Panic & Fear

After starting Reflections, a list of potential essays was generated.  Recalling incidents that had been experienced, there were some that stood out but did not warrant an entire essay.  As these incidents were remembered, along with the emotional impact, the topic Panic & Fear came to mind.  Panic was viewed as the inability to make any decision or making the wrong decision.  Ina sense, Panic is a form of hysteria.  Fear is to be afraid, afraid of terrible consequences.  In a sense, Fear could mean severe injury or death! .  Furthermore, it was believed Panic and Fear did not happen in the same incident.  Well, as will be shown, they do exist together. Of course, it is difficult to know when Panic becomes Fear.  There are several incidents that occurred during my life that will be revealed.  One incident has been mentioned previously in the Outdoor Lifeessay.  Thus, it is safe to say most of these incidents have never been previously revealed!  All of these incidents, except one, occurred in either pre-teen or teen age years.  These are the years when you know you’re indestructible and not subject to injury or death.  Such thoughts never enter your mind.    Each incident will have a title with an explanation of the situation.

Not My Child – Probably one of my first encounters with Fear occurred while growing up on Sebren Avenue.  A young girl had been hit by a car on Harco Street near the entrance to Sebren Avenue.  Harco Street was the main street that exited our housing development.  I was standing with the on-lookers that had gathered before an ambulance or the police had arrived.  I saw a car stop not far from the injured girl and a man emerge and hurry toward the child.  His face was tense with fear that it was his child laying in the street.  Once he saw the child was not his, you could see the fear drain from his face as relief replaced the fear.  For me it was a telling moment what fear can do to your emotions.  This incident also revealed the concern a parent has for their child.  

Buck Fever – Buck Fever is a common form of Panic that afflicts deer hunters.  The hunter encounters what he is hunting when Buck Fever strikes.  Buck Fever takes many forms such as just standing and looking, forgetting to release the safety or working the action multiple times without pulling the trigger, and emptying all your cartridges onto the ground.  Buck Fever struck me on a hunting trip with Dad near Lee Vining, California.  Early one morning, just at sunup, we were driving to a place where there were several does, thinking we might find a buck with them since it was the rutting season.  All of a sudden Dad said, “Oh, hey, look there!” as he pulled to a stop.  There was a huge buck silhouetted on a ridge about 100 to 125 yards from the road.  I grabbed my rifle from the back seat and went to the trunk for ammunition.  I filled the magazine with five cartridges and one into the chamber, and I was ready to get my first deer.  However, when I turned to shoot, the buck was gone.  Buck Fever told me more than one cartridge was necessary should the first shot miss.  In this case, there was only going to be one shot possible.  Worrying about extra shots lost the chance for one shot!

Borrowed Bike Death Ride – About five or six neighborhood kids had gathered at the Sebren Avenue house with their bikes.  Everyone’s bike was Schwinn-like with New Departure brakes.  These brakes were activated when you pushed down one of the pedals, basically attempting to pedal in reverse.  Applying the brakes aggressively locked up the rear wheel and a black skid mark occurred.  What we were doing was riding a fast as possible from my house to the corner, applying the brakes and “laying rubber” or laying a “brodie”.  A brodie looked like a “J” or reverse “J”, depending which way you turned the bike.  After two or three brodies by everyone, some suggested using a different bike.  Everyone agreed, and bikes were swapped.

There is no recollection whose bike I used, but I only rode it once. Having never rode this bike before, unbeknownst to me was that the kick stand was loose.   Approaching the corner at about 15 MPH, I pushed hard on the left pedal and nothing happened.  The loose kick stand was preventing the brakes from being applied!  I flew off the curb into Harco Street.  While still airborne, I looked up the street and saw a car coming.  My only thought was “I am going to die!”  I knew the car was going to run me over, and that would be the end.  However, when the bike hit the street ,the kick stand moved, and I executed a perfect brodie in the middle of Harco Street.  Plus, the driver saw what was happening and had slowed to a near stop.  Getting up rather sheepishly, I thanked the driver, rode back to my house and asked for my bike back.  Moral: Know your bike!

Colorado Lagoon Cannonball – Milo and I had gone to the Colorado Lagoon one day to play in the Lagoon and enjoy the sun.  As previously mentioned, my swimming ability was essentially non-existent.  As such, I never went anywhere in the Lagoon if I could not touch bottom with my head out of the water.  This particular day I was feeling indestructible and would make short excursions into deeper water for shot distances.  The Lagoon had a short all concrete “pier” of about 30 to 40 feet into the Lagoon.  Milo and I had discussed swimming to the pier out near its end.  I knew that most of the way would be in water too deep to touch the bottom.  Well, as we neared the pier about 20 feet from its end, someone did a cannonball dive not far from me.  I panicked and began failing trying to keep my head above water.  I knew drowning was inevitable.  Milo saw my distress and offered me a hand or one of his legs, I’m not sure which, and he pulled me to the pier.  I scrambled onto the pier and walked back to our towels.  My swimming attempts were done for the day.  I still feel Milo saved my life that day.

Jackrabbit Fire – One summer Milt, Bud Reese and I went jackrabbit hunting in the Corona foothills near Lake Matthews.  It was not yet rabbit season, but jackrabbits were considered a nuisance and could be hunted at any time of the year.  Milt’s friend Bud, was just along for the adventure and was not hunting.  Milt and I were heavily armed for this hunt: Milt was using his 300 H&H magnum, and I was carrying a 30-06!  We were using these rifles for two reasons.  Jackrabbits are notorious for running like crazy when flushed but stop and check back to see what scared them.  They stop anywhere from 100 yard to 150 yards from you.  That range is an accuracy challenge for a 22 Rimfire rifle with iron sights.  So, the deer rifles gave a better chance of hitting the jackrabbit due to the bullet’s flatter trajectory.  Then, shooting at a running jackrabbit was practice for our upcoming deer hunting trip.  I had already shot one running, but we had not had one stop for a still shot.  Then we flushed one about 25 yards or so in front of us.  Milt and I were taking turns shooting, and it was my turn.

The jackrabbit stopped out at about 125 yards and sat up to see what spooked him.  At this point I took aim, pulled the trigger, and watched to see the result.  My shot missed  the rabbit, raised some dust, and the rabbit took off run away from us. We stood there watching the rabbit run away, when I noticed the dust was still rising.  That seemed strange, but then it hit me what was going on and it scared me.  I said nothing to Milt and told him to hold my rifle, and I took off running as fast as possible toward the rising dust.  I knew it was not dust but smoke.  Somehow the bullet had started a fire.  A fire out here in a totally dry area with brush and grass was dangerous, and I was running in a Panic!  Then while running, Fear also came to mind.  The fire was between us and our car, which meant we could be cut off from escaping if the fire spread quickly.  When I reached the fire, it had burned at least a 10 foot circle.  I began stomping and pushing dirt on the fire.  Milt and Bud arrived about two or three minutes later to help put out the fire.  We had the fire out in about five or six minutes.  Now we tried to figure out what had happened.  Our best guess was that the bullet hit the base of a shrub of some sort and somehow started the fire.  It did not make sense, but that was the only thing that could be figured out.  About a month later the reason for the fire was discovered.

