Price Family Genealogy Update

The Family Background essay traced the family genealogies of our (Berta and me) four grandparents, i.e., Price, Graham, Huckstadt and Clifford.  Beginning with some family oral history and family information, the branches of our family tree began to sprout.  This initial information was placed into genealogy software, Reunion 8 for Mac, in the year 2000.  After joining Ancestry.com this information was uploaded to Ancestry to form a Price/Graham family tree.  Joining Ancestry.com enabled an in-depth research of Federal Census records, birth records, cemetery records, death records and marriage records.  Searching these data bases provided new information on our four families, which produced an expanded Price/Graham family tree.  In addition to these data base searches, additional family information was discovered from other family trees listed on Ancestry.com. These other trees have enabled tracing some of our heritage back through the American Colonies to the “Old World”.  Ancestry provides “hints” on a regular basis as an alert to possible new genealogy data.  These “hints” occur as a green leaf attached to people listed in the Price/Graham family tree.  Currently there are 228 people with a green leaf, where any green leaf can provide several data references.  There has been little time to investigate many of these hints, because my primary focus has been writing the Reflection essays.  While I was ruminating about subjects for future essays, I decided to explore a ’green leaf’ on our Great-Great-Grandfather R. S. Price.

This ‘green leaf’ hint listed a number of records, as well as connections to other family trees. Upon exploring this ‘green leaf’, these other family trees yielded new information that allows a reasonable extension of the Price family genealogy into the Maryland colony in the 1700s and extending across the pond to England and Wales in the 1500s.  This new information answers questions that arose during the previous searches for Price ancestor history.  In addition to this new family tree information, I submitted a DNA sample to Ancestry.com for testing to see if Berta’s and my ethnicity provided confirmation of the family tree information.  The DNA results were somewhat surprising, but consistent with both the Price/Graham family tree research, and my understanding of the migration history to America.

Before presenting the DNA results, it is desirable to first address the new family tree information.  This approach aids in understanding the DNA results, and lends validity to the family tree.  To refresh your memory, the following italicized paragraphs are taken from a previous essay titled Family Background about R. S. Price, and the reasoning that allowed naming him our Great-Great-Grandfather, along with questions posed by the census records.  The new family information well be addressed following this excerpt from Family Background.

Price Family

Based upon Federal Census Data for our Great-Grandfather Price, I believe to have found our Great-Great-Grandfather and Great-Great-Grandmother Price.  What is this evidence that leads me to believe I’ve discovered these Great-Great-Grandparents?  Family records show our Great-Grandfather’s (Robert S. Price) birthdate was 1845 in Kentucky, with several Federal Census Records confirming this birth year.  In addition, these Federal Census Records list Kentucky as the birth state for his parents.

Using this datum, the 1850 Federal Census lists an R.S. Price (born 1816) with wife Theresa Price (born 1825) in Nelson County, Kentucky.  Thomas (born 1843), Robert (Great-Grandfather Price?) (born 1845), Ann A. (born 1846) and Reason (born 1848) are listed as Price children.  Both parents are listed as born in Kentucky.  Since Robert’s birthdate matches both family and Federal Census Records, it seems a reasonable assumption that R.S and Theresa are our Great-Great-Grandparents.  So far, further searches have not reveled R. S. Price’s first name, a marriage date or Theresa’s maiden name.  Unfortunately, I could not check earlier Census Records because names are not provided, only the number of people in a given age bracket are given.  At this time further research is required to determine if these assumptions are correct and these unknowns answered.

However, the 1860 Federal Census has produced an anomaly.  This record lists a Ried Price (born 1826) listed with no wife and 7 Price children: Thomas (born 1843), Robert (born 1845), Ann (born 1847), Reason (born 1850), Elizabeth (born 1852). B. (born 1854) and Richd (Richard?) (born 1858).  Obvious questions arise for this record.  Is Ried the first name of R.S. Price in the 1850 Census?  If so, there is a ten year discrepancy in his birth date.   If it is a new Price relative, who is he and what happened to R.S. and Theresa?  While the birth dates for Thomas and Robert match the 1850 Census, those for Ann and Reason are different.  Birth dates in Census records are always listed as “abt”, or about. since the census worker asks for ages on the day of the census. Hence, these birth years could be off by one year.  This fact may explain Ann’s difference in birth year, but Reason’s is off by 2 years, which may depend on who in the family gave the ages of everyone and their knowledge of everyone’s age.  Finally, are Elizabeth, B. and Richd the children of R.S. and Theresa Price?

Without a doubt our Great-Grandfather was Robert S. Price born in Kentucky on 19 Nov 1845.  The reason for this certainty is both family records and is confirmed in the 1920 Federal Census.  Discovering the identity of my Great-Grandmother Price has been a real challenge.  Two family records provide both a ? for her name while another lists a Susan Crow.  These records give Apr 1908 as the date for Great-Grandmother Price’s death, whoever she is. All record searches have failed to discover a Susan Crow, much less one married to Robert S. Price.   So, using the Census Records, other family trees and Price logic, possibly flawed, I believe Great-Grandmother Price was Mary Ann Price, nee Roberts born in Missouri, 25 Nov 1849.  Robert S. Price and Mary Ann Roberts were married on 1 Oct 1868 in De Kalb County, Missouri. Note: For brevity, subsequent Family Background essay paragraphs are not included.  These paragraphs traced the Price family from Robert S. Price (Great Grandfather), to Robert Alfred Price (Grandfather), to Robert Otto Price (Father).

