This DNA discovery may be my most significant genealogical find to date.
Three years ago my 92 year old maternal grandfather, Milton Williams asked me if I would help him find out about his paternal ancestry. I gave him my word that I would do everything in my power to do so. I knew it would be an extremely difficult and challenging project because 1) my grandfather’s advanced age made this a time sensitive task, and 2) my grandfather’s mother, Florence (Hamilton) Williams, died when he was 6 years old and his father, Eugene, died a year later. He was raised primarily by his mother’s side of the family and they never told him anything about his father or his father’s family. Maybe they knew something about his family, maybe they didn’t–that’s something I’ll never know, but with little information to begin with, I had major doubts I could grant his wish.
Here were the alleged facts as I knew them:
- My grandfather’s birth certificate states his father’s name was Eugene Williams.
- Milton said his father was about 17 years older than his mother. He said they were married in Texas and migrated to Oakland, California between 1914 and 1920.
- Milton was told his parents separated shortly before his mother died in 1927 and that his father moved back to Texas and died a year later.
- I found a U.S. Federal Census record showing Eugene Williams, age 46 and Florence Williams, age 30, living in Oakland, California (Alameda County). Eugene stated he was born in Texas. He also stated his father was born in Kentucky and his mother was born in Alabama.
- My grandfather was born in Oakland, California in 1921.
My first inclination was to search Texas State Death Records and the death indexes for Eugene Williams. Based on several conversations with Milton, Eugene would have died between 1927-1930. I searched the database with no success. I didn’t know what cities in Texas he lived or died and search results for any “Eugene Williams” born around 1874 were widely variable. I didn’t know who his parents were, if he had other children or siblings. It started to feel like a lost cause.
My Last Resort: DNA testing
Between the Fall of 2014 and the Winter of 2015, I submitted my grandfather’s DNA sample for all three major DNA testing companies: 23andme, AncestryDNA (offered by Ancestry) and Family Tree DNA aka FTDNA. Although Milton is of African descent, Milton’s results on 23andme showed MANY matches with people of European descent with KENTUCKY listed as a place of origin. Additionally, Milton’s paternal haplogroup (a genetic population of people who share a common ancestor on the patrilineal line) is I-M26 (formerly I2a1*). This is a Eastern & Southern European haplogroup which indicates he descends from a European male in his paternal lineage.
In November of 2015, I began communicating with one of Milton’s 23andme DNA Relatives, a male of European descent named Jamie Painter who shared 0.89% of DNA with Milton. Based on 23andme’s chart below that summarizes the average percent of DNA shared among relatives, Jamie’s predicted relationship to Milton’s landed in a range between 2nd cousin, one removed and 3rd cousin level. This means that the common ancestors between Milton and Jamie are between great grandparent and 2nd great grandparents.
Relationship
|
Average % DNA Shared
|
Range
|
Identical Twin
|
100%
|
N/A
|
Parent / Child
Full Sibling |
50%
|
Varies by specific relationship
|
Grandparent / Grandchild
Aunt / Uncle Niece / Nephew Half Sibling |
25%
|
Varies by specific relationship
|
1st Cousin
|
12.5%
|
7.31% – 13.8%
|
1st Cousin once removed
|
6.25%
|
3.3% – 8.51%
|
2nd Cousin
|
3.13%
|
2.85% – 5.04%
|
2nd Cousin once removed
|
1.5%
|
0.57% – 2.54%
|
3rd Cousin
|
0.78%
|
0.3% – 2.0%
|
4th Cousin
|
0.20%
|
0.07% – 0.5%
|
5th Cousin
|
0.05%
|
Variable
|
6th Cousin
|
0.01%
|
Variable
|
Table 1: Average percent DNA shared between relatives
Jamie and I began sharing family tree information. I studied his family tree for months trying to find commonalities. I felt like I was looking for a needle in a haystack! I started comparing other DNA relatives who shared triangulated strands of DNA with Jamie & Milton, but we could not identify any common ancestors. Of the many matches my grandfather had that were clearly on his mother’s side, I noticed Jamie was not related to any of them or their common matches so my strong suspicion was that he was a relative on Milton’s paternal line. At the time, that was all I could deduce so I put that research effort on hold for a while.
Learning that Milton’s paternal haplogroup was of European descent lead me to utilize FTDNA’s Y-DNA test for more details. The Y-DNA analyzes the DNA in the Y-chromosome. Fathers pass down copies of their Y-chromosome relatively unchanged for many generations. Over thousands of years, there will be intermittent variations that will uniquely identify descendants of a common male ancestor by those variant. Thus, my hope was to find individuals who have the same Y-chromosome that were within the last 6-10 generations to help me narrow down the possible European male ancestors. Milton’s results were stunning because he did not descend from a line of males named “Williams.” As a matter of fact, none of his matches even carried the name “Williams.” Several of them carried the surname “FLOURNOY” and they descended from European French males named “Flournoy.” His Paternal Haplogroup by FTDNA’s algorithm is I-P37–again, a Southern European Haplogroup.
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Milton’s Y-DNA Matches from Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) |
I am so happy for your granddad Michael and for you for being such a loving and caring grandson. Congrats on this wonderful and moving connection.
Great Work Michael! What a Blessing that is to give him his heritage in his Golden Years. I'm so happy for you all. I'm hoping to find my Great Grandfather one day. This was excellent research and with patience you had so many details lined up. Grateful for the other Cousin so willing to work with you all. God Bless you Milton and Jamie.
Thank you so much!!!
Michael this was a very emotional and inspiring story. That you for sharing. Praise to the Most High Creator YAH for guiding you in your research. Only, He knew how special this would be for your grandfather. Mark 10:27, And looking at them, Yahusha said…for with Yahuah all is possible.”
Michael, congratulations, this is such a great achievement, as so many of us have hit brick walls. I am celebrating along with you,it is a wonderful thing when that one door is opened and the curtain is opened and you begin to discover what was hidden behind it. I am searching for my great grand father's Albert Byers family, he was born into slavery in York, SC 1820. I have not been able to break down that brick wall at all. He ended up in St Clair Ala., married Harriet Looney b 1846, and had children there. My maternal grandmother was a Williams as well. Born in St Clair, Ala., later moved to Gadsden, Ala. I am more success with my Mitchell and Kelly side, both born in the Coosa county Ala. Area. Many blessings and continued success as you continue to break down brick walls.
Michael, congratulations, this is such a great achievement, as so many of us have hit brick walls. I am celebrating along with you,it is a wonderful thing when that one door is opened and the curtain is opened and you begin to discover what was hidden behind it. I am searching for my great grand father's Albert Byers family, he was born into slavery in York, SC 1820. I have not been able to break down that brick wall at all. He ended up in St Clair Ala., married Harriet Looney b 1846, and had children there. My maternal grandmother was a Williams as well. Born in St Clair, Ala., later moved to Gadsden, Ala. I am more success with my Mitchell and Kelly side, both born in the Coosa county Ala. Area. Many blessings and continued success as you continue to break down brick walls.
My God. What a Blessing.