I had been using surplus Army ammunition Dad had purchased which meant the bullet was a solid jacketed and not any type of soft nose bullet.  However, I had noticed one of the bullets had Black paint on its tip.  Scanning through Dad’s American Rifleman it was discovered that a bullet with a Black tip was an incendiary round!  Therefore, the round hitting the base of the bush ignited the fire.  Who knew?

Match Shooter Escapade – Most of you will need some “background” to grasp the essence of this Escapade.  When growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, automatic clothes dryers were not a common household appliance.  Clothes, bedding and other textiles had to be taken outdoors and hung on a clothes line to dry.  These items were hung on the clothes line and usually secured with a clothespin.  There were a couple different types clothespins, but the most common was a wooden, spring loaded pins as shown in the photo. The clothespin in the photo was typical of the ones used by Mom while I was growing up.  Surely, most of you have seen this type of clothespin, because they can still be purchased.

Typical Clothespin, Circa 1950

Now I’m sure you want to know what is a Match Shooter?  Two clothespins are taken apart and re-assembled. Best that can be remembered the two halves are inverted and the narrow ends are held together with tape, probably black electric tape.  The spring is re-position and is located on the top of one half of the re-assembled pins.  This new mechanism is a Match Shooter.  The second pin is disassembled and one is used to “cock”, or arm, the Match Shooter.  After the Shooter is “cocked,” a wooden match is inserted until the match head is against the spring’s end.  When the spring mechanism is pulled back it releases the spring end that strikes the match head and the match is thrown about five feet.  Of course, the match is burning in flight to where it lands.

Now to the Escapade!  One summer while in Junior High School, the “thing to do” by most everyone was build and use Match Shooters.  Of course, Milo and I were amongst those that built one.  It must be said that my Match Shooter was by far the best!  I could shoot a match further than anyone.  About a week or so after making it, there became a need for more matches.  No recollection why we were short on matches and decided to go the grocery store for some more.  Rather than taking our bikes we decided to walk to the store. After leaving the store we walked the dirt road on the West end of the beet field.  The following map has a Blue line that shows the way we intended to walk home.  The large white building in the upper left corner is the grocery store.

Walking Home Path

The beet field is now a Long Beach city park.  About mid-way down the road, on the left of the Blue line, is where the Girl Scout Ranch House was located.  I’m not sure if it is still there or not.  In any event, as we were walking along the road, I was loading my Match Shooter, firing a match into the dry grass, and stomping out the flames.  After shooting about four or five matches, an improperly aimed match went through the chain link fence and landed on the Girl Scout Ranch House property.  Well, you know what happened next, the grass caught fire.  I tried to put out the flames, but the fence prevented putting out the flames.  Now Panic set in, and I threw matches and Match Shooter down, and we began to run.  As we approached the street into our housing development a woman called out, “oh boys, oh boys!”  Apparently, she had been watching us and knew what was happening.  We did not stop to talk to her; we were running as hard as we could to get away from my misdeed.  After we got in amongst the houses away from the sight of the woman, we quit running and began walking.  We decided to split up and not be seen together.  I took several streets to get home.  How Milo got home was in a similar manner.  Once home I removed my shirt and did not wear it for quite a while - especially if using the dirt road for any reason.  Neither Milo or I ventured outside the rest of the day.  In fact, we did not use the dirt road for quite some time.

Milo and I met the next day to find out if either of us had heard anything about the fire.  Neither of us had heard anything, although Milo said he had heard sirens that were probably fire trucks.  When we finally went on the road sometime later, the fire had burned a large spot in the grass, but it did not come close to the Ranch House.  This escapade produced Panic and Fear we would be discovered.  Certainly, another lesson learned the hard and scary way!

The Infamous BBQ Ham Sandwich Incident – Panic and fear situations do not always involve incidents like those listed so far.  These emotions can be triggered by something as innocuous as a BBQ Ham sandwich.  Yet it happened, and even though it is embarrassing, it needs to be told.  

The year was 1976 or 1977, while we still lived at the Sycamore house.  Darry, Daren and myself decided to go on a September weekend deer hunt in the Eastern Sierra Mountains near Lee Vining and Mono Lake.  We had hunted here previously, and it is where Dad and I had hunted several times.  It is suspected that Russ did not accompany us because he had to work and could not get time off to join us (an educated guess).  Since we were taking our tent trailer, the drive to Lee Vining would take at least seven or eight hours.  Pulling a trailer in California at this time, the speed limit was 45 MPH.  Thus, we left the house around mid-morning planning on arriving around supper time.  Just after noon, we stopped in Lone Pine for a bite to eat.  At a roadside take-out we ordered sandwiches and drinks to go.  I ordered a BBQ ham sandwich, the boys ordered whatever, and we went on our way.  We arrived at the campground late afternoon and setup camp.  After fixing dinner, we discussed the next day’s hunt and what time to begin hunting.  After putting out the campfire, we went to bed.  Somewhere about 2 A.M., I woke with a terrific stomach ache and a “red light” bowel warning.  Once out of the trailer, the rest room was too far away, so relief came amongst the pine trees.  Back in the trailer, I was thinking what the morning’s hunt would bring.  Another trip to the pine trees left now question that hunting was out of the question.

Returning to the trailer, I did not feel well and knew more trips to the trees were going to occur. The decision was made to skip hunting and return home.  Best that can be remembered, Darryl and Darren were now awake because of my trips to the trees.I told them about my trips to the trees, and reluctantly and told them we were going home because I felt lousy.  Everyone dressed, cleaned up the camp and prepared the trailer to go home.  It was 4 A.M. as we began to leave the campground when I remembered Bev’s request for pine cones.  So, I stopped and had Darryl and Darren go out amongst the trees and pick-up some pine ones—in the dark!  I’m sure there was grumbling, but whatever Mama wants, Mama gets!  Once the prized pine cones were gathered, we left the campground.

I was driving although Darryl probably had a driver’s license.  The tent trailer weighed 3500 pounds and Darryl had never pulled a trailer.  I believe Darryl not drive was fortunate.  We had just descended Deadman’s Pass, when the “red light” went on again!  We were approaching the June Lake Loop area, and I knew there was a rest stop with rest rooms.  Deciding to make this rest stop, the 45 MPH speed limit was ignored,  As I sped up the “red light” burned brighter.  The brighter the light the more the accelerator was pressed.  As we hit 70 MPH, the panic questions was can I make it, or is the driver’s seat going to be a mess?  We made the rest stop, now the question was would I make the toilet in time?  I parked next to the toilet, go out, and told Darryl to drive the car and trailer to a regular parking spot.  Thankfully, I made it  but just barely!  The panic was over.  Although they had a “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride”, Darryl and Darren were laughing when I returned to the car.   I heard about the ride all the way home and for quit some.    The whole episode caused by a tainted BBQ ham sandwich.

Concluding Remarks

Upon editing this essay, Cousin Carol inquired if these incidents were revealed to my parents.  Initially I said no, I had not told my folks about my experiences.  After all, revealing your every action to your parents is a certain death sentence!  You know the boundary rules and only mention those incidents you believe meet those rules.  While incorporating the edits, I began to turn the events over in my mind searching for long forgotten memories.  Well, I stumbled across some faint memories of discussing certain incident with Mom or Dad.  

