BEAL DNA STUDY Analysis Of Y-DNA Results

The Ancestral Haplotype (genetic signature) of William BEAL (b. 1664 of York, ME) has been established by test results, and validated by recorded genealogy. BEAL 101, 102, 104 and 114 have completed 25-marker testing to verify the results of a relationship of a 12-marker match and genealogical records and location of an earliest ancestor in York, ME. The 25 marker tests revealed a much stronger probability (99.9%) for a relationship in both the 24 & 25/25 matches, proving without any doubt that the genealogical records to William BEAL(E) & his sons in York, ME are correct and the search should now move into the UK for earlier ancestors!

With three participants, we have established an Ancestral Haplotype (genetic signature) for Arthur & Edward BEALE in York, ME. The additional markers obtained from Beal 115 shows a greater genetic distinction between between neighbors Arthur and William BEAL of York. These two men are therefore not closely related. Also, more testing will be needed to prove or disprove relationships to other known BEAL(E) immigrant ancestors in the U.S.A. A good example below:

We now have an Ancestral Haplotype (genetic signature) for William BEALE (of Tuckley Glouchester & Ross, Herefordshire, England), found in test results for BEAL 106, 108 and 112, and 125. The surname spelling was changed to BEAL after this family moved to North America.

It is also interesting to note that the haplotype for BELL 362 is similar. While there is a slight difference on at least 5 markers, this may imply that BELL 362 shares a common ancestor, prior to the time of William BEALE.

We need more participants to develop Ancestral Haplotypes for John Beal of Quaker, PA, and Thomas BEALS (b. abt 1766) of Keene or Sullivan, Cheshire, NH.

Test results for BEALS 202 forms what we call an Ancestral Haplotype (genetic signature) for John Beal of Hingham MA & Hingham England. In comparing BEALS 205, there is only a mutation of 1 in DYS 439, a frequent moving DYS. BEALS 203 has only two mutations in DYS 439 & DYS 464d, both rapidly moving DYS. BEAL 111 has only two mutations; one in DYS 439, a rapidly moving DYS, and one in DYS 390, not a rapidly moving DYS but acceptable enough to be a result of a different generation or a brother in the lineage. BEAL 103 needs to upgrade his test from 12 markers to 25 or 37 markers for more definition, but in the 12 markers, differs only by a rapidly moving DYS 385b. So the liklihood of Beal 103 being another match is pretty good, especially if his recorded genealogy validates him with the other participants's recorded genealogy. The test results for these participants validate their genealogy to John BEAL of Hingham MA and Hingham England! It is another positive step towards completing some of our objectives stated on the overview page! For a fresh new look at how the results compare, with respect to ancestral lines, see the haplochart created by Thomas Beals.

Mitochondrial DNA testing (mtDNA, for maternal ancestries) is now available at the FTDNA website. More of us are using this testing to learn about our maternal ancestry.

As early participants in Y-chromosome DNA testing some of us had to be disappointed during the testing, but we also benefited by the knowledge gained when genetics and genealogy are used to explore our ancestry. Some of us have clearly gained insight into our ancestry and our experience will help other participants as the data bank grows. Look at the hundreds of surname DNA projects that have been established recently and we were at the forefront by pioneering in this new science. We still need more participants to expand our database.

Our project is among the earliest Surname DNA projects, having been in existence since 2001. Our goal has always been to provide quality testing at the most reasonable prices in the world! For this reason we have recently added DNA Heritage as an additional testing source in the United Kingdom! Quality testing can be obtained, especially for our non-USA paricipants, as well as our USA participants. At DNA Heritage, testing for up to 43 markers (at a certified laboratory) can be obtained at the lowest prices we could find in the world! DNA Heritage (DNAH) offers a good tutorial on Y-DNA testing; it is lengthy but provides a good insight.

FTDNATiP calculates the probabilities of two people sharing a common ancestor. It can be especially useful where people of different surnames share a similar haplotype. This new tool is available to all Family Tree DNA customers with at least 25 alleles (marker results), when they log-in to their personal FTDNA website. See "Understanding the FTDNATiP" page for more information.

The haplotype is the sequential listing of the recorded repeats that have been measured during the testing. The likelihood that a person shares a recent common ancestor with another person diminishes rapidly as fewer matches in the values occur in two haplotypes. As commonly done in interpreting the test results, the men with the same or similar surname, who match each other exactly in a 25 marker test share a common ancestor. If their haplotype differs by only a single +/- one step mutation of a single loci, they will still likely share a common ancestor.

The belief that two participants with exact 12-marker matches are closely related, can no longer be supported. Unless both such individuals have the same surname, and their ancestries are supported by genealogical records and geographic location, a close relationship is not likely. New findings in the genetic community -- on the topic of rare and common surnames -- suggest that a common surname will likely have many 12/12 matches around the world. Relationships among them could be in a very distant past, but not as recent as had been assumed. The 12 marker test is great for identifying families of the same surname as not related! A good example was the Mellick families in England and the United States.

There are more comprehensive discussions in Facts & Genes News Letter from Family Tree DNA. On the home page in the left hand menu is a link to the current article and more issues of Facts & Genes. Everyone participating in DNA testing should review all issues and sign up to receive the newsletter.

Participants should upload their test results to the free Y-search database from their FTDNA personal pages. Y-search is sponsored by FTDNA, and contains over 23000 records of Y-DNA test results, with excellent searching tools. Customers of all Y-DNA testing laboratories are welcome to add their Y-DNA results to Y-search, and receive possible benefits of matches.

DNA Heritage also sponsors a free world-wide database of Y-DNA test results, similar to Y-search; it is called Y-base.

We now offer a page of haplotype search links, for performing searches in both Y-search and Y-base, so if yours is posted, there is no need to remember your Record ID in order to search.

Charles E. Beal Project Coordinator/Manager, BEAL SURNAME DNA PROJECT, Family Genealogist, Member of NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, BEALS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, OLD YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, MAYFLOWER SOCIETY, CLAN BELL INTERNATIONAL and BEALL FAMILY ASSOCIATION. Contact: BealsurnameDNA@aol.com or DNAGenealogist@aol.com Ann Beal Logan Member, Association of Professional Genealogists; Chair, Ontario Genealogical Society, Halton-Peel Branch. Contact: bealdna@yahoo.ca