DNA Testing

It's been five months since Dad & I sent off a DNA test to the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF). We still haven't received any results back. Since it's a free service they make no guarantees on when you'll receive results, and I've found reviews that state that it can take a year! Even then you only see your results online in comparison to other testers.

Since the government is being nice enough to give us some free money, I decided to use part of my economic stimulus money to take a DNA test. As a female I have two options: 1) take a mtDNA test that follows a straight line of female ancestors or, 2) have a male relative (my dad) take a Y-chromosome test to research a straight line of male ancestors. I decided to go ahead and have my Dad do the test and trace my direct paternal line.

I also had to choose a test company. After some research I decided to go with Family Tree DNA and a 67 marker Y-chromosome test (Y-DNA67). I joined a surname project, which saved me money, but it still cost $271 (down from $349 without joining a group).

I'm supposed to receive the test in a week and the results within about seven weeks.

I went to the local library today and used their Genealogy section. I took my computer with me and browsed the books while going through the index file of my gedcom.

I found two useful books. The first was Georgia Interstate Records. I found record of two children of Daniel & Maragret Boatright's children after their father's death.

“Boatright, Charles, orph of Daniel, decd, Margaret Boatright, gdn, Sion Kirkham, Edward Surrency, srus, 9/3/1821, Emanuel, GB”
“Boatright, Nancy, orph of Daniel, decd, Margaret Boatright, Sion Kirkham and Edward Surrency, gdns, 9/3/1821; Benjamin Sherrod, gdn, George Dekle, sec, 9/4/1826, Emanuel, GB”

The other book was Hart County, Georgia Marriages - 1854-1898. I found multiple marriage records in this book that fit my tree. Some of them were: James D. Craft & Emma Richardson, Martha Alice Powell & James S. Craft, and Thomas Craft & Roxie Fisher.

True Love

My aunt sent us scans of a photo and some documents that belonged to my paternal grandparents.

This is a photo of my paternal grandparents. My grandfather carried around a copy of this photo in his wallet all the time. He wrote "True Love" on the back