Not My Child incident really made an impression on me, and I faintly recollect telling Mom about it.  Best that can be recalled is that Mom’s response was, “Well, of course!” She knew full well how any parent would respond under the circumstance. Buck Fever,  I know was discussed with Dad.  After unloading my rifle and putting everything away, I knew the mistake I had made.  When I got back in the car I told Dad how I blew the chance to bag the buck.  Best that can be recalled, Dad agreed with my confession, and never said another word about it.  In the Jackrabbit Fire situation, it is an educated guess that it was discussed with Dad.  The discussion probably arose when it was discovered that black tipped surplus ammo was incendiary.  As a parent, I’m not sure there are lots of things our kids never told Bev or me.  It is possible they told Bev and I never heard a word about it.  Moms’ have been known to protect their kids in this manner.  The Infamous BBQ Sandwich Incident was witnessed by Darryl and Darren.  I’m sure telling this story to their friends was a big hit!

Are these the only times Panic & Fear have affected my emotional frame of mind?  No, it is not.  As one goes through life such incidents always arise and are soon overcome and forgotten.  The Cuba Missile Crisis and when armed men boarded my plane in Beirut, Lebanon were times of my greatest moments of fear.  In these two incidents, everything was out of my control.  When Bev fell and displaced her patella while eight months pregnant with Shannon comes to mind.  In that incidence you wondered if Bev and the baby were okay, but there was no time for either panic or fear; action had to be taken immediately.  It was a time for clear, rational thought and not a time for inaction.  Then there were the many times Russ had to be taken to the Emergency Room due to an asthma attack.  As one grows older, those incidents of childhood teach us to remain calm and deal with situations calmly and act in a rational manner.  At least, that’s my belief.

Price Family Genealogy DNA Update

The primary goal of Reflections is to tell the history of our Price/Graham family as best as could be remembered.  Besides telling the family history, another goal is to trace our two

families’ origins as far back as possible.  In other words, who were our ancestors and where did they originate?  Fortunately, there was some Price family data but very little Graham family information.  While in Seattle, an on line Genealogy course was taken that provided a start to tracing our family’s history.  After finishing the course, family tree software was purchase and known family data was entered.  This was the beginning of the Price/Graham family tree.  This original family tree was like a sapling with few branches. This first family tree was generated in about 2001 and lay idle until Reflections was initiated, and the first few essays were posted in the summer of 2013.  Shortly after posting these first essays, I joined Ancestry.comand uploaded the Price/Graham tree that had been created in Seattle.  Now it was possible to search Federal Census records, cemetery records, death records and marriage records. Using this information, family records and old family photos, it was possible to write the essay Family Background posted in late September 2013.  This essay chronicled the history of the Price, Huckstadt, Graham and Clifford families of our grandparents.  The Price family traced Great Grandfather Robert S. Price to his birth in Kentucky in 1845.  Searching these records and other member trees established the Graham family arriving in Pennsylvania in 1800 from Ireland or possibly in the late 1700s.  Using a high school essay of Dad’s cousin Louise, the history of the Huckstadtfamily history revealed emigration from Germany in 1866. Information from a very distant relative led to discovering Great Grandmother Clifford, nee Jones, was born in Wales and came to America about 1840 and married a Clifford from Ireland.  Once establishing the basic family history of our four great grandparents, family research was once again set aside to concentrate on the Price family history of Beta and myself before resuming for an in-depth search of our two families’ origins.

Twelve essays and two years later, in-depth research was started to discover our family’s origins.  Tracing the Huckstadt, Graham and Clifford families appeared to end with arrival in America. Unfortunately, no information has been found beyond that described in the essay Family Background.  Tracing families in England, Ireland and Germany is difficult, because records are very difficult to search and have not been vigorously pursued.  As such, the main focus was on tracing the Price family origins as far back as possible.  With some interpretation of family trees of other Ancestry members, it was possible to discover our 13^th Great Grandparents Price in Wales in the 16^th Century!  The succession of the Price family from these great grandparents to our Price family origin was document in the essay Price Family Genealogy Update.  Based on the family research done at that time, it was strongly believed that our ethnicity would be primarily Welsh, or English, with some lesser amounts of Irish and German ancestry.  Thus, I was somewhat reluctant to spend money ($99) for an Ancestry DNA test.  Finally, in July 2015, the decision was made to take the test, and the test would confirm the suspected ethnicities.  Well, in October 2015, the results were received and were a total shock!  Irish was the dominant ethnicity, while English and German were almost non-existent.  These DNA results were presented in the Genealogy Update essay, along with rationale explaining why these results were possible and perhaps reasonable.  The essay was posted in January 2016. So, from 2016 to 2019, there was a good reason to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day until May 2019.

After settling into my California Condo in May 2019, Ancestry was checked and discovered that DNA results had been updated.  Wow, there was an update with major changes in my ethnicity estimates.  Besides the changes in ethnicity estimates, AncestryDNA has included migration data and maps from Europe to America, as well as migration within the United States.  Since taking the DNA test, Ancestry has identified potential 3^rd, 4^th and higher cousins that are too distant to trace.  Now the DNA section identifies potential close relatives that have submitted DNA samples.  To my surprise the relatives identified were: Darryl Price (Son), Cousin (Once Removed) Bill Pappas (Cousin Carol’s son) and Cousin (Twice Removed) Samantha Rogers (Cousin Donn’s granddaughter). Cousin relationships, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc., are confusing at best.  Bill and Samantha are Cousins because Carol, Donna and I share the same Price Grandparents.  Removed denotes the number of generations between us.  Ethnicity estimates were also given for Darryl, Bill and Samantha, which were noted and temporarily set aside (While I sought new health providers). Checking the DNA results in the first week in October, it was noted that Genetic Communities had been identified.  Genetic Communities represented a new feature added to the DNA section.

Genetic Communities are groups of AncestryDNA members who are MOST likely connected, because they share FAIRLY RECENT ancestors who came from the same region or culture—even though they may have had different ethnic backgrounds. AncestryDNA find Genetic Communities by analyzing genetic connections between groups of AncestryDNA members. These groups identify areas where your ancestors MAY HAVE lived MORE RECENTLY. Regions with a dotted circle are based on Genetic Communities.  AncestryDNA uses Genetic Communities to help find places and populations that MIGHT BE part of your past. These show up as dotted areas in your regions of origin or regions of migration. Conditional statements regarding Genetic Communities have been highlighted because an identified Genetic Community does not coincide with the Price/Graham known history.  Each Genetic Community identified will be reviewed with known family history in mind.  

While preparing to initiate this essay in early November 2019, Ancestry had updated the DNA ethnicities estimates again!  It had been only one month since the last update and six months when these estimates were first noted as being updated.  This latest DNA update retains ethnicity estimates similar to those in October.  In fact, the update contains elements of the first ethnicity estimates from October 2015.  In addition to the ethnicity update, a new Second Cousin, Sarah Jean Byers, was identified.  Her name could not be readily recognized, and information provided was insufficient to discover how we were related.  After reviewing the family tree, it was discovered that Sarah is Granddad Graham’s Grand Niece.  Sarah is the Granddaughter of Grandad’s sister Evalena.  Details will be addressed later.  