The green leaf hint on R. S. Price’s profile suggested connections to six other family trees.  Reviewing these trees revealed that five trees did not list his parents.  Additionally, some of these trees were not consistent with my earlier research.  The sixth tree (#1) showed R. S. Price as Richard S. Price married to Teresa Greenwell.  This tree listed Teresa as his second wife, and that his first wife was Helen Head and that Thomas was their son.  This tree also listed all Richard’s and Teresa’s children shown in the 1850 and 1860 Federal Census data.  Since this new data confirmed my previous research, it seemed reasonable that this information was valid.  With family tree #1 the Price family could be extended back four additional generations!  In essence, the Price family could be traced back to our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandparents, or our 5^th Great-Grandparents as identified in genealogy terminology.  Based upon a reasonable assumption that the information was valid, the data was entered into the Family Tree Maker 3 software and uploaded to Ancestry. After uploading the expanded Price/Graham tree to Ancestry, a hint was shown for Richard S. Price.  This hint listed connections to an additional 12 family trees!  Only two of these twelve trees (#2, #3) had family data that correlated with one another, and with tree #1 as well.  Despite this correlation, there were some differences in the trees’ genealogical data.  Most of these differences were in name variations, different birth dates and birth locations.  A logical question was; how could I resolve these differences and anomalies?  Since there were three similar trees, it seemed reasonable to employ a majority rule, i.e., consider information to be accurate when two trees are in agreement.  Using this logic was helpful, but still did not resolve differences in the tree data.  It did not resolve that there were two listing for our 5^th Great-Grandparents and Great-Grandfather Robert S. Price’s father.  Closer examination of tree #1data revealed discrepancies for the listed 5^th Great-Grandparents.

Upon identifying Richard S. Price as the father of Great-Grandfather Robert S. Price, it was possible using tree #1 to trace the Price family back to a 5^th Great-Grandfather Thomas Price married to a 5^th Great-Grandmother Elizabeth Price.  At this point, the Price family genealogy stopped because no parents were listed for either of them, nor did either have a birthdate.  A fact sheet listed Thomas as dying in Prince George’s County, Maryland.  This fact sheet listed a son Richard Price born in Virginia in 1759 and passing away in Nelson County, Kentucky in 1837.  A careful review of this tree data, raised serious questions about the validity of this portion of the tree.  The tree indicated Thomas and Elizabeth produced five more children after Thomas.  These children were two sons and three daughters.  However, one son and the daughters were listed as Private, meaning no access to names/dates.  The other son was named Benjamin born in 1818, which raised a serious question. This birthdate meant he was born nearly 70 years after Richard, which did not seem at all probable!  The tree also indicated Elizabeth had been married previously and bore several children with this first husband, and he was listed as dying in 1694.  This date raises the question about Elizabeth bearing Richard over 60 years after the first husband died.  For these reasons, Thomas and Elizabeth were considered NOT to be our 5^th Great-Grandparents.  Eliminating Thomas and Elizabeth allowed concentration on the other trees.

Data for our 5^th Great-Grandparents contained in trees #2 and #3 were in agreement, and further research was undertaken.  Although their names matched in both trees, there was some variance in dates, locale and children’s names.  To resolve these differences, my next approach was to use the tree information that provided the most detailed data.  While this approach is arbitrary, it seemed reasonable until further research can be done.  Despite these differences, it is possible to trace the Price family back to our Great-Grandfather Robert S. Price.  Based on this information, our 5^th Great-Grandparents were Benoni and Mary Price, nee Beall.  Benoni was born in 1728, with no birthplace listed.  Mary was born in 1731, also with no birthplace listed.  Unfortunately, neither Benoni or Mary had parents listed.  Since the Price family genealogy trail appeared to end, the Price/Graham tree was updated with data up to and including Benoni and Mary Price.  This new family information was uploaded to Ancestry. Reviewing the updated tree on Ancestry, there were more hints to consider.  A hint on Benoni Price resulted in scores of new family trees to research.  Two of these trees (#4, #5) traced the family into the 17^th and 16^th centuries.  Both trees were consistent with the three trees (#1, #2, #3) used to trace the family all the way to Great-Grandfather Robert S. Price.  Thus, it is possible to trace the Price family to, would you believe, our 13^th Great-Grandparents!  Again, to be consistent with the genealogical approach in Family Background, this latest Price genealogy information will begin with our 13^th Great-Grandparents.  The family history will be traced from our 13^th Great- Grandparents to our 2^nd Great-Grandparents and from there to our parents.

Our 13^th Great-Grandparents were Matthew and Elizabeth Price, nee Blaeney.  Matthew was born in 1512 in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales.  Elizabeth Blaeney was born in 1510 in Aberbechan, Montgomeryshire, Wales.  Only one son is listed for Matthew and Elizabeth Price, Richard Price.  Richard was born in 1530 in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales.  This one child pattern is repeated all the way to our 5^th Great-Grandparents family.  Why only one child for so many generations?  Another question that needs further research.  Matthew Price died in 1550 in Wales, England.  No date or place of passing for Elizabeth is provided.

Our 12^th Great-Grandparents were Richard and Elizabeth Price, nee Blayney.  Richard Price was born in 1530 in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales.   Elizabeth Blayney was born in 1536 in Aberbechan, Montgomeryshire, Wales.  Richard and Elizabeth were married in 1550 in Montgomery, Montgomeryshire, Wales.  Richard Price Jr. was born in 1555 in Montgomeryshire, Wales.  While the data does not indicate the Junior title, it was added for clarity.  Richard Sr. died in Montgomeryshire, Wales, but no date is provided.  No date or place is listed for Elizabeth’s death.  It should be noted that Elizabeth’s birthdate was listed as 1546, which meant she was married at age four years and bore Richard Jr. at age nine years.  Thus, her birthdate was modified to 1536, which seemed more logical. 

Our 11^th Great-Grandparents were Richard Jr. and Ursula Price, nee Middleton.  Richard Jr. was born in 1555 in Montgomeryshire, Wales.    Ursula Middleton was born in 1560 in Montgomeryshire, Wales.  Richard Jr. and Ursula were married in 1582 in Wales, England.  Andrew Price is the only child listed for Richard Jr. and Ursula, born in 1585 in Montgomery, Montgomeryshire, Wales.  Richard Jr. passed away in Apr 1638 in Montgomeryshire, Wales.  Ursula’s passing preceded Richard Jr. by exactly one year, Apr 1637 in Montgomeryshire, Wales.

