Olmste(a)d DNA Surname Project
The Olmstead/Olmsted/Omsted Surname Study Project began in April 2003, in anticipation of the August 2003 Olmste(a)d Family Association Reunion in Fredericton, New Brunswick, as part of the Family Tree DNA worldwide study. The initial goal of the project was to determine if the Jabez Olmsted (c1690, Ware, MA) line is related to the Olmste(a)ds who arrived at Boston in 1632 aboard the Lyon. The project has been expanded to help all Olmste(a)ds determine their relationship to a specific line.
As of August 8, 2011, there are 39 Olmste(a)d members in the project, representing five separate groups as defined by their unique 12 marker strings. Participants are being encouraged to step up their tests to the 37 marker level to further define family relationships. Of those currently in the study, two has tested all of the 52 markers available for Y-DNA ancestral study range; twelve have tested to the 37 marker level and two to the 25 level. Occasionally FTDNA offers special pricing for stepping up to a higher level; participants receive email notifications directly from FTDNA.
Currently, there are 16 members of the 1632 James & Richard (from Essex, England in 1632) lines.
One of the surprises from the DNA project is that two Jabez (c.1700, Ware, MA) groups have emerged, one with 10 members and the other with 6. All 17 members believed they were “blood” descendants of Capt. Jabez of Ware. The explanation appears to be a “casual adoption.” Jabez’ son Jeremiah married 11 December 1734 Elizabeth Litten; at present we know nothing else about her–where she came from, her ancestry, or even if that is her real name. Elizabeth was apparently pregnant at the time of their marriage as their son Jabez was born 29 July 1735. All of the descendants of this child (Jabez) fall in the second DNA grouping [Jabez #2] that is distinctly different from the first (Capt. Jabez) [Jabez #1] group; descendants of Jeremiah’s other sons, Aaron, Jedediah, and Gideon, all fall in the Jabez #1 group. It was this DNA project that provided the pointer to the place of separation in the two Jabez ancestral groups. Additional research is now underway to possibly pinpoint Elizabeth’s ancestry and determine the actual DNA line of this family. Nevertheless, our viewpoint remains the same that any person born or adopted into an Olmste(a)d family is “one of the family” as they share all other aspects of the heritage of the family.
The Stephen Olmstead line of Pennsylvania has 2 members, both with known lineage. They are quite distant genetically from any of the New England Olmsteads (James, Richard, or Jabez lines); likewise they are apparently not related to any of the Umste(a)d lines from southern Pennsylvania.
There are 5 individuals who have joined the Olmste(a)d DNA group who do not fit into one of the above four groups and they do not match each other. One may be of Scandinavian extraction receiving the Olmste(a)d name on a “sounds like” basis upon entry into the US.
There are 1 individual in an unassigned awaiting for the test results to be compared witht he other groups.
The administrator of the Olmste(a)d DNA Surname Project is Barbara Taylor. You can contact her at ofapres@aol.com.
To learn more about the worldwide DNA surname project by Family Tree DNA of Houston, TX, check out their site where you can access more than 7500 surname and geographical projects correlating the results of over 342,000 samples submitted, representing over 85,000 specific surname in 6550 projects, since its inception in 2000. In the past eleven years DNA testing for genealogical purposes has grown from “almost unknown” to today when it is a fast growing, widely accepted tool for genealogists. Family Tree DNA is a very reputable firm with staff scientists and strong academic links. They have the largest comparative database which allows privacy protection for participants but allowing them to elect to share their email address with others that have a close degree of matching for 12, 25, 37, or 52 marker tests. FTDNA is the testing partner for The Genographic Project of the National Geographic Society. In August 2011 FTDNA announced that persons who have tested with Ancestry, GeneTree, Sorensen’s SMGF, and DNA Heritage can have their results from tests with those first converted to the FTDNA format and for a small fee will be be granted access to all of the FTDNA matching and given a personal page on the FTDNA site.
Place by the Elms © Walt Steesy, 2009-2011
Update: August 8, 2011