December 2008
Hello Knox Descendants and Researchers!
The Knox DNA Project is a non-profit activity operated by volunteer, amateur
genealogists. Our main purposes are two:
(1) To support one another in applying DNA analysis to research on Knox
genealogy.
(2) To encourage "genealogical" DNA testing by greater numbers
of Knox-surnamed men.
I'm happy to report that the project now has results for 25 Knox-surnamed
men, whom we can sort into eleven biologically distinct, unrelated family
lines.
Moreover we have one additional set of marker values for a man who doesn't
carry the Knox surname. His DNA makes it appear, however, that he's a
"biological Knox" whose ancestor's name was changed due to an unrecorded
adoption.
The project has recently had the sort of breakthrough many genealogists only
dream about, when we managed to match a group of ten American Knox men with
a Knox cousin who still lives in Ireland!
Of course, we can't guarantee to repeat this outcome for every family in the
"Knox diaspora." But we certainly want to try! And we're persuaded that the
best path for connecting more and more Knoxes to their long lost cousins --
whether cousins in Europe or elsewhere -- will be to recruit a much greater
number of Knox-surnamed men for testing.
So please do consider supporting our research either (a) by ordering a DNA
test for yourself, or (b) by sponsoring a test for one of your Knox-surnamed
male relatives.
If you're not familiar with DNA genealogy, please be aware of the following
important points:
(1) To trace your Knox family via DNA, we'll need a DNA sample from a man
whose unbroken male-to-male line leads back to a Knox-surnamed male
ancestor. Usually a test participant will carry the Knox surname. But the
project welcomes adoptees and descendants of adoptees who carry other
surnames, as long as they have good reason to think their unbroken male
ancestral lines lead back to a Knox-surnamed ancestor.
(2) Females don't carry the sort of DNA that can be used for tracing the
Knox surname (or any other surname) except in the rarest of cases. But a
number of women are active in the Knox DNA Project by way of sponsoring
tests for Knox-surnamed male relatives.
(3) The test we use is entirely painless, with no drawing of blood. It
requires only three gentle swabs inside the mouth. This exercise is somewhat
like brushing your teeth, only a lot easier!
(4) The specific DNA markers we use in genealogy are deliberately chosen so
as not to convey information about your health or any other personal
characteristics.
Extremely attractive pricing is now available. For details, please see here:
http://knoxsociety.org/KnoxDNATestFees.htm
Finally, if you just have questions, whether about DNA genealogy in general
or about the Knox project in particular, please Email me at
DNAforBrowns@aol.com.
I'm here to help!
Best regards,
Jim Brown (James Armistead Brown, Jr.)
Project Administrator
Knox & Variant Surnames DNA Project