Our 10^th Great-Grandparents were Andrew and Mary Ann Price, nee Matthews.   Andrew was born 1585 in Montgomery, Montgomeryshire, Wales.  Mary Ann was born in 1584 in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England.  Thomas Price is the only child listed to Andrew and Mary Ann Price, born in 1610 in Isle of Wight, England.  Andrew and Mary Ann were married in 1620 in Henrico, Virginia.  Henrico was an early English settlement to the west of Jamestown Settlement.  Andrew and Mary Ann Price, and son Thomas, are the first Prices to arrive in America.  Andrew Price passed away in 1628 in Charles City, Charles, Virginia.  This date was originally listed as 1608, which did not make sense, since Thomas was born in 1610 and 1620 for his marriage to Mary Ann.  Mary Ann Price died in 1666 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts.  Why Mary Ann moved to Boston would be an interesting story.  At some point Thomas Price left Virginia for Maryland, and apparently settled in Calvert where he met his future wife.  It would be interesting to know his reason for leaving Virginia, and whether it was before or after Andrew passed away.  Another question is whether Mary Ann went with Thomas before moving to Boston.  Possible answers to these questions will be addressed later.

Our 9^th Great-Grandparents were Thomas and Elizabeth Price, nee Phillips.  Thomas was born in 1610 in Isle of Wight, England, while Elizabeth Phillips was born in 1613 in Baltimore.  Thomas and Elizabeth had one son, Thomas Price Jr., born in 1635 in Calvert, Maryland.  Calvert is in the Northeast corner of Maryland, not far from Baltimore.  The Phillips family origin can be traced back to Southern England, the importance of this emigration fact will be discussed later.  Thomas and Elizabeth did not marry until 06 Feb 1673 in Baltimore, Maryland.  Strangely, Elizabeth’s death is also listed as 06 Feb 1673 in Annapolis, Anne Arundel, Maryland.  It appears they married while Elizabeth was on her death bed.  Certainly makes one wonder, what is the story here?  Thomas lived until 23 Aug 1701 when he passed away in Calvert, Maryland.

Our 8^th Great-Grandparents were Thomas Jr. and Elizabeth Price, nee Johnson.  Thomas Jr. was born in 1635 in Calvert, Maryland, while Elizabeth Johnson was born in Calvert, Maryland in 1640.  Thomas Jr. and Elizabeth were married in 1658 in Calvert, Maryland.  Their son Mordecai Price was born in 1660 in Calvert, Maryland.  Elizabeth Price passed away in 1698 in Baltimore, Maryland.  Thomas Jr. died on 23 Aug 1703 in Calvert, Maryland.  It is somewhat suspicious that Thomas Sr. and Thomas Jr. died on the identical date two years apart in the same city.  Heck, Russell and I have identical birthdates, so I guess identical death dates are a possibility.

Our 7^th Great-Grandparents were Mordecai and Mary Price, nee Parsons.  Mordecai Price was born in 1660 in Calvert, Maryland, while Mary Parsons in 1662.  Her birthplace is not listed, but the Phillips family originated in Southwest England.  Mordecai Price Jr. was born in 1698 in West River, Anne Arundel, Maryland.  Mordecai Sr. died on 08 May 1715 in Anne Arundel, Maryland.  Mary Price passed away on 08 May 1718 in Annapolis, Anne Arundel, Maryland.  Another coincidence in dates of death for Mordecai and Mary.  Hopefully, further research will resolve the apparent identical death dates.

Our 6^th Great-Grandparents were Mordecai Jr. and Elizabeth Price, nee White.  Mordecai Jr. was born in 1698 in West River, Anne Arundel, Maryland, while Elizabeth White was born in 1708 in Cool Spring Manor, Calvert, Maryland.  Mordecai Jr. and Elizabeth were married in Indian Spring, Prince George’s Co., Maryland on 28 Apr 1728.  Their son Benoni Price was born in Maryland in 1726, two years prior to Mordecai Jr. and Elizabeth marrying.  Elizabeth passed away in West River, Anne Arundel, Maryland sometime in 1765.  Mordecai Jr. in 1769 in Anne Arundel, Maryland.

Finally, we have reached our 5^th Great-Grandparents Benoni and Mary Price, nee Beall.  Benoni Price was born in Maryland in 1726, while Mary Beall was born in Anne Arundel, Maryland in 1731.  Benoni and Mary Price had seven children, five sons and two daughters.  All were born in Prince George’s County, Maryland, except one daughter born in Charles County, Maryland.  Richard (born 1759), Reason (born 1761), Lloyd Beall (born 1763), Frederick (born 15 Aug 1765), Priscilla (born 1767 in Charles County), Benedict Beall (born 1767) and Elala (born 1773).  While all three trees listed Richard as their first child, only one tree lists the other children.  It seems reasonable that Benoni and Mary would have more than one child.  In fact, it seems reasonable that all our Great-Grandparents would have more than one child.  Life was hard in the 16^th, 17 and 18^th Centuries and large families were quite common, in fact necessary since an agrarian life required large families.  As will be shown, tracing their descendants through the years to Great-Grandfather Robert S. Price will confirm that Matthew and Elizabeth Price, nee Blaeney, are our 13^th Great-Grandparents.

Both Benoni and Mary are listed as passing away in 1783.  Mary is listed as passing away in Prince George’s County, Maryland, but Benoni passing away in Pennsylvania.  Since they both died in 1783, it appears really strange their passing was in different states, but the exact date of their passing is not known.  Thus, it seems probable they passed away some months apart.  Today, Price George’s County occupies an area just to the east of Washington, D.C, as outlined in red in the Maryland’s counties map.  Prior to 1748 St. George’s County consisted of all the counties underlined in red: Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties. As can be seen, Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties’ northern boundary is also the southern border of Pennsylvania.  A colonial map of 1776 shows St. George’s County and Fredrick County, with Fredrick encompassing all the underlined counties, while a 1790 map shows counties existing today.  Clearly, St. George’s County is not adjacent to Pennsylvania, so why did Benoni and Mary die in different states, or did they?  The places of death may be inaccurate, or perhaps Mary died first and Benoni decided to live with one of their children’s family.  Either is possible, but to resolve this question needs further research.  It should be noted that Calvert, Maryland is located in Cecil County, the yellow county in the most Northeast part of the map.

