Where the Parents Came From

Here is my genetic breakdown.

This picture shows what I inherited from each parent.  Parent 1 is my father and Parent 2 is my mother. The science of determining where your ancestors came from with your DNA is evolving and is subject to change.  As more data is collected, the accuracy of the results becomes more reliable. To me it is incredible that the DNA from my mother is nothing but Ireland and Scotland almost split fifty-fifty. That means that both grandparents ancestors stayed within their clan while in Europe and for several generations in Canada.  

 

 

My mother’s side is Scottish and Irish.  This does not track perfectly with my research. My research shows that my grandfather’s family is from England, but my genes do not.   Of course, it is possible that the people of Scottish descent did not intermingle with people of English descent and the records could show they came from England.   My grandmother’s family is clearly from Ireland, Roman Catholic according to Canadian census information. Both families migrated from England and Ireland to Canada in the early-mid 1800’s.  My grandfather was born in Lombardy Canada between Ottawa, CA and Rochester, NY on December 21, 1901. My grandmother was in Erinsville, Ontario on August 19, 1900. She migrated to the US in 1920; he migrated in 1924. 

 

I think that they met in the US.  My uncle was born exactly 2 years before my mother and 5 months after my grandparents married.  My mother was born in Batavia, NY on August 28, 1928.  Soon after my grandparents moved to Westport, CT where my grandfather was a doctor at a sanatorium that catered to wealthy New Yorkers.  More on that later when I tell the little I know about my mother’s life before I was in it.

 

My father’s side is a little more diverse, lots of English, some Scottish, tad bit of Welsh, and some Nordic.  The diversity here is not surprising.  I have traced numerous ancestors on my dad’s mother and father side and all of them have been born in the US as far back as the 1600’s.  I have not traced everyone.  That would be over 200 people.  So far I find it remarkable.  It appears that the original settlers stayed within “clan”, meaning people born in the US, until the 1900’s.  According to the experts, finding Nordic genes in people from England is not usual because of the proximity of England to these countries. Note there is none on my mother’s side.  I think that it must have entered in the Nordic genes entered somewhere between the 1600’s and 1900’s.  Over 3 centuries and with all the people that migrates to the US, it is Impossible to imagine that there would not some intermingling along that way.  My DNA is more diverse than either one of my parents. Mother’s DNA was a lot more diverse than either of her parents.  Stands to reason that it will further diversify with more generations.

My dad’s father was born in Hartford, CT on November 20, 1895. My grandmother was born in Rutland, VT on January 15, 1897.  It is unclear how and when they met.  They married on October 20, 1920.  My grandmother graduated from Smith College in 1919 and was living in Hartford.  My grandfather attended Yale and may or may not have graduated by then.  World War 1 impacted both of their lives prior to 1920.  My grandfather was injured fighting in Europe. My father was born in West Hartford on September 11, 1026.  He was delivered by Dr Hepburn, father of Katherine Hepburn, at home and was not given a middle name.  These are two unique characteristics that he battled his whole life.  No middle name and not being born in a hospital created a documentation nightmare.

 

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