Categories of Membership

We are accepting two categories of members. The first is those who have a DNA participant and a pedigree back to the 1600s in Virginia. The second is those who have an ancestor living in Virginia during the 1600s but who have not located a DNA participant. Please read the requirements below for each category.

Pedigrees

It is anticipated that you will be able to provide a pedigree showing your descent from the Virginia settler in the 1600s. Therefore, we would request that if you are unable to do so at the present time that you postpone joining this project until you are able to do so. If you have circumstantial evidence but not documentary proof, please list it and continue as below.

Contents of Your Pedigree

You should begin with the individual who was in Virginia during the 1600s stating their name and the event which allows you to prove they were in Virginia during this time period. Please include the county in which the event occurred referring to the list of counties on the home page. You should also include the names of all known children (and their spouses if known) of that first individual.

From that point onward you follow your line of descent, i.e., the son of the first individual, then his son etc. if a Y-DNA test is being, or has been, performed. For each individual in your line of descent, please include their name, date of birth and place of birth, if known; and the name of spouse.

We have had to establish a cut-off date on the lineages. We will stop the lineage listing with the last individual born before 1850.

Do the same thing for mtDNA remembering that you are following the female and her female descendants. The surname will change as each generation married and produced children.

Non-DNA Participant Ancestors

If you have not found a DNA participant but want to join, please send the name of the individual who was in Virginia during the 1600s stating their name and the event which allows you to prove they were in Virginia during this time period. Please include the county in which the event occurred referring to the list of counties on the home page.  Please include the names of all known children (and their spouses, if known) of that first individual.

Submissions

All pedigrees should be submitted to Sharon Bryant. In the subject line please type VA-1600s (surname). All information for non-DNA participant ancestors should also be sent to Sharon Bryant. In the subject line please type VA-1600s.

If you have questions, please contact Sharon Bryant at the address below.

[Text revised 13 Nov 2005]