Needless to say, the major changes in ethnicity estimate, and being placed in some unusual Genetic Communities, has been overwhelming and difficult to fully comprehend.  While this new information tended to confirm the previous family research, there were questions with no obvious answers.  Attempting to understand the situation, there are some facts about DNA that were not known about DNA heredity, its impact on ethnicity and other factors over several generations of family history. These DNA updates raise a basic question, why does your ethnicity estimate change?  The simple answer is “no it does not change.”  Answering this question is complex, requires a basic knowledge of DNA inheritance and understanding AncestryDNA’s process for determining your ethnicity estimate. 

To arrive at your ethnicity estimate, AncestryDNA compares your DNA against their Reference Panel.  The Reference Panel consists of numerous DNA samples taken from people living in geographical regions all over the world.  The samples from each region are from people with documentary evidence that show a historic tie to the region.  This documentation requires birth, death, and marriage records through the Grandparents.  Your DNA is run against this Reference Panel 40 times to arrive at your ethnicity estimate.  In reality, the ethnicity estimate covers a range, with the average noted as your ethnicity.   Initially, the Reference Panel was for 22 worldwide regions and now consists of 60 worldwide regions.  These 60 regions have been subdivided into smaller regions reaching well over 500 total regions.  The Genetic Communities are represented by these smaller regions.  Here is a world map that shows the 60 regions used for the Reference Panel.  There are 40,017 DNA samples from these 60 regions for the Reference Panel.

Reference Panel DNA Region, Current

DNA samples have been acquired from nearly every region in the world.  The largest area with no samples covers most of Russia.  Obviously, Putin did not want to assist AncestryDNA obtaining Russian DNA samples! I’m sure samples from Russia would show lots of Mongol DNA.  Other notable regions not providing samples are Chile, India and parts of Africa, plus of course Greenland.  A few sub-regions will be shown in my ethnicity estimates at the appropriate time.  It should be noted, these regions are geographical areas and do not represent countries.  Countries are geopolitical entities, and any country can be represented by any number of ethnicities.  The United Sates is an excellent example.  In reality, migration over the eons brings diversity to all regions.  Migration and the manner of DNA inheritance have a major impact on your ethnicity.

You inherit your DNA from your Mom and Dad.  Actually, you inherit half from your Mom and half from your Dad.  The same is true for your brother and/or sister.  Nevertheless, none of you inherited the same 50% from Mom or Dad.  The 50% inherited from each is random for every child.  As a consequence, your ethnicity will not be identical to that of your siblings.  Only identical twins inherit the same DNA traits from their parents.  There is another aspect to DNA heredity that needs to be recognized.  Since your DNA consists of random parts of your parents’ DNA, it is possible some trait, or part of their DNA, may not be transmitted to their children.  AncestryDNA provides a simple example that illustrates this aspect of DNA inheritance.  This example is shown in the following chart.  

DNA Inheritance Example

The example shows there are four Grandparents:  ANDREW, SANDRA, GRHAHAM and ELAINE.  Imagine the letters in their names represent a DNA trait.  ANDREW and SANDRA have a son named EDWARD.  GRAHAM and ELAINE have a daughter named ANGELA.  EDWARD and ANGELA each inherit 50% of their DNA from each of their parents, as seen in their names.  EDWARD and ANGELA marry and have three children, a son GERALD and two daughters named GLENDA and REAGAN.  First, notice that each child received a different 50% of EDWARD’s and ANGELA’s DNA.  Second, consider the W in the Grandfather ANDREW’s DNA was passed to his son EDWARD, but notice none of ANDREW’s children received the W trait!  Since you inherit a random 50% of DNA from each parent, it does not follow that you will inherit all of their traits.  As a consequence, DNA traits can be “lost” from previous generations.  “Losing” DNA traits becomes more prevalent as the number of your ancestors increase in number.  The number of ancestors in your family tree doubles with each generation.  Imagine you as the top branch in your family tree, and the branches increase as you descend the tree.

Now, let’s consider the generational effects on DNA inheritance.  You have two parents and four Grandparents.  Thus, each subsequent generation doubles the number of ancestors that contribute some of their traits to your DNA.    It does not require many generations to arrive at a large number of ancestors passing on their DNA traits to following generations.  The following table illustrates how quickly the ancestor numbers grow with each  generation.  The

Chart shows that in just ten generations there are 1,022 people that have possibly contributed some of their traits to your DNA.  Since a child receives only 50% of each parent’s DNA, traits from the 7^th generation ancestors probably do not contribute significantly to your DNA, especially when considering DNA traits can be lost somewhere between generations.

Generations	Relationships	DNA Contributors
1	You
2	Parents	2
3	Grandparents	4
4	Great Grandparents	8
5	2nd Great Grandparents	16
6	3rd Great Grandparents	32
7	4th Great Grandparents	64
8	5th Great Grandparents	128
9	6th Great Grandparents	256
10	7th Great Grandparents	512
	Total Ancestors Sources	1,022

 Possible DNA Contributors by Generation

After reviewing AncestryDNA’s upgraded process for determining ethnicity from your DNA sample, a better understanding was gained as to why my ethnicity changed so significantly.  In addition, the basics of DNA inheritance adds another element to consider in determining your ethnicity when the effects of migration and family generations are taken into account.  However, let’s consider the changes in ethnicity before considering these other factors.  Before presenting the latest ethnicity results, it is instructive to review the October 2015 DNA test results and note the changes in the process for determining ethnicity.  Examining the essay Price Family Genealogy Update, changes to the Reference Panel has changed dramatically, thereby affecting ethnicities significantly.  The 2015 Reference Panel contained only 26 regions with only 3,000 DNA samples.  The current Reference Panel represents a quantum leap to 60 Worldwide regions with over 40,000 DNA samples.  It is no wonder ethnicities have changed so much.  These upgrades to my ethnicity were significant but more closely aligned with what I expected based on my family’s history.  To show how these latest updates modified my ethnicity, let’s begin with the first DNA ethnicity percentages initially obtained in 2015.  Only the percentages will be shown without any original maps.  To view those earlier maps, review the essay noted above.  New maps for the current ethnicities will follow after listing all ethnicity results since October 2015.  Ethniciy results for the close relatives noted earlier will be discussed later.

