Y-chromosome DNA is carried from father to son virtually unchanged for many generations. It is possible there may be a mutation on one of the markers on or two times in 500 years, but this does not invalidate the process. This fact makes it a powerful tool for extending family tree reconstruction back beyond the scope of documentary evidence.

We have about 22 Mowbray family trees reconstructed each going back to a pro-genitor known by documentary evidence. For example, in County Durham there are two family groups which we may suspect stem from a common ancestor living before Henry VIII decreed the keeping of parish registers of baptisms, marriages and burials. How can we confirm our suspicions?

The answer lies in DNA testing. We find two or three living male members in each family group, which we may call families A and B. A DNA test is carried on each person. If the results for two persons amongst A1, A2 and A3 give a close match ( allowing for a mutation), then we have a pattern for family A. Likewise for family B. If there is a match between the patterns for both A and B, we can conclude there was a common ancestor in the undocumented past.

How can you help?

We need volunteers for each of the family groups. The quest has been likened to a big jig-saw puzzle where each male Mowbray holds a piece of the puzzle. The web-sites listed below offer more information and a way into the Project. You can sign up for the Project, but do read the second of them so that your entry gets included in our quest.

There are several companies providing DNA tests. The Mowbray Project has chosen FTDNA as its test-house, but you can use another company and have your results logged into our project. However, we have a discounted cost rate with FTDNA and there are non-cost advantages too. The process is simple...a kit is sent to you, you take a couple of swabs inside your cheeks and mail back the kit in packaging they provide.

To read more about DNA testing, visit the FTDNA website at http://www.familytreedna.com/  and go through the Tutorial. Also visit the page they host for our own Mowbray project at http://www.familytreedna.com/(z4xnus452clcmg3gehqfqw45)/public/Mowbray/index.aspx

Our DNA project is being managed by Gil Mowbray from Tucson AZ, USA who is webmaster for the second of these web-sites. You can post any queries to Gil via this site and it carries all of the results of tests to date.

Do decide to join in. If your family is already tested, you can make a contribution towards tests on vital persons who are unwilling to make the expenditure, but whose DNA would unlock secrets.

If you have had your DNA tested by another test house, do contact us to get your results transcribed into our project.

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