"Tracing Our Roots" Newsletter Archive (A monthly genealogy newsletter written by the late Brenda Kellow, dec'd, for the Plano Star Courier newspaper. We've included all the ones we could recover.)
What began as an August lecture on DNA has grown into something much bigger and more impressive. At first, the Genealogy Friends members were only interested in the Seven Daughters of Eve DNA project conducted by Bryan Sykes of Oxford University in Oxford, England. Many had bought the book, which further encouraged participation in the project. Then, over lunch one day in June, interest began to grow until a large percentage of the membership became personally involved by submitting their DNA. Because of the numbers involved, the University offered the participants a special price.
What grew out of interest and curiosity developed into something much bigger. Recently, Genealogy Friends was informed that they were the first genealogy group in the world to participate in the project. Genealogy Friends received this commendation because Friends members come from many areas of the world and have no common surname or ethnic extraction.
The lectures and explanations on the DNA project undertaken by Genealogy Friends continues as the subject of the September 21 free Saturday Morning Seminar lecture series. After the general understanding of DNA given in the August lecture, the results of the participating members will be revealed at the September meeting with highlights of the genetic markers or haplotypes explained by Mr. Leo Baca, who continues as the speaker. Some of the male participants had both their y-line tested as well as their x-line. A few even went so far as to test for Viking ancestry. Already, the project has revealed surprises along with some results that were expected.
For more on the Oxford University project of Oxford, England please see my column dated August 15 or read it online at www.geocities.com/tracingourroots/aug_15.htm. The lecture in September begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and continues until noon at the Gladys Harrington Library in Plano.
VIKING DIET:
Those in the DNA project who find Viking ancestry might want to know about their ancestors diet. This is possible at www.gti.net/mocolib1/kid/food.html. It also has the diet for those living before the Paleolithic period, before agriculture, and afterwards through the 1990s. It is certainly worth a look for anyone interested in social studies.
ONLINE SITES ABOUT TEXAS:
1920 Federal Census of Matson Home For children of Dallas:
www.censusdiggins.com/matson_home.html.
1930 Federal Census of Buckner's Children's Home in Dallas
Tracing Our Roots column ranked among the top 100 genealogy sites by Census Diggins, www.topsitelists.com/homestead/texas/next2.html.
QUERY: Michael Holland, 3224 Sailmaker Lane, Plano, TX 75023, 972-618-7491, mlholland@bigplanet.com is searching for descendants of Meredith (Meriday) Ashlock, an early Collin County pioneer who arrived here in the 1840s from Tennessee and Kentucky via Illinois with other settlers named Baccus and Young. They homesteaded in the Peter s Colony about eight miles due west of McKinney in the upper regions of Wilson Creek before moving on to Farmersville. Their story, says Michael, is a fascinating saga filled with heartache and a vision for the future of this region. They endured many hardships. Michael has much information to share, but he is looking for more details. He would like to connect with some Wise County descendants who might provide anecdotal elements for a book he is planning on writing. If you can help, please contact him at the above address.
Brenda Kellow, dec'd, Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Instructor, had a Bachelor s Degree in history and taught genealogy courses at the local Community College and computer genealogy at the University.