Ethnicity Region	Percentage	Range
Europe	96%
Ireland	50%	38% - 64%
Scandinavia	19%	3% - 34%
Europe West	14%	0% - 34%
Iberian Peninsula	6%	0% - 15%
Europe East	3%	0% - 10%
Great Britain	3%	0& - 12%
European Jewish	<1%	0% - 3%
West Asia	2%
Caucasus	2%	0% - 5%
Africa	2%
Africa North	<1%	0% - 2%
Senegal	<1%	0% - 2%

Ethnicity Results, October 2015

Ethnicity Region	Percentage	Range
Europe	99%
England, Wales & Northwestern Europe	61%	57% - 70%
Ireland and Scotland	33%	0% - 33%
Germanic Europe	5%	0% - 24%
Africa	1%
Cameroon, Congo & Southwestern Bantu People	1%	0% - 1%

Ethnicity Results, May & October 2019

Ethnicity Region	Percentage	Range
Europe	99%
England, Wales & Northwestern Europe	50%	47% - 63%
Ireland and Scotland	30%	0% - 33%
Germanic Europe	15%	0% - 25%
Norway	2%	0% - 8%
France	2%	0% - 2%
Africa	1%
Cameroon, Congo & Southwestern Bantu People	1%	0% - 1%

Ethnicity Results, November 2019

Ethnicity changes from October 2015 to May and October 2019 are significant.  This drastic change shows the results of increasing the Reference Panel from 26 to 60 Regions and the increased DNA samples from 3,000 to over 40,000.  Changes from May to November 2019 are not dramatic, but align well with what we know about the Price, Huckstadt, Graham and Clifford family origins.  Plus, the Norway addition matches the Scandinavian ethnicity segment in the October 2015 results, just not as dominant.  Now let’s show the maps for these current ethnicity estimates.

England, Wales & Northwest Europe, 50%, 47% - 63%

My DNA sample was compared with the Reference Panel 40 times in an attempt to discern the ethnicities of my ancestors, thereby providing evidence of their origin.  Each of the 40 comparisons have a different result, shown as a range for each ethnicity identified.  The average of these results is listed for each ethnicity.  Each ethnicity map encompasses those regions to that ethnicity.  The bright yellow map area represents the majority ethnicity region, while the entire map represents the range of this ethnicity.  That is to say, these other regions also have contributed to my ethnicity.  It is no surprise that this map stretches from Scotland all the way to Switzerland and includes portions of Denmark.  England’s history is one of migration and invasion, which the map depicts well.   The second highest percentage ethnicity was for Ireland and Scotland.  This map does not encompass nearly as much area as the original map.

Ireland and Scotland, 30%. 0% - 33%

While the Irish Isle is bright green representing the majority of the Irish ethnicity, Scotland, Wales and islands off Normandy are duplicated from the previous map.  Germanic Europe represents the next highest percentage ethnicity. 

Germanic Europe, 15%, 0% - 25%

The Germanic Europe ethnicity region encompasses a large portion of Western Europe. In fact, it includes some of the same regions as the England map.  It is believed that the bright green “teardrop” represents the majority Germanic ethnicity.  The remaining two green regions would represent the other regions that compose the ethnicity range.  It should be noted that the “teardrop” would be located in the Bavarian region and represent the birthplace of 2^nd Great Grandfather Haid.  In addition, 2^nd Great Grandfather Huckstadt was from a region located about in the center of the map.  It is entirely possible that my Germanic ethnicity is through these two ancestors.  The two final European ethnicities are Norway and France.  

These two ethnicities are listed at two percent, with Norway possessing a larger range.  Norway and France ethnicities both average 2%; Norway has a greater ranger than France.  My first DNA result included a large Scandinavian ethnicity percentage.  It is possible that since AncestryDNA has increased the number of regions and DNA samples, my Scandinavian ethnicity has returned as Norway.  This contribution to my DNA is probably due to those marauding Vikings.  France represents the last European ethnicity and encompasses quite a large section of Southwest Europe.  A map for the African contribution is not shown because it’s very minor percentage overall.

 

Norway, 2%, 0% - 8%

 France, 2%, 0% - 2%

There is a dotted region within the ethnicity map of England, Wales & Northwest Europe that designates a Genetic Community.  This region encompasses the Scottish Lowlands, Northern England and North Ireland.  Results of my DNA placed me in this Genetic Community.  A map of this Genetic Community provides greater detail.

 Scottish Lowlands, Northern England and North Ireland

My first reaction to being placed in this Genetic Community was shock, followed by a “this cannot be true” reaction.  For starters, the Price family had been traced to our 13^th Great Grandparents in Wales; plus, Great Grandmother Clifford and her parents were all born in Wales.  Why wasn’t a Wales Genetic Community identified or at least one somewhere in Central England?  It seemed the Genetic Community identified was most likely from the Graham family.  If this fact was true, why was that family so dominate in the origins of our family?  To aid in answering this question, further research revealed that England, Scotland and Ireland had been subdivided into 28 sub-regions, shown in the following map.

England, Scotland and Ireland Sub-regions

When reviewing this map in detail, all sub-regions, except the Scottish Lowlands, Northern England and North Ireland, have no DNA connections. Based on an AncestryDNA articles, when a person’s DNA is run against the Reference Panel there are “connections” with some portion of the millions of Ancestry members’ DNA results.  Then using a statistical analysis groups these connections into Genetic Communities.  This is my understanding how Genetic Communities are derived, and these communities are represented by the sub-regions shown in the map. If all AncestryDNA information is combined with historical knowledge of major migrations from England to Colonial America, it is possible to understand being placed into the Scottish Lowlands, Northern England and North Ireland Genetic Community.  

It is believed that there are at least three factors that can explain why being placed in this Genetic Community above may be realistic.  Two of these factors have already been discussed:  DNA heredity and DNA trait transfer over several generations.  DNA traits can be lost over many generations.  My family research has been able to discover birth dates and places for all but two of our 2^nd Great Grandparents (14 of 16 ancestors).  Birth dates and places of 3^rd Great Grandparents could be identified for only 10 of 32 ancestors, and the number becomes less for each previous generation.  With the exception of the Price family ancestors, no 3^rd and higher Great Grandparent was born in Colonial America, at least based on research to date.  Migration to America began early in the 17^th Century with the English settlements of Jamestown in today’s Virginia in 1607 and the Pilgrims 1620 landing at Plymouth Rock in today’s Massachusetts.  Following these settlements, there were four major migrations in the 17^th  and 18^th Centuries from England to Colonial America.  The First Migration (1629 - 1640) were the Puritans settling in today’s New England region.  TheSecond Migration (1642 – 1675) were the Royalists and Servants settling in the tidewater region, today’s Virginia and Maryland.  The Third Migration (1675-1725) were the Quakers settling in today’s Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the Delaware River Valley.  The Fourth Migration (1718 – 1775) consisted primarily of folks from Northern England, Scotland and North Ireland settling West of the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia.  The essay Price Family Genealogy  Update has maps that show where in England these migrants originated.  All of these Migrations, except the Puritans, had migrants from the Genetic Community region that my DNA placed me into.  The Fourth Migration map shows where this migrant groups originated; basically this map is a near replication of the Scottish Lowland, Northern England and North Ireland Genetic Community.  Based on maps of the Second, Third and Fourth migrations, being placed in this Genetic Community seems to make sense.  AncestryDNA has extended the concept of Genetic Communities to America and placed our family into two different Genetic Communities. 

