Have you taken a DNA test? If so, you’ve probably sorted your matches into people you know, people you don’t know but you do know how you’re related to them, and people for whom you strike out on both counts – you don’t know ‘em and you don’t know how you’re related to ‘em. The more distantly related you are – 3rd and 4th cousins and such – the harder it might be to know where and specifically through whom you connect, especially if you have enslaved ancestors. I’ve got more than a few DNA matches in this latter category.
But I just moved one match out of this category, and, in doing so, I think I’ve made a DNA connection to Daniel Evans and Jennette (aka Anna Jane) Welch, the subjects of most of my recent posts.
On paper, Daniel (born about 1844) and Jennette (born about 1853) are my 3x great-grandparents. I’ve got a web of records – from marriage licenses and returns to Social Security Number applications, Federal Census enumerations to death certificates and obituaries – that link them to my 2x great-grandfather (James) Steven Evans. And I have DNA matches that link me to (James) Steven Evans as well, through both my direct line to his son Steve (aka Theodore) and through two of his other children, Jannie Mae and Sarah.
But what I didn’t have – or know that I had – was DNA evidence that linked me to (James) Steven Evans’ parents. Until a few days ago.
That’s when, as I was poking around in my DNA matches while watching TV, I decided to take another look at my Evans/Scruggs matches (Scruggs being the maiden name of [James] Steven Evans’ wife, Laura Ann). I’d looked at all the matches who had viewable trees before, but I’m always wondering if I’ll find something new. And as I was poking around, I came across a match’s tree that had the name Harold Daniel Evans in it.
Now, a couple of months ago, I wouldn’t have known who that was. But, because of this research project, I recognized it as the name of one of (James) Steven Evans’ nephews and grand-nephews – there were a Harold Daniel Evans, Sr. and a Harold Daniel Evans, Jr. They were the child and grandchild of (James) Steven Evans’ brother, William Evans. Here’s a visual, showing Harold Daniel Evans, Sr in relation to my line and to my DNA match:
This DNA match was listed as my likely 3rd cousin once removed. That meant that our most recent common ancestors – the people closest in time to the present day that we both directly descended from - would be my 3x great grandparents and their 2x great-grandparents. (The difference in generation is what the “once removed” means; my dad and this person would simply be 3rd cousins.) Daniel and Jennette, of course, are the folks I’ve hypothesized are my 3x great-grandparents. And based on what know about my DNA match’s tree, Daniel and Jennette are their 2x great-grandparents. Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe we have the missing piece of evidence I was hoping to find: a DNA connection to my "on-paper" great-great-great-grandparents!
Now, you might be asking: Well, Adrienne, did you reach out to your DNA match to compare notes and start a conversation? Answer: Of course I did! But, if you’ve taken a DNA test, you know the deal: some people rarely check their messages, some people only took the test to discover their places of origin, some people were only trying to solve a specific genetic genealogy question, etc., etc. This match last logged in over a year ago. It may be a while before I hear back, if ever. And I only reached out about a week ago.
I might know another way to be in touch – through the magic of social media – but this person doesn’t appear to have been active there recently either. But I’ll give it a go – how exciting would it be to connect with a branch of the family where we share ancestors born in the middle of the 19th century? What stories might they have to pass on? And what stories might we have to share with them?
Here’s hoping for a beautiful connection in the future. And maybe some more DNA matches to other Evans descendants in the present!
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