Dear Branch Family Descendants:
Welcome! Thank you for taking a moment to read a bit about our family genetic genealogy / DNA research initiative. For many, many years the Branch family has been fortunate to have passionate family researchers and oral storytellers that have provided each new generation with an account of our shared Branch family lineage. Making the most of the tools available then and during each family reunion, the history of our ancestors Phillip Branch (1795-1891) and Emily Branch has been shared. This Family DNA project seeks to utilize an additional tool made available to us now that has the power to propel our family pedigree even further back - DNA.
Several of the family members, both male and female have been participating in DNA testing on various websites (Ancestry, 23andme, Family Tree DNA and MyHeritage) over the last few years. This particular Family DNA project focuses solely on Y-DNA testing. Y-DNA tests can only be taken by men and the test provider of choice here is Family Tree DNA. With Y-DNA testing we can better understand the distant paternal ancestry of our ancestor, Phillip Branch (1795-1891). Emphasis has been placed on Phillip's paternal lineage as it is an area of greatest potential in making new family discoveries.
In order to do this we need a couple things:
1. Male family members who presently have the surname BRANCH as passed down to them by their father, which was passed down by his father and so forth. (Note: If you are a male direct paternal descendant of Phillip Branch who does not presently have the surname Branch please contact the project administrator / Cousin Adrienne to see about participation.)
2. DNA testing can be costly. Since the information gleaned from these results benefits the Branch family at large, I believe we should all chip in to assist with the cost. Donations small and large are accepted. If everyone in our Branch family Facebook group donated $2 a piece we would easily have double our goal. No amount is too small.
Thus far, participants in the project include the following cousins:
- Andre Branch (son of William Curtis Branch) - tested Y-DNA 67
- Ra'oof Saleem (formerly Lawrence Branch / son of Ralph Anderson Branch) - tested Y-DNA 12
- Kendall Sample (son of Leroy Branch) - pending testing
Note: All three of the current participants descend from Ralph Anderson Branch, so future participants will need to come from lines that are not through Ralph Anderson Branch in order to diversify the data of our group project.
The funds being requested would allow us to test at least three (3) male family members at the Y-DNA 67 marker level which is the entry level suggestion by industry standards. Attempts to purchase DNA testing at the best price during promotional sales will always be of practice in order to stretch any funds raised by the family.
Thus far, DNA testing of Cousin Andre Branch revealed that our ancestor Phillip Branch shares a genetic connection with the Fletcher family of Perquimans County, North Carolina. What is not yet known is who exactly is the Fletcher male that connects our Branch group to these Fletchers, a Quaker family that had been in North Carolina since the mid 1600's. DNA testing has also shown that the paternal haplogroup from which the family descends is listed as N-M232. According to Family Tree DNA: "Haplogroup N is distributed throughout Northern Eurasia and Siberia. It is the most common Y-chromosome type in Uralic speakers (Finns and Native Siberians). It is also found in Mongolia."
Updates and progress about the project will continue to be shared through the family Facebook group and made available for publishing in any newsletter or reunion booklet that may be put out by the family.
If you are interested in expanding the family narrative, please, please by all means donate to this campaign. This is OUR shared family legacy and we are so blessed to have these incredible advances in science to assist us in reconnecting to our history.
Thank you!!!
Cousin Adrienne
4x great-granddaughter, Phillip & Emily Branch