My last post was about utilizing Gedmatch. Since then I have become best friends with Gedmatch and the benefits from the site are too numerous to count. I have taken two more DNA tests, 23andme and FTDNA and I have had my dad tested and my mom is next. The discoveries so far have been momentous.
Let's start with my maternal family, which originates from Texas. After years of searching I finally located my mothers paternal 2x great grandmother's death certificate. It was a happy occasion since the day before I did not her name. Her death certificate was an amazing find since it also listed her father's name.
Now the name of her father is very interesting. I never knew that the Jones surname was in my family. Most importantly, her father shares the same name as a very prominent slave holder in the area. I am not sure she was born a slave or right after slavery ended because census records have varying estimated dates. But based on his age and family I believe she is the child of the slave owners son. I do not have exact DNA proof yet but based on some clues I have gotten from my own results, I believe I am on the right track. My next step is to test my mother which will be happening very soon.
On my father's maternal side there have been some very intriguing discoveries. One of his great grandfather's had a very unusual name. In one census record his name is recorded as Moncao Peyton and in another as Mauchu and Monchie. I am unsure which one is correct but I have looked up all and they are mostly used in the Spanish language. My dad DNA test showed Spanish ancestry so this is definitely something worth looking into. My main roadblock regarding research is that my dad's family comes from Mississippi...the records are not as easily accessible online like other states. Now that I have so many hints regarding my Spanish ancestry, I definitely won't be giving up now.
On the other side of this line are the Windhams. Now this is the only ancestor that I had previously traced to a slave holder, Daniel Windham. I was not sure if there was any relation but I had heard that it was possible. I have not had any DNA matches to any Windhams from my DNA test so I was beginning to think that maybe my ancestors had most likely just taken the surname. But last month my dad's DNA test was processed and one of his top matches was a Windham. I emailed the person to get more information and hit pay dirt! This match has 100% European DNA and is the 4x great granddaughter of the slave owner! I finally had proof the the my dad is a descendant of this family. Daniel W Windham is my dad's 3x great grandfather and the person that introduced the mixed ancestry on this line.
There is so much more research to be done. The Windham line has been traced back to 12th century England on some lines. I will, of course, do my own research instead of copying the details. You can't be sure of the accuracy unless you do the work. My fathers' DNA test has answered some question but has also revealed more mysteries. I can't wait to see the results of my mothers' DNA test. I wonder what her test will reveal.
