Two members of Clan Maxwell USA, Wilmer Maxwell of Carlisle PA and Don Maxwell of Edmund OK, are putting together a Maxwell Family DNA project, one of about 200 such family studies currently in progress. Their study follows paternal lineage wherein the Y chromosome is passed unchanged from father to son, generation after generation (i.e., a son can only get Y chromosomal genes from the father, with mutations occurring only every 40 generations or so). This allows distant cousins to compare genes and prove a common ancestor. Depending on how sophisticated the test, there is a fifty percent chance of linking to a MRCA ("most recent common ancestor") at six or seven generations.
So far, their study has established (i.e. obtained samples from) a core group of approximately 12-14 living male Maxwell descendants (LMMD) who:
— were availabile and willing to participate;
— had "probable" relationships to early (colonial and Revolutionary War era) Maxwell families based on standard genealogical techniques;
— were known to be in Maxwell lines already thoroughly studied through standard techniques and currently at a "brick wall";
— were from lines with "proposed but unproven" relationships to other known Maxwell lines.
These are the lines with samples currently in process:
01 Thomas Maxwell (1738-1785 Pa)/Anne Blackmar>>Henry Maxwell /Magdalena Whistler...RESULTS POSTED on webpage.
02 John, b1770 Co. Down>>Robert/Margaretta Mowery RESULTS POSTED on webpage
03 Robert Maxwell (d 1792 PA)/Elizabeth>>sons: Thomas M., Jas., John, Robt ...to WVa line. RESULTS POSTED on webpage.
04 Henry Maxwell/Agnes Carson>>seven sons>>York Co.Results posted on webpage
05 William Maxwell b. 1755 or 1763 /Nancy Robinson>>famous Ohio printer>> RESULTS POSTED on webpage.
06 John Maxwell /Izabel McGrew>>Robert Maxwell/Deborah Wierman RESULTS posted on webpage
07 Samuel Maxwell>>Edmund Maxwell clan
12 William Maxwell >>Charles>>David/Sarah Ball
18 William b bef 1740 m. Eliz McCutcheon>Thomas Maxwell /Nancy Purviance>>Chester Co, Pa. RESULTS POSTED on webpage
19 Albert Maxwell/unknown>>5 sons>>Perry Co., PA
20 John Maxwell m. Mary> William Maxwell /Ruth Duff>>Orange Co., VA...Results due shortly
21 Rufus King Maxwell/Phoebe Goss>>Wm/Betty Keith>>AL&TN
Lines with a "priority status":
09 Nathaniel/Esther Carson>>parents unkn, 12 ch. MALE MAXWELL descendent found status pending
14 Thomas Maxwell Sr./unk Hamilton of NJ> Thomas Maxwell Jr. of Montg Co Ohio>J. Warren Maxwell, George McCann Maxwell, Nathanial Van Maxwell etc...MALE MAXWELL FOUND status pending.
08 James Maxwell/Margaret Hammond>>parents unkn >>LOOKING FOR LIVING MALE MAXWELL
10 RobertMaxwell/Catherine (Boyd?) of Lancaster Co , Pa.>>m: Porterfield Pa>NC
11 William Maxwell /Sarah Duncan>>Cumb. Co, 9 children
13 Audley Maxwell /Hannah Powell clan of PA&GA
16 Abraham, Chester Co s/o Robt/Elizabeth?
19 Albert Maxwell /unknown>>5 sons>>Perry Co., PA (living male Maxwell known but status pending).
22 James Maxwell b 1650
/Alice Adams of Kent Co., Delaware>>Robert/Millicent
Bedwell , James , William (living male Maxwell known but status
pending).
Other Maxwells are invited to
participate by having a living male MAXWELL provide a DNA sample.
The testing does not prove exact relationships, though it
theoretically should be able to do so in the future; however, it
can prove or disprove a close family relationship. Therefore,
Maxwells who are stuck at a "brick wall" in their
genealogy pursuits may be able to identify other common lines and
focus their research on a "closely related line" as a
"back door" to identifying the father of the
"brick wall" and linking to other known Maxwell lines.
Family Tree DNA of Houston, Texas, has been chosen to do the DNA processing. Their usual $149 testing fee has been discounted to $99 (plus $4.00 shipping and handling). The sample is obtained by simply rubbing a Qtip on the inside of your mouth (at home). To receive a test kit at this discount you must order your collection kit thru the Maxwell DNA Study website: Maxwell DNA Project. The study administrators will request that a collection kit to be mailed to you. They will also need your address and your genealogically documented line (oldest four generations) back to your oldest known Maxwell ancestor.
Participants control the release of their information; however, the administrators of the Maxwell Study hope participants will sign a Family Tree DNA release authorizing email notification of any future common ancestors who are discovered. (Administrators will not release your name or identity to anyone you do not approve). At the study’s website, participants’ privacy is further protected by having only the four oldest generations of Maxwells posted along side their migration pattern and the 12 -25 loci (numbers) for your specific Y chromosome (i.e., they do not post your name).
This study is using current scientific technology in a unique way to help "jumpstart" genealogical efforts involving “dead end” lines. If you would like more information, want to see the latest results, or would like to participate, visit the study’s web page: Maxwell DNA Project