AncestryDNA has used its members’ DNA results to show our family’s ancestors’ migration from Europe to Colonial America.  Our family’s ancestors have been placed into two different Genetic Communities and identified as Lower Midwest and Virginia Settlers and Ohio River Valley, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Settlers.  For brevity’s sake, these two communities will be referred to as the Virginia Settlers and the Ohio River Settlers.  The following maps show migration from Europe to Colonial America for the Virginia Settlers and Oho River Settlers communities in 1700.  The Virginia Settlers are Blue and the Ohio River Settlers are Orange.   Each round dot, Blue or Orange, represents some Ancestry member’s ancestor’s birthplace.  Sometimes, within the dots, there will be a “tear drop” with a number included.  Since the Price/Graham Tres has been associated with my DNA results, these tear drops represent an ancestor in the tree, with the number indicating the number of ancestors.  Based on family research to date, these tear drops are for a Price Great Grandparent several generations removed.  It is believed these tear drops represent the same ancestors, since it looks as though they are in the same location.  These maps have time scale that progresses from 1700 to the early 20^thCentury, with a different time scale on each map.  Selecting any of the dates provides another migration map either from Europe or within the United States.  Grasping the meaning of these maps requires combing family research and migration history.  These factors and others will be considered in an attempt to understand these and subsequent maps.

 Lower Midwest & Virginia Settlers, 1700

 Ohio River Valley, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Settlers, 1700

While it is difficult to see in both maps, there are Blue and Orange dots in England, Scotland, North Ireland, Germany and France.  For the Virginia Settlers map, there are Blue dots from Massachusetts continuing down the East Coast to the Virginia/Maryland area.  The Ohio River Settlers map has Orange dots also from Massachusetts down to the Virginia/Maryland area.  Closer examination of these maps show that the Virginia Settlers dots concentrate in the Virginia/Maryland area.  The Ohio River Settlers dots appear to concentrate in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the Delaware River Valley.  Overview maps for these two communities confirms this observation.  It is interesting that these two communities occupy the same geographical areas, at least in 1700.  At first glance, I thought the Virginia Settlers represented the Price ancestors and the Ohio River Settlers represented the Graham ancestors.  While this first impression is ultimately correct, family research finds only Price ancestors arriving in Colonial America by 1700.  If this is true, why are there Ohio River Settlers in 1700 Colonial America?  This question cannot be answered with certainty and requires consideration a number of interrelated topics.  Although our family is placed into two unique Genetic Communities, it must be remembered that our family is only one family among many.  Each time period selected has a map of many Blue or Orange dots that have been identified as having a DNA connection to our family.  Yes, these dots are probably the 3^rd,  4^th or higher order Cousins.  Remember, the tear drops represent ancestors directly related to our family.  In the big picture, these other dots may or may not be closely related to our family.  At least this is my interpretations of the communities shown on the maps.  Progressing through time with these maps, you will find the two communities share some of the same geographical area, as shown in this overview map for these two communities in the United Sates

Virginia Settlers & Ohio River Settlers Overview Map

The overlap of these communities certainly is the greatest in the Midwest region from about Ohio on through Iowa.  This map also shows the overlap of the communities on the East Coast in Colonial America in 1700.  While the two 1700 maps had both communities stretching from New England down through Virginia and Maryland, a reasonable question might be: Did they all arrive in 1700?  The simple answer is “no”, they did not arrive at one time.  Remember there was Jamestown (Virginia) in 1607 and the Pilgrims (Massachusetts) in 1620.  The Puritans’ major migration into New England from1629 to1640.  The Royalists and Servants migration to Virginia & Maryland began in 1642 through 1675.  Thus, the first two major migration had been completed by 1675.  However, the Quaker migration to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Delaware River Valley began in 1675 through 1725.  The 1700 migration map is halfway through this major migration and is concentrated in this area as shown in the overview map.  Thus, migration to Colonial America had been in progress for over 60 years and was in the midst of yet another major migration.  Despite these major migrations, it seems reasonable that migration to Colonial American was more or less continuous.  By this time, it also seems reasonable that the East Coast was reasonably developed and colonists and new migrants were beginning to move Westward seeking more land in the vast wilderness of Colonial America.  It is curious that the two 1700 migration maps have different time scales on the side.  Why the different time scales?  The time scale for the Virginia Settlers map is 1700, 1775, 1825, 1850, 1875 and 1900.  For these settlers, 1700 is the mid-point of the 3^rd Migration and 1775 is the end of the 4^th Migration.  The 19^th Century dates represent the movement Westward for this community, while 1900 represents arrival of some folks in Southern California.  The time scale for the Ohio River Settlers map is 1700, 1750, 1775, 1800, 1850, 1900 and 1925.  It is believed the Ohio River Settlers maps for 1750 and 1775 are based on the 4^th Major Migration.  This belief arose when it was discovered inadvertently that these two maps also show migrations from England, Scotland, North Ireland, Germany and France.  

 Ohio River Settlers, 1750

 Ohio River Settlers, 1775

The 1750 map shows migration from Europe to Colonial America about mid-way through the 4^th Major Migration.  Tear drops in the map represent Price ancestors born in Maryland during the 17^th Century.  The 1775 map shows migration at the end of the 4^th Major Migration from Northern England, Scotland and North Ireland.  The tear drops representing three ancestors are the same ones shown in the 1750 map.  The Pink tear drop represents a 5^th Great Grandmother Price, born in Maryland and dying in Kentucky.  It was this map where it was discovered that a tear drop of a family ancestor will be shown at their birthplace and where they died.  Thus, it is possible to see two tear drops for any of our ancestors.  By selecting a specific time on either the Virginia Settlers or Ohio River Settlers map, a new map for the community is shown.  Basically, these maps show the community’s growth and Westward movement.  Rather than presenting each of the maps, only selected ones will be provided to give a sense of our family’s history.

The first map to present will be the Ohio River Settlers in 1800.  This map of the community was selected because this year was near the arrival of the first of the Graham family.

 Ohio River Settlers, 1800

This map shows how these settlers moved Westward since 1700 into the Ohio River Valley. Our 3^rd Great Grandparents William and Jane Niblock Graham arrived in the Northwest section of Pennsylvania, about 100 miles South of Lake Erie, in about 1803 or perhaps in the late 18^th Century, from Ireland.  The Blue and Pink tear drops represent the parents of our Great Grandmother Sarah Ann Paxton Graham.  The yellowish tear drops with the number five in Kentucky represents Price ancestors in the Virginia Settlers community.  Next, let’ s considers the 1850 map for both communities.  The 1825 map for the Virginia Settlers was skipped because it shows the movement form Maryland to Kentucky by our 3^rd Great Grandparents Richard and Rachel Willet Price in about 1800.  Next let’s look at the maps for 1850 for both the Virginia Settlers and the Ohio River Settlers, they are very interesting.