To aid in understanding places listed for birth and death, city, county, state, country is listed in this order.  All genealogical data for these locations list any either all or sometimes only the state or country.  When locales in England are listed as in Montgomeryshire for Matthew and Elizabeth Price, shire indicates a county.  Therefore, Montgomeryshire is the county of Montgomery.  Any locale listed before the shire is a town.  Hopefully, this explanation helps in understanding places listed for birth and death.

Maryland Counties

Our 4^th Great-Grandparents were Richard and Rachel Price, nee Willett.  Richard Price married Rachel Willett on 17 Dec 1762 in Prince George’s County, Maryland.  Richard and Rachel had six children, three sons and three daughters.  Reason Willett (born 05 Dec 1785), Nancy Anna “Ann” (born12 Sep 1789), Priscilla Willett (born 20 Mar 1792), Mary Polly (born 1796, William R. (born 1800) and Richard (born 1802).    Reason Willett, Nancy Anna and Priscilla Willett are listed as being born in Price George’s County, Maryland, while no birthplaces are listed for Mary Polly, William R. and Richard.  However, it appears sometime between 1795 and 1800 the family moved to Nelson County, Kentucky.  Depending on the year of the move, it is possible that some, if not all, of the last three children were born in Kentucky.  4^th Great-Grandfather Richard Price died 10 Jun 1837 in Nelson County, Kentucky, while 4^th Great-Grandmother Rachel Price passed away in 1848, no specific date listed or where she died, but it is assumed to have been in Nelson County also.  It should be noted that the Willett family originated in Gloucestershire, England in 1669.  Gloucestershire is in the Southern part of England

Our 3^rd Great-Grandparents are Reason Willett and Tabitha Price, nee Simmons.  Reason Willett Price married Tabitha Simmons (born 1786) on 02 May 1811 in Bullitt County, Kentucky.  Reason Willett and Tabitha had nine children, six sons and three daughters.  William S. (born 20 Jan 1811), Tabitha S. (born 15 Aor 1813), Richard S. (born 27 Nov 1815), Thomas Willett (born 02 Aug 1817), Edward Simmons (born 22 Dec 1819), Teresa Ann (born 08 Dec 1821), Robert Swanson (born 06 Apr 1824), Elizabeth Head (born 10 Aug 1827) and Reason Jr. (born 05 Dec 1832).   It should be noted that William S. Price was born about three plus months before Reason and Tabitha were married.  Our 3^rd Great-Grandmother Tabitha Price passed away on 13 Jan 1850, while 3^rd Great-Grandfather Reason Willett Price died almost seven months later on 15 Aug 1850.  Reason Willett Price died in Nelson County, Kentucky, while Tabitha Price died in Marion County, Kentucky, it is my assumption that our 3^rd Great-Grandparents resided in Marion County when Tabitha passed away, and Reason Willett went to live with one of his children’s families in Nelson County.  This assumption is based on the fact all their children, except Tabitha S. Price, passed away in Nelson County, Kentucky.  At this point it is possible to connect to R. S and Teresa Price identified as our 2nd Great-Grandparents in the 1850 Federal Census documented in the Family Background essay.

Since thee were hints on both Rachel Willett and Tabitha Simmons, a decision was made to research their family origins.  As stated, the Willett family originated in the southern part of England, while the Simmons family could only be traced to Prince George’s Co., Maryland.  However, it was discovered that Tabitha Simmons’ parents were Richard and Tabitha Simmons, nee Willett, which raised the question was Tabitha Willett related to Rachel Willett?  Much to my surprise Tabitha was Rachel’s older sister, by about ten years.  Thus, Tabitha Simmons is Rachel’s niece.  Wow, the Price, Willett and Simmons families are really genealogically intertwined.  Since Tabitha Willett is Rachel Willett’s sister, Tabitha Willett would be our 4^th Great Aunt, I think.  And it seems Tabitha Simmons would also be a cousin 4^th generation removed (?), besides being our 3^rd Great-Grandmother!

Our 10^th Great-Grandparents Price were the first to settle in the Virginia Colony early in the 17^th Century, then beginning with our 9^th Great-Grandparents Price became established in the Maryland Colony through most of the 18^th Century.  Maryland was the Price family home until about the beginning of the 19^th Century with our 4^th Great-Grandparent Price family migrating west from Maryland across the Appalachian Mountains to Kentucky.  To provide an idea where in Kentucky the Price family resided, a map of the Kentucky counties shows the relative location of Bullitt, Nelson and Marion counties and are underlined in red.  Nelson county has a double underline since it appears to be the main residence of the Prices.  Three generations of the Price family resided in Kentucky before Great-Grandfather Robert S. Price began moving west, first to Arkansas, then to Kansas and eventually to California. 

Kentucky Counties

While Richard S. Price is our 2^nd Great-Grandfather, it came as a surprise he was married twice.  Richard S. Price married Helen Hunt on 27 Oct 1841, probably in Nelson County, Kentucky.  Richard and Helen Price had one son, Thomas Price (born Apr 1843 in Nelson County.  Helen Price passed away in 1843, although no date of he passing is given, perhaps due to the birth of Thomas.  Richard re-married within about 19 months after Thomas was born.  Richard S. Price married Teresa Ann Greenwell (born 1825) on 19 Nov 1844.  Richard S. and Teresa had six children, four sons and two daughters.  Great-Grandfather Robert S. (born 19 Nov 1845), Ann Alice (born 21 Feb 1847), Reason Hillary “Buck” (born 17 May 1849), Elizabeth (born Abt 1851), B. (born Abt 1853) and Richard (born 9 Oct 1857), Robert S., Ann Alice, Reason Hillary and Richard were all born in Marion County, Kentucky, while Elizabeth was born in Davissen County, Kentucky.  It seems rather odd that Elizabeth was born so far west of the other counties.  It certainly raises some interesting questions. There was no birthplace listed for son B.   Great-Grandfather Price’s middle name could be Simmons, his mother’s maiden name.  but too many Price children have S. for a middle initial, that may be a wrong assumption.

