in the Colony of Virginia and one (Thomas D. Parker) who, like Wilson Parker Sr., was born either in Pennsylvania or Virginia.  I have been able to link Nathaniel Parker to John Parker's line.  I have not been able to link Wilson Sr. or John D. Parker as of yet.

Nathaniel Parker (1730-1803) is the son of Nathaniel Parker (1707/1708-1800), who in turn is the son of John Parker (d. 1760 in Hampshire, Virginia).  In other words, he is the grandson of John Parker, so descendants of Nathaniel are descendants of John.  Their DNA should match up perfectly... or near perfectly.

The difference between the Nathaniel Parker DNA (and presumably, the John Parker DNA as well) and the DNA of Thomas D. Parker's descendant is DYS Marker Number 576 - Nathaniel's is 19 and Thomas D.'s is 18.  Wilson Parker and Nathaniel Parker share the same DYS Marker Number 576 - i.e., 19.  Wilson and Nathaniel differ by DYS Marker Number 442 - Wilson's is 12, Nathaniel's 13.  Interestingly enough, Thomas D. shares Marker Number 442 in common with Wilson Parker, so that Thomas D. actually differs from Nathaniel by two markers, not one.  Wilson differs from Nathaniel by only one marker - DYS Marker 442.   Genetic distance between Wilson and Nathaniel Parker is one step.  Since these are 37 marker tests, this means the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) has a 50% probability of being within the last four generations, a 90% probability of being within the last eight generations, and a 95% probability of being within the last 10 generations.  Wilson Parker is four generations from the person tested.  There are roughly three generations between Wilson Parker and Nathaniel Parker and Nathaniel Parker is three generations from John Parker, which brings us approximately to the tenth generation.  Unless the mutation of marker 442 occurred in the generation or two after John Parker, the MRCA is an ancestor of John Parker.