 Virginia Settlers, 1850

Ohio River Settlers, 1850

The Virginia Settlers community in 1850 is quite surprising!  It is shocking to see how this community migrated into the Midwest, especially in the Ohio River Valley.  In fact, some of this community moved as far North as to be in Canada, North of Lake Erie.  Of course, the real shocker is to see there was a Mormon segment of the community migrating to the Salt Lake Valley.  Brigham Young led that migration in 1847 with thousands following.  There are Blue dots in Northeastern Kansas, but this was prior to any Price family arriving, but 3^rd Great Grandfather Haid did arrive in Kansas about 1850.  The Ohio River Settlerscommunity has several dots in Northwest Kansas, which may represent this Great Grandfather.  There are several tear drops in this map, with most of them representing Graham ancestors.  The one tear drop in Kentucky is a duplicate from the previous 1850 map.  There is one aspect about the tear drops that has been discovered while preparing this essay.  Ancestry provides “hint” for most everyone that is in the Price/Grahamtree.  These hints related to records associated with that person.  These hints refer to Birth, Marriage, Death and Census records and sometimes to other member’ tree.  All of these hints have not been explored, but the ones that have been accepted are presented as a tear drop in these maps.  Currently, there are over 99 hints that have not been reviewed.  It is possible more tear drops would appear after reviewing and accepting these hints.  Reviewing these maps, it seems the Virginia Settlers populated more of the Midwest than the Ohio River Settlers.    This latter community’s migration seemed to be more Westward than the Virginia Settlers.  Now let’s consider these two communities in 1900.

 Virginia Settlers, 1900

 Ohio River Settlers, 1900

The Virginia Settlers map shows migration of the community to Southern California in 1900.  The map shows a Blue tear drop in Southern California and a Pink tear drop in Northeast Kansas.  Great Grandfather Robert S. Price is the Blue tear drop and Great Grandmother Mary Ann Richards Price is the Pink tear drop.  Placement of these tear drops is misleading for a number of reasons. Our Great Grandparents Price are listed in the 1900 Federal Census as married and living in Shannon, Pottawattamie County, Kansas.  Great Grandmother Price passed away in 1908, and Great Grandfather Price was listed in the 1910 Federal Census living with his Son Nicolas W. Price and family in Blue Valley, Pottawattamie County, Kansas.  It was not until the 1920 Federal Census listed Great Grandfather Price living in Orange, Orange County, California.  This 1920 Census also listed Grandfather Robert Alfred Price living with Great Grandfather Price.  There is no family information as to when they arrived in Orange, California, nor whether they arrived together or separately.  Whichever it was, they were the first members of our Price family to reside in California.  According to family records, Grandfather Robert Alfred Price returned to Kansas in 1922 and brought sonWalter Herman Price to live with him in Orange also.  My Dad, Robert Otto Price, left Kansas in 1926, worked in Colorado for about a year before arriving in Southern California in 1927.  In 1928, or 1929, Dadreturned to Kansas and brought his sister Gladys Mae Price to California also.  Aunt Gladys is listed in the 1930 Federal Census boarding with a family in Santa Ana.  This 1930 Federal Census shows both Uncle Walter and Dad living in Riverside, California.   Thus, by 1930 all members of our Price family were living in Southern California.  In conclusion, Grandfather Robert A. Price’s older brother Nicolas Walter Price and family moved to Sacramento, California by 1930 and is listed in that year’s Federal Census.

The Ohio River Settlers also show migration to Southern California, as well as Oregon and Washington.  This migration to Los Angeles and Orange Counties certainly occurred during the last years of the 19^th Century.  Iowa and Nebraska picnics were common place into at least the 1980s.  Tear drops in Illinois and Iowa represent Graham ancestors.  Migration to Oregon and Washington was surprising, probably because we have no known relatives in those states.  However, the 1925 shows the Graham family arriving in Southern California.

Ohio River Settlers, 1925

Grandparents George P. and Minnie plus Pauline G. Graham (Mom) are listed in the 1920 Census living in Pomona.  They were living in Santa Ana 10 years later.  It is curious that both the 1900 Virginia Settlers and the 1925 Ohio River Settlers community maps have no further migration maps. The reason, or reasons, for ending in 1900 and1925 are not clear, and why they end here is a mystery.  Perhaps maps later in the 20^thCentury, these communities maps have no real meaning because there would be dots all over the United States.

Although maps for the Virginia and Ohio River Settlers end in the early 20^th Century, these few maps show the history of our Price and Graham families thru the years.  It is my belief that this DNA Story provides some degree of certainty to the family research accomplished to date.  Perhaps reviewing all the unexplored hints will compensate for the Cabin Fever experienced during this Coronavirus Pandemic!  Who knows what other family history surprises will be uncovered.  Now that this part of the DNA Story has been explored, let’s consider the ethnicity estimates for the close relatives initially listed.

As a refresher, the relatives listed are Darryl Price (Son), Cousin Once Removed Bill Pappas (Cousin Carol’s son), Cousin Twice Removed Samantha Rogers (Cousin Donn’s Granddaughter) and Second Cousin, Sarah Jean Byers There are interesting background stories associated with Samantha Rogers and Sarah Jean Byers that will be shared.

Darryl Price, Son

Ethnicity Region	Percentage
Europe	99%
England, Wales & Northwestern Europe	73%
Ireland and Scotland	25%
Germanic Europe	0%
Norway	1%
Africa	1%
Cameroon, Congo & Southwestern Bantu People	1%

Ethnicity Results, May & October 2019

Ethnicity Region	Percentage
Europe	99%
England, Wales & Northwestern Europe	67%
Ireland and Scotland	28%
Germanic Europe	4%
Norway	0%
France	0%
Africa	1%
Cameroon, Congo & Southwestern Bantu People	1%

Ethnicity Results, November 2019

Darryl’s ethnicities changed little from May to November.  A couple of years ago, Darryl submitted a sample, and ethnicities were very different than the May results.  Unfortunately, those estimates are no longer available.  Reasons for the minor changes from May to November are mainly in England and Ireland ethnicities. Obviously, Darryl did not receive any of my Norway or France DNA and very little of my Germanic heritage

Bill Pappas, Cousin Once Removed

 As previously noted, Bill is Cousin Carol’s son.  Carol’s husband, Tom Pappas, was of Greek heritage.  After seeing Bill’s ethnicities, she was rather surprised that Bill’s ethnicity did not contain more Greek DNA.  It is rather surprising there is only 36% Greek & Baltic ethnicity and seems to be more European than Greek.  However, at this time I have no information about Tom’s parents and their heritage.  I know only Carol’s father’s heredity, and very little of her Mom’s.  An educated guess would be that Carol’s heredity may be similar to mine, but that is a real wild guess.  While I know Uncle Walter’s heredity and I only know a little of Aunt Dot’s heredity.  Aunt Dot’s maiden name was Newton, which is probably English, but nothing else for sure.  Maybe some research can be done to help answer some of these unknowns.

Ethnicity Region	Percentage
Europe	100%
Greece & the Balkans	34%
England, Wales & Northwestern Europe	20%
Ireland and Scotland	25%
France	12%
Italy	10%
Germanic Europe	4%
Sweden	4%
Norway	3%
Portugal	1%

Ethnicity Results, October 2019

Ethnicity Region	Percentage
Europe	100%
Greece & the Balkans	36%
England, Wales & Northwestern Europe	31%
Germanic Europe	16%
France	13%
Ireland and Scotland	3%
Sardinia	1%

Ethnicity Results, November 2019

Bill’s ethnicities changes were dramatic going from nine to six.  Bill’s results resemble mine when you consider the 2015 results to those of 2019.  As a guess, Bill sent his DNA sample in when the Reference Panel was different than 2015 and 2019.  Unfortunately, AncestryDNA does not date the ethnicity results.  Dating the result would be very helpful in understanding these type ethnicity changes. 