As stated in Family Background, the 1850 Federal Census lists R. S. and Teresa Price with children Thomas, Robert, Ann Alice and Reason Hillary.  In the 1860 Federal Census, neither R. S. or Teresa are listed.  The first four children are listed along with Elizabeth, B. and Richard.  The head of house is listed as Ried Price (born abt 1824), but what happened to R. S, and Teresa and who is Ried?   Frist, it seems reasonable to assume that R. s. and Teresa passed away sometime after Richard was born in 1857, but before the census was taken in 1860.  Second, based on Ried’s birth year, it also seems reasonable to assume that Ried is Robert Swanson Price, Richard S. Price’s younger brother.  How does Robert become Ried?  It is difficult to know for sure.  Viewing the actual census record, it is very difficult to discern that the name written is indeed Ried.  Perhaps it is an attempted abbreviation for Robert, just hard to decipher.  It could just be my faulty eyesight.    

For completeness, the Price family genealogy is is repeated from the Family Background essay.  At some unknown point, Great-Grandfather Robert S. Price left Kentucky, and began his journey west.  He apparently settled in De Kalb County Missouri, where he met Mary Ann Roberts, born 25 Nov 1849.  Robert S. Price and Mary Ann Roberts were married on 1 Oct 1868 in De Kalb County, Missouri.  A county map of Missouri shows the location of De Kalb County, underlined in red. Note De Kalb is three counties due north of Kansas City.

Missouri Counties Map

Robert and Mary Ann had five children, three sons and two daughters.  The Federal Census records for 1870, 1880 and 1900 lists the Robert S. and Mary A. Price family in Missouri and Kansas.  These records list their children: Sterling, born about 1869 in Sherman, De Kalb Missouri, Nicholas born about 1871 in Prairie, Wyandotte, Kansas, Anna M., born about 1876 in Prairie, Wyandotte, Kansas, Alfred R. (Grandfather Robert Alfred Price) born 23 Jun 1882 in Prairie, Wyandotte, Kansas. Sometime after Granddad’s birth, the family moved to Shannon, Pottawattamie, Kansas, where Lulu P. was born about 1887.  Lulu P. Price died 6 Mar 1908, and Great-Grandmother Mary A. Price died 19 Apr 1908. Both are buried in the Olsburg Cemetery in Pottawattamie, Kansas.

Grandfather Robert Alfred Price met Charlotte (Lottie) Estelle Huckstadt in Shannon, Pottawattamie, Kansas, and they were married 14 Mar 1905 in Shannon it is assumed, since both were residences of Shannon in 1900.  Robert and Lottie had 3 children:  Walter Herman Price, born 5 Jul 1906 in Olsburg, Kansas, Robert Otto Price (our father), born 7 Apr 1909 in Westmoreland, Kansas and Gladys Mae, born 30 Jan 1911 in Westmoreland, Kansas.  Both towns are in Pottawattamie County.  Grandmother Lottie died on 21 Feb 1911 in Westmoreland due to complications from Gladys’ birth.  Grandmother Charlotte E. Price is buried in the Westmoreland Cemetery.

To assist in understanding where these Kansas Counties are located, a Kansas Counties map is shown, with Wyandotte and Pottawattamie Counties are located.  Both counties are underlined in red.  The town of Prairie is located in Wyandotte County, and is part of Kansas City, Kansas.  Note that Westmoreland is the County Seat for Pottawattamie County. Some time after 1920 Great-Grandmother Huckstadt moved to Garden City, Kanas.  I believe it was after Granddad Robert A. Price took Walter to California.  Garden City is in Finney County, underlined in red in the Kansas Counties Map.   Finny County in the Southwest corner of Kansas is where Dad and Gladys went to high school.  Dad s left for Pagosa Springs, Colorado, subsequently leaving there for California.  Dad returned to Garden City to bring Gladys to California.  Garden City is also the location of our 1940 Kansas trip.

Map of Kansas Counties

To me it is truly amazing that the Price family can be traced from my Great-Grandson to our 13th Great-Grandparents—that is a total of 19 generations, or about 500 years!  While there is a confidence that Benoni and Mary Price are our 5^h Great-Grandparents, there is an accuracy concern about the family tree data used to trace the Price genealogy.  For example, the tree data that led to our 13^th Great-Grandparents had questionable birth and death dates, which were adjusted to be consistent with other dates.  Plus, there was not total consistency on dates and names between the various family trees used for research.  In addition, the names of Mordecai and Benoni seem out of the norm for all other Price males.  Mordecai seems Jewish in origin, while Benoni does not appear to be English or Irish. While researching Price genealogy presented in Family Background, there were false leads and errors found in other family trees provided by hints.  Based on this experience, a more thorough investigation needs to be undertaken to verify those records. This records research needs to be done for all Price descendants prior to our Great-Grandfather Robert S. Price.  Besides researching the Ancestry hints for clues to our family’s history, I took a DNA test to augment the search for our ancestors’ place of origin.

Initially there was a hesitancy to order the DNA test for a couple of reasons.  Based on previous research, the origins of three out of four of our grandparents (Graham, Clifford and Huckstadt) were known, so I questioned what more can be learned from the test? Then, the Price family name originated in Wales, again another connection to England.  Finally, since I had seen data that Price family ancestors wee in colonial Virginia, surely the family had originated in England. This summer while deciding the next life experience to describe, I decided to have the DNA test performed, even though the results might not yield any new information.  As a result, the DNA test was ordered in mid-August, and the test kit arrived in about two weeks.

