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From:
Subject: Re: [DNA] Success stories
Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2003 15:25:47 -0500
References: <3E5E841B.18499.EEC0BA@localhost><006301c2dede$aefb3580$a000a8c0@hawaii.rr.com>


We have a different kind of success story - which is and isn't related to
DNA.

After my educational post on the "Indian Princess" story and the topic of
denial, a gentleman contacted me off-list because our storys were so similar
in nature - with the same "unproven" native ancestor scenario. He was just
generally interested in where my story originated. I grew up in Indiana and
he in Oklahoma - so at first glance no connection. He noticed my last name
is Estes, and mentioned that his grandfather's middle name was Estes, but no
one has any idea why and never has. We discussed some basic genealogy with
no apparent connection.

However, he did say that he also has some Melungeon myth, but no real basis
for reality of it. When he said that, I recognized one of his genealogy
names as a derivitive of a Claiborne/Hancock Co Tennessee group that lived
on that ridge, or next to it actually (Wallen Ridge runs parallel to Newman
Ridge where the "core" of the Melungeon group in that area was).

His genealogy reported Jemima and James Waldon as siblings. It turns out
that the last name had been "changed" from Wallen, as listed in Hancock
County. I found both of them with their parents near Jemima's first
husband's family. Of course, now for the proof, which is Larry's challenge.
Larry said he has been up against this wall since 1967 - since he didn't
know where to go back to - his trail was dead. In a sense, this was the
reverse genealogy he needed, although it wasn't genetic in genesis, aside
that the contact was through this group.

Furthermore, I sent Larry's Estes quandry out to the "Estes cousins" list
(this is my own genealogy list- not online) who I work with and sure enough,
one of them found an Estes female who married a Rutledge male and many of
the Estes clan migrated to the very place in Oklahoma where he grew up. No,
we don't have the exact match yet - or the connection - but there is clearly
too much evidence to be purely circumstantial.

So, his and my "unproven" Cherokee ancestor may well prove out (prove-ha,
ha) to be one and the same.

Furthermore, Larry has already been DNA Printed by FTDNA and found to be 9%
East Asian which confuses him. My DNA is awaiting results for Printing
also, and I will be very interested to see what is found. I wonder if his
9% East Asian is a combination of NA and Melungeon, neither of which he can
"prove" genealogically but there is obviously at least 9% of something
someplace.

The hybrid vigor of genealogy combined with DNA evidence is exceptionally
powerful!!! And sometimes, luck doesn't hurt either.

Roberta

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