Jones DNA - finding a great grandfather

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mavis Jones on July 16, 2009 at 10:36pm

Scott,

Thank you for starting this discussion for me. I scanned and attached my Dad's YDNA results.

My granddad was Harry Claudius Jones, born abt. 1892 in Martin County, NC. His mother was Martha Jones, born about 1877. He was reared by Mary Elizabeth Williams and General Willams. Based on what dad has always stated and my grandmother listing Mary's maiden name as Jones, I suspect that Mary was possibly my granddad's aunt.

I'm also including information about my great-grandmother to help in the hunt but I don't have many details on her either. I've only found her on one census (1900) and even there it doesn't state that she's my granddad's mom. I've determined it was her due to the household also containing a General Willimas and his wife Mary, and a very bad attempt to spell granddad's name, Claudius (he's listed as a border).Only other clue about her is granddad listed her name as Martha on his and grandmom's marriage licensce and stated that in 1914 (year he and grandmom married) that his mother was still living.

Thanking all for any information or guidance that can be provided.

Attachments:

• Dad's DNA Results.JPG, 333 KB

Permalink Reply by Scott Norton on July 17, 2009 at 4:45pm

mavis,

I 'm as suprised as the next person, but I can tell you just where your ancestors came from.

Finkolo, Sikasso, Mali

I got several matches on the Sorenson database.

Yacouba TRAORE b. 1900 Finkolo, Sikasso, Mali
Mamari OUATTARA b. 1887 Finkolo, Sikasso, Mali
N'Famoussa SAMAKE b. 1895 Seliban, Koulikoro, Mali

Google Map

Now, we need to explain it because your grandfathers haplotype I1a is Scandinavian. The Sorenson database has the most dna tests outside of the USA. I have many matches and there is no doubt that the DNA comes out of Africa.

Ancestry.com DNA is the least useful for finding matches and linking families.

Here's my suggestions for further research.

1) Get a test done by Family Tree DNA
I suggest a 37 marker test. The cost is $119 if you use this link.
http://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?code=W42973&Group=...
The reasons to do this is to gain access to their database to find matches. However, I checked and they don't have any of the African names. But we would be looking for names like Jones etc from America. This might give you a pedigree in America.

2) www.familysearch.org is where you will find links to your African ancestors. Just search the names above and you will find people.

Let me say, this has been exciting. I fully expected a line back to a slave master. But this is a real nice return. Do me a favor and if you see the Mormon missionaries ask them to tell you about families. It's the Mormon church that provided this info.

Scott

Permalink Reply by Scott Norton on July 17, 2009 at 5:05pm

Sikasso was founded at the beginning of the nineteenth century by Mansa Douala. The town was a small village until 1876 when Tieba Traoré, whose mother came from Sikasso, became King of the Kénédougou Empire and moved its capital there. He established his palace on the sacred Mamelon hill (now home to a water tower) and constructed a tata or fortifying wall to defend against the attacks of both the Dyula conqueror Samori Ture and the French colonial army. The city withstood a long siege from 1887 to 1888 but fell to the French in 1898; rather than surrender to the colonial army, Tieba's brother Babemba Traoré, now king, committed suicide. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1876 is a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Tieba Traoré was a king of the Kénédougou Empire who reigned from 1876 until his death in 1893. ... The Kénédougou Empire was a short-lived West African empire centered on Sikasso in present-day Mali. ... A mamelon is a small fortified hill. ... The mushroom-shaped concrete water tower of Roihuvuori in Helsinki, Finland was built in the 1970s. ... Nakhal Fort, one of the best-preserved forts in Oman. ... Dioula (Jula) is a language spoken in Burkina Faso and Côte dIvoire. ... Samori Ture (var: Samory Toure’ or Samori ibn Lafiya Ture): Samori Ture (c. ... World map of colonialism at the end of the Second World War in 1945. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Babemba Traoré was a king of the Kénédougou Empire. ...


Attractions today include the large market, Mamelon hill, the remains of Tieba Traoré's tata, and the nearby Missirikoro Grotto. The festival Triangle du balafon takes place every June, celebrating the traditional Malian instrument.

Permalink Reply by Mavis Jones on July 17, 2009 at 6:09pm

Scott,

Thank you so much. This is very interesting. Yes, I'm beginning to think that I should have used a resource other than Ancestry for both parents DNA.

From a financial standpoint, it may take me awhile to retest but I'm definitely planning to redo it for both. Thanks for your help.

Permalink Reply by Scott Norton on July 18, 2009 at 7:11am

I hope you caught the last name Traore. There are many Traore tests matching yours.

" Tieba Traoré, whose mother came from Sikasso, became King of the Kénédougou Empire"

These matches spread fro Mali to the Ivory Coast. There has to be a great story here.

Scott

Permalink Reply by Mavis Jones on July 18, 2009 at 1:28pm

Yes, now I'm interested in finding out more about Mali and the Traore family.

Permalink Reply by Scott Norton on October 29, 2009 at 2:53pm

Mavis, You should get access to this study

HOUSTON, October 26, 2009 --In an effort to help verify the migration patterns of different African tribes, Family Tree DNA (www.familytreedna.com) will be cooperating with the Center for African American Genealogy Research (CAAGRI) and the Public Records and Archives Administration of Ghana (PRAAD), by testing several hundred members of the Nzema, Ga, Fante, Ewe and Asante tribes.

Permalink Reply by Mavis Jones on November 5, 2009 at 10:50pm

Scott,

Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Mavis Jones on April 13, 2010 at 4:37pm

I retested with Family Tree DNA and even upgraded to the sub-clade testing and dad's results through FTDNA came back as E2B1. That being said I did find it interesting that in his Y Haplotree results, some of his 2-step, 3-step, and 4-step mutations were with folks who were identified as I1, which was what Ancestry said his Haplogroup was.

Permalink Reply by Scott Norton on April 13, 2010 at 10:32pm

Mavis,

Could you join the Norton DNA Project so that I can look at your results with the analysis tools FTdna gives administrators? You will find a box for joining other surname groups.

Thanks,
Scott

Permalink Reply by Mavis Jones on April 29, 2010 at 4:22pm

Scott,

I'm sorry that I'm just now seeing this. Don't make it over to Genealogywise as often as I use to. Yes I can do that. It will be under my dad's name.

Mavis