Samantha Rogers, Cousin Twice Removed

I received an e-mail, thru Ancestry, from Samantha around Christmas 2017 stating we might be related.  She indicated Donna Bramley was her maternal Grandmother and inquired if I knew anything about Donna Bramley.  I responded indicating we were Cousins, and grew up with her and Cousin Bill Bramley.  I provided the link to the blog and my contact information.  She responded to my message, asking if it was okay to call and gave her phone number.  Not hearing any response, about four months later I called her.  We had a conversation, and I discovered the gaps in my knowledge about Donna, her marriage and Samantha’s story.  Donna married Clifford Brown in 1957 and they had two sons.  I had discovered the marriage and the birth of one son William but not two sons.  William was the second son and had passed away in 2002.  Samantha told me she was helping her Dad find his roots, which was a surprise to me since William had passed 15 years ago.  That’s when I discovered that her father was the oldest Son and had changed his name to Harry Rogers.  Here is the story Samantha related to me during our conversation.

Donna and Clifford divorced, or separated (not sure which), and for some reason gave her two sons to Clifford to raise.  I mentioned not finding a birth record for her Dad;  she said her Dad did not like Clifford, his father, and changed his name to Henry Rogers.  I have searched various records and have been unable to discover any information for him or Samantha.  When asked why Donna gave up the boys, she indicated that was her Dad’s story and she would keep it private.  While talking with her, she was viewing the essay Aunts, Uncles and Cousins and said, “She had seen all the pictures of Donna, Billy and myself,”
 so it was obvious we were indeed related.  Since that phone call, I have not heard from Samantha or her Dad.  Her ethnicity results are shown because she is closely related.

Ethnicity Region	Percentage
Europe	85%
England, Wales & Northwestern Europe	68%
Ireland and Scotland	7%
Portugal	4%
Spain	2%
Germanic Europe	2%
European Jew	1%
Basque	1%
Native American-North, Central, South	14%
Africa	1%
Mali	1%

Ethnicity Results, October 2019

Ethnicity Region	Percentage
Europe	86%
England, Wales & Northwestern Europe	72%
Ireland and Scotland	6%
Spain	4%
Portugal	2%
European Jew	1%
Basque	1%
Native American-Mexico	13%
Africa	1%
Mali	1%

Ethnicity Results, November 2019

Ethnicity estimates for Samantha experienced only minor changes.  Probably the major region change was from all of North, Central and South America to just Mexico, but the percentage was almost the same.  The contributions from Spain, Portugal and Basque could be a result of the Conquistadors invading and controlling Central America.

Sarah Jean Byers, Second Cousin

I remember Grandad Graham once told me all his relatives had passed away by the age of 55.  As a consequence, the only Graham relatives I knew were Peaches , Louis and Jack Graham.  The essay A Baseball Journey tells of their involvement in my early life.  It was a complete surprise when Sarah Jean was identified as a Second Cousin.  After some research, it was discovered Grandfather George P. Graham had an older sister Evalena L. Graham born in 1864.  Evalena married Mark Anthony Morrison in December 1887 and gave birth to a Son in January 1888.  A daughter, Clar Olive Morrison was born in 1895.  It is interesting to note that Olive Morrison was Mark’s mother who issued the marriage license for Mark and Evalena.  Clara married Alfred Nelson Byers in 1910 and a daughter Sara Jean Byers was born in 1926 in Illinois.  It is interesting to note that Evalena passed away in 1930 at the age of 74!  Why Granddad told me all his relatives had passed away by age 55 is certainly a mystery.  One could guess he was not on speaking terms with his sister.    I do not understand this relationship.  Sara Jean is still living and would be about 93 years old now.  Sara Jean is a Second Cousin because Mom and Clara Morrison are Second Cousins once removed (I think).  Cousin relationships are definitely confusing!

Concluding Remarks

After completing the essay, time has been spent questioning the accuracy of the DNA test results.  This questioning has centered around two basic questions.  First, are the ethnicity estimates correct?  Second, is placement in the Genetic Communities correct or reasonable?  The simple answer to the first question is yes, the estimates are correct.  Skeptical, is the answer to the second question.  Let’s consider these two questions with a more in-depth answer.

My ethnicity estimates are correct for two basic reasons.  The estimates match both family history and are consistent with family research done to date.  However, there is not any reasonable way the percentages can be verified.  Both the average and the range for each listed ethnicity has been determined by AncestryDNA processing of my DNA.  As such, answering the question depends upon how accurate is their process?  It appears their process is fairly accurate, because the process identified four close relatives.  However, comparing Bill Pappas’ results with mine raises some questions concerning the accuracy.  Bill’s ethnicity results do not indicate a large contribution for his Dad, Tom.  Tom’s heredity is Greek, but Bill shows only a 36% average Greek ethnicity.  Unfortunately, Bill’s results do not show a range for his largest ethnicity component.  It is possible the range could be 34% to 70%, or it could be 0% to 36%.  Only Bill has this data.  Without knowledge of this data, research was undertaken to determine the accuracy of DNA testing in determining ethnicity or heredity.

Surprise, surprise!  While there are several articles on heredity DNA testing, most are comparisons between several commercial companies.  There were two articles that claimed it was not possible to use DNA to determine your heredity.  These articles were posted six and 14 years ago.  These were discounted because DNA testing to determine heredity was in its infancy.  Several articles rated the various companies offering this type DNA tests.  Both Ancestry and 123anMe were included in all the rating articles and received high ratings.  A couple of articles discussed sending samples to several testing companies and discussed the result differences.  One article compared results of Ancestry and 123andMe.  The author contacted both companies to discuss the differences.  The primary reason for result differences were found to be in the Reference Panel each used and the algorithm used to determine ethnicity.  While both are accurate, you will have different results.  How much different depends on your DNA depending on your heredity.  From my standpoint, you should know more about your family’s history before taking the test.  

Thus, I believe my ethnicity results are basically accurate.  Plus, close relatives were identified accurately.  I remain skeptical about Bill Pappas’ ethnicity, primarily due to lack of knowledge about his family’s heredity.

Skepticism about Genetic Communities remains especially for the origin of my family in the Scottish Lowlands, Northern England and North Ireland.  Although it was argued this region seemed reasonable, accepting this as fact has some disturbing implications that questions its accuracy.  Research to date does not place any ancestor originating in that region.  Family research and history place the family’s main origin in Wales, Central England and Ireland.  Welsh traits could have been lost since that connection were 14 to 16 generations ago.  Both the Virginia and Ohio River Settlers communities make sense because family research matches those communities much better.

Hopefully, this essay has added to your knowledge DNA, ethnicities, heredity and understanding of our family’s history through the DNA test results.  Since everyone’s DNA is different, it would be great if everyone had test results.  This is probably impractical since each test has a $99 price tag.  Ancestry has DNA test sales from time to time, but those are still $59 at the cheapest. This has been a very difficult essay to prepare because there were so many question that arose and reasonable explanations had to be considered for every explanation and map.  Please let me know if you have a different opinion about anything that has been stated or discussed in the essay.