Following on the DNA tests mentioned in the last note, Erin T. Crowe strongly suggests that the 37-marker test be used instead of the test with fewer markers. It costs more but it helps to distinguish different branches. In his Crow/e family, the larger number helped to distinguish two branches.
It was also mentioned that Reuben Thomas married Sarah Crow in the 1700's. According to my notes, this Reuben would have been English. Both German and English Thomases were living in Culpeper County, VA, during the last half of the 1700's. This has led to confusion. Reuben had a brother, Massey, who married Elizabeth Barlow. Whether this Elizabeth was English or German is not clear to me right now.
There is a history of the Thomas family in Green’s " Culpeper County Virginia " by Mary Dunnica Micou. The opening statement of this reads, "Without doubt the Thomas family of Orange county, and also of Culpeper county, are descended from the earliest emigrant of that name, who came to Essex county . . ." It is statements of this type that have increased the confusion. One of the ways out of this misinformation is by DNA testing. It is the best way to overcome the "without doubt" statements.
Suzanne Matson writes that a Green/e cousin participated in a DNA test and found a match with another Green who has a documented line back to Duff Green of Fauquier County, VA. Suzanne could document her line back to George Green (d. 1807) of Fauquier. The results show that there was/is a close relationship between the descendants of George Green and Duff Green. Perhaps George was a son of Duff writes Suzanne. Some Germanna citizens, namely some Kempers, Holtzclaws, and Rectors, are descendants of Duff Green.
A response from other readers who may have participated in DNA testing would be very welcome.
In a talk at a Germanna seminar, I suggested the patriotic societies should consider DNA testing as a proof. Some individuals were upset at this idea but it is excellent evidence.
(27 Jan 06)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.