The DNA test kit consisted of a small plastic vial along with instructions for providing a test specimen.  Basically, the specimen requested was to place a specified amount of spittle into the vial.  Well, I thought any 80 year old could easily drool the required amount.  After drooling into the vial, it was sealed and mailed for testing.  Well, this 80 year old did not drool enough, because an e-mail informed me the sample was insufficient and to order another test kit.  Upon receiving the new test kit a new specimen was obtained, and with the assistance of a good friend a proper amount of spittle was provided and mailed.  Hoping that this sample would be adequate for testing, results were expected during Thanksgiving week.  However, test results arrived the last week of October.  The DNA test results provide information concerning ethnicity, e.g., you are a certain percentage English, Irish, etc.  In addition to this percentage for several ethnicities, certain Ancestry members were identified as potential distant relatives.

Before presenting the DNA test results, it is helpful to understand how the results are obtained and their meaning.  Ancestry DNA has collected DNA from 3,000 natives in 26 regions of the world, which forms a DNA reference panel.  My DNA was compared to this DNA reference panel and the ethnicity results are shown as a percentage estimate and a likely range for these estimates.  These estimates are obtained by making 40 independent and random comparisons to the reference panel.  Confidence level in the single ethnicity percentage listed is low, but high that ethnicity is contained within the listed percentage range.  A table of the results shown below that ranks all the ethnicities identified, from the most prevalent to the least. 

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%

DNA Ethnicity Results

At first glance, the DNA test results were very surprising and unexpected.  This test result was surprising and caused me to reflect on what I had previously discovered about our Grandparents’ family history and the most recent discovery about the Price family.  As a result, I first re-visited these histories presented in Family Background for Graham, Clifford and Huckstadt.  After reviewing these histories, the DNA results were less surprising, but unexpected in some respects.

Reviewing the Family Background essay revealed our Graham family origin began in early 18^th Century Ireland.  Our Clifford family had a mixed ethnicity, originating in early 18^th Century Wales and Ireland.  Our Huckstadt family originated in 18^th Century Germany.  The origin of tour Price family has been discovered to have been in 16^th Century Wales. Each family name has been prefaced with “our”, because other families of the same name may have different origins and ethnicity mixes.  Of course, the ethnicity of any family changes with each generation through the institution of marriage.

Ancestry DNA provides maps with each of the ethnicities listed, and these maps are helpful in understanding each of the ethnicity components.  Each DNA map illustrates the geographical regions encompassing the ethnicity revealed by the tests.  These geographical regions consist of three shaded areas, decreasing in intensity.  The decreasing shaded intensity indicates a lessening of the ethnicity influence.  It seems reasonable there is considerable overlapping of these ethnicity regions.  Throughout history people have migrated from one region to another for any number of reasons.  Migrations usually result in a mixing of ethnicities.  Of course, raids and war between different groups also result in this ethnicity mixing.  I believe this overlapping helps understanding the DNA results. It should also be noted that these maps show country boundaries as they exist today.  These current national boundaries did not exist prior to World War I, and have undergone many changes throughout the centuries.  The DNA maps will be shown from the highest ethnicity listed, beginning with Ireland.

The Ireland ethnicity map encompasses the geographic regions of Ireland, Wales and Scotland.  These three regions are included in the two darker shaded areas, i.e., the Ireland, Southwestern coast of England (United Kingdom and Scotland.  Actually, the entirety of the England shows an Ireland component. 

Ireland Ethnicity

Both the Graham and Clifford families originated in Ireland.  In addition, keep in mind some Scottish Graham clans migrated to Ireland, even those that spelled their name Maharg.  Additionally, the Price name is considered Welsh, and our Price family can now be traced to an origin in Wales.  Finally, our Grandmother Graham’s family also originated in Wales.  It seems reasonable that our heritage would be dominated by our parents and four Grandparents, thus it is reasonable to assume, and not surprising, that the Ireland ethnicity is the largest component of our DNA.

The Scandinavia ethnicity is primarily centered on Norway, Sweden and Denmark, but also includes Scotland and England.  Although this DNA map does not include Ireland, there is still a Scandinavian influence in Ireland.  I admit that this ethnicity component came as a total surprise, and that it is second percentage wise is somewhat shocking.  Ancestor research has not uncovered any Scandinavian names, or any type of links to the region.  Thus, the question of how, or where, did this ethnicity originate?  I believe the question can be answered in a single word:  VIKINGS!  The Scandinavia DNA map and a Viking Invasion map show the extent of their influence.

Scandinavia Ethnicity

Viking Invasions

Beginning in the late 8th century, Viking raiders began attacking the east coast of England and the northern islands off Scotland. The first recorded Viking raid in Ireland was in 795 A.D. on the island of Lambay, off the coast of Dublin. During the next few centuries, they controlled parts of the islands, exacting tribute, and pillaging villages and monasteries.  During the 9th century, the Vikings established trading ports in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Wexford, and Limerick. As they settled in Ireland, Vikings intermarried and assimilated with the native population.  It seems reasonable that this intermarrying is the results in our Scandinavia DNA component.

The Europe West ethnicity is the third highest percentage in our DNA results.  This ethnicity is found primarily in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Luxemburg and Lichtenstein.  It also includes most of Austria, some of England, some of Hungary and Western Poland.

Europe West

It is most likely the Huckstadt family were the largest contributors to this ethnicity component.  Reviewing Family Background shows that our 2^nd Great-Grandfather Huckstadt was born in Mecklenburg, Germany and married 2^nd Great-Grandmother Huckstadt, who was French.  While Great-Grandfather Huckstadt was born in Krakow, Germany, not to be confused with Krakow, Poland. The parents of Great- Grandmother Huckstadt originated in Germany and England.  So, it easy to see why Europe West provided 14% to our ethnicity.

The Iberian Peninsula ethnicity contribution is another mystery.  It is considered a Trace Region, but is the largest of this type, garnering 6%.  The DNA map shows this region to be centered on today’s Spain and Portugal, but the region extends into France.  Since 2^nd Great-Grandmother Huckstadt was French, maybe she provides this component.

Iberian Peninsula

Both Europe East and Great Britain are Trace Regions, each contributing 3% to our ethnicity.  Great Britain has the greatest range, and since there are Price ancestors originating from England, it is a region of special interest.   It was quite surprising there was such a small ethnicity contribution from Great Britain.  It was surprising for a couple of reasons.  First, while researching the Price history, several of our Great-Grandmothers had roots in England.  If there was not a link back to England, these Great-Grandmothers were born in Maryland, which is a clue to their families also originating in England.  The importance of this clue will be expanded upon and explained in detail a bit later.  Second, as the DNA map shows, Wales is in the secondary region of Great Britain region.  Given these known places of origin, it is just amazing that Great Britain ethnicity does not contribute a larger percentage to our DNA. 

The Europe East map is centered on what today is Eastern Europe, encompassing Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic States.  The only possible link our family would have in this region would be contribution by the Huckstadt family DNA.  While this family originated in Germany, the map shows a very slight contribution to the overall region of Eastern Germany.

Needless to say, without the family research, including the most recent Price family information, the DNA test results would have been puzzling.  Since Wales had been part of England since 1284, it was reasonable to assume the Price family was, in essence, English.  Well, that assumption has been proven to be in error.  Analyzing the DNA results along with knowledge of our family’s history there is but one conclusion to reach:  Without a doubt we are IRISH!  Now we really have a very sound reason for celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day by “Wearing the Green.”

Great Britain

Europe East

Before leaving the DNA subject, there is one more aspect of the test results to be mentioned.  Ancestry DNA provides potential family connections to other Ancestry members.  Currently we have approximately 192 potential 3^rd to 6^th cousin connections.  Four of the most likely connections are distant cousins from our Graham side of the family.  One of the most interesting potential connections is with a Mary Elizabeth Greenwell.  Based on her birthdate, she could be the mother of our 2^nd Great-Grandmother Teresa Ann Price, nee Greenwell.  Surely, this invites further research.  It is possible that contacting some of these potential family connections would prove fruitful.  Only time will tell if further research reveals additional information about our genealogical background.  Is there additional information that supports what has been discovered about our family history and the DNA tests?  Yes, our genealogical background is augmented when considering the immigration history of Colonial America.

All those familiar with American history know that the first permanent British settlement was established in 1607 at Jamestown in the Colony of Virginia.  It is also well known that The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, and the Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded in 1623. For most of us, the next series of events in Colonial America are the Salem Witch Trials, the Boston Tea Party, or the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” that began the Revolutionary War in 1775.  What happened between these first settlers arriving and the Declaration of Independence is usually treated sparsely, or not at all.  How did the colonial population grow to abut 2.4 million people by 1775?  As it turns out, there is a very interesting immigration story behind this population growth

This immigration story is told by the historian David Hackett Fischer in Albion’s Seed.  Albion is the archaic name for the island of Great Britain, or England.  The migration history of Colonial America is more a cultural history than one of facts, i.e., this even occurred on this date.  During the years from 1629 to 1775, Colonial America was settled by at least four large groups of English-speaking immigrants.  These four groups had much in common.  They all spoke the English language, and most were Protestants.  Most lived under British law and possessed British liberties.  At the same time, they differed from one another in many other ways:  their religious denominations, social ranking, historical generations and the British regions where they originated.  These groups brought four sets of British folkways, which became the basis for regional cultures in America.  By 1775 these four cultures were firmly established in British America.  They spoke different dialects of English, built houses in diverse ways and had different norms for the conduct of everyday life.  They had four different conceptions of order, power and freedom, which became the foundation of a free, voluntary society in the British America.  Who were these groups, where did they originate, when did they come to America and what region did they settle?

The first group was an exodus of the Puritans.  They came from the East of England, East Anglia specifically.  They migrated to what became the Massachusetts Bay Colony

 in the years 1629 to 1640.  A map of England shows the primary areas from which this group migrated.  This map shows the English counties that contributed to the migration, the counties in the east of England are the ones where most migrants originated.

Puritan Migration, 1629 to 1640

The second migration consisted of a small number of elite Royalist and a large number of indentured servants from South England to Virginia in the years 1642 to 1675.  The next map shows the English counties that contributed to this migration group.  The bulk of the Royalists originated in the in the small number of counties in the south of England.  Indentured Servants originated in all the counties, including those in the South.

Royalists and Servants, 1642 to 1675

The third group was a migration from the North Midlands of England and Wales to the Delaware Valley in the years 1675 to 1725.  The following map shows this migration group was primarily from the English Midlands.  This group consisted mostly of Quakers.  Apparently the Welsh Quakers were small in number, since Wales is not blackened.

Quaker Migration, 1675 to 1725

The fourth group was a migration of English –speaking people from borders of North England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to the Appalachian backcountry from 1718 to 1775.  The final map shows the areas of North England, Scotland and North Ireland, which constituted this last major migration group.

Last Migration Group, 1718 to 1775

According to author David Hackett Fischer, today less than 20% of the American population has any lineage to British ancestry at all.  By reviewing what has been discovered about the Price/Graham family origins, it can be established our family must be included in this 20% of the population.  To me, being a part of this minority is truly amazing!  Given this information about these four major migrations, is it possible our ancestors participated in one or more of these migrations?  In reality, it is difficult to claim with any assurance that any of them came to America during one of these migrations.  However, knowing about these four migrations can add to our family history.  So, combining our family genealogy, these migrations and some Colonial history may provide some additional substance to our family background.

My research has shown that our 10^th Great-Grandparents, Andrew and Mary Ann Price, nee Matthews and their son Thomas Price were our first ancestors to arrive in America.  They migrated to the Virginia Colony early in the 17^th Century.  There is no specific date for their arrival, but we know they were married in Henrico, Virginia in 1620.  Thus, this Price family arrived prior to the second migration that began in 1642.  The first British settlement in the Virginia Colony was Jamestown, established in 1607.  The Henrico Settlement was founded in 1611 and is located on the James River about 50 miles west of Jamestown.  Even though they arrived in Virginia prior to the major migration in 1642, Andrew, Mary Ann and Thomas could be considered to be from the southern part of England.  Andrew met Mary Ann on the Isle of Wight and Thomas was born there in 1610.  The Isle of Wight is an island just off the Southern coast of England.  Whether they were elite Royalist is not known, but somehow it is doubtful.  Andrew died in 1628 in Charles City, Virginia, which is about mid-way between the Henrico and Jamestown settlements.  As previously noted, Thomas moved to Calvert in the Colony of Maryland, met (married?) Elizabeth Phillips and Thomas Jr. was born in 1635.  Mary Ann passed away in 1666 in Boston, Massachusetts.  Why Thomas and Mary Ann left Virginia could possibly be explained after considering the history of the Virginia and Maryland Colonies.

The Virginia Colony original territory originally included the area that became the Maryland Colony.  Virginia’s primary Christian denomination after 1642 was Anglican (Church of England), and it is known other religious denominations were not treated well.  In fact, right after this major migration began to populated the Virginia Colony, Puritan settlements were forced to abandon Virginia all together.  About 300 Puritans left Virginia for The Maryland Colony and New England.  Contrary to popular belief, freedom of religion did not exist in early America.  Churches in Virginia were required to pay a tax if they were not Anglican.  Sir George Calvert, whose title was Lord Baltimore, was a Roman Catholic nobleman that settled in Virginia.  Sir George found the Virginians as intolerant of Roman Catholics as that he experienced in England; and he felt compelled to find another sanctuary for his beliefs.  He found the area on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay inhabited mostly by Indians.  He returned to England and received a grant of the territory form King Charles I.  This territorial grant removed from the Virginia Colony the area from the Potomac River to essentially the Atlantic Ocean.  Sir George died before realizing his dream, but his son, Cecil Calvert, who inherited Sir George’s title of Lord Baltimore received the grant and the Maryland Colony was established in 1632.  The Maryland Colony passed laws that forbade discrimination on the basis of religion, or denomination.  It is not unreasonable to believe that Thomas and Mary Ann were among those Virginians that suffered religious discrimination and both relocated to the new Maryland Colony.  Plus, when Mary Ann died in Boston, Massachusetts, the Puritans controlled Boston until late in the 17^th Century, so it is hard to think of Mary Ann living there without being of the Puritan faith.  It seems reasonable to conclude that Thomas and Mary Ann were of the Puritan faith and relocated to Maryland for religious reasons.

Our 9^th through our 4^th Great-Grandparents lived, married, raised children and died in the Maryland Colony.  Information is lacking on the family origin of these Great-Grandmothers. Our 9^th Great-Grandmother Elizabeth Price, nee Phillips and our 7^th Great- Grandmother Mary Price, nee Parsons ca trace their family lineage back to England.  Both the Phillips and Parsons families originated in Southern England.  When those families emigrated to America is not known, so it is not possible to say they were part of the second group to migrate to the colonies.   One could argue they were part of the Virginia migration, but then chose Maryland for its religious freedom.  Another possibility is that these families were part of the third migration group that settled in the Delaware Valley.  The Delaware Valley is essentially along the Delaware River.  Calvert, Maryland would be considered in the Delaware Valley, which is another possibility.  Tobacco was a major crop in both Virginia and Maryland and it seems those emigrating from Southern England were, for the most part, had tobacco plantations.  Without more information it is just a guess when these families of our Great-Grandmothers originated.

There is a possibility that our Great-Grandparents Graham were in the fourth migration group from England.  Our 3^rd Great-Grandparents John and Jane Graham, nee Niblock were born in Ireland in 1773, almost at the end of the fourth group’s migration period. However, two-thirds of this migration group arrived in the last ten years of the migration period between 1765 and 1775.   Our 3^rd Great-Grandparents Graham met and married in Mercer, Pennsylvania with their first child born in 1802.  Since Mercer is located west of the Appalachians, it could be considered “backcountry” in the late 1790s and the early 1800s.  Mercer could easily be considered “backcountry” since it was still experiencing Iroquois Indian raids in the early 1800s.  Mercer is located about 55 miles directly north of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, or abut 85 miles directly south of Erie, Pennsylvania.  Although it is not clear these Great-Grandparents were part of this fourth migration group, their demographics are very close to that of this group.

It is very intriguing to me that our Price/Graham family ancestors could have been part of the Albion’s Seed.  It appears the Price family may have preceded the migration to Virginia, but were a part of the founding of the Maryland Colony.  The Virginia and Maryland colonies were considered to be the Tidewater region because of the Chesapeake Bay.  The second migration was responsible for settling this area, so it seems the Price family participated in this early formation of the colonial period in America.  Add to this early colonial presence of the Graham family settling the Pennsylvania backcountry possibly as part of the fourth migration group from Northern England, Scotland and Ireland is also exiting to learn.  It might be too much of a stretch to include the Price and Graham families in these essential migrations of English-speaking people to America, but both families were certainly present during the earliest stages of the formation of British America and the United States.

I believe the results of this family research traces the origins of the Price/Graham/Clifford/Huckstadt families to early America sometime from 1629 to 1775 as part of the large migrations from England, Scotland and Ireland.   Additional research needs to be undertaken to answer some obvious questions.  There are some date ambiguities in birthdates and death dates.  Some families list only one child, which is not consistent with most families in the early centuries.  It is somewhat unique that given names of Mordecai, Mordecai Jr. and Benoni appear in the Price family lineage.  These names appear to be Jewish, yet all other family given names appear to be English in nature.  How did this occur in the middle of of the Price genealogy?  Plus, tracing the families of the Price wives would add further knowledge about our families.  Finally, a tracing of the Wilhite family needs to be pursued to complete a family history for my children.  Tracing the family history of my Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren will be left to other family members.