DNA Testing?

[hcb]

My brother recently did a DNA test with a member of GenesReunited to see if we were related. Our surname is Coppin but the other was spelt with an 'e' instead of the 'i'. It cost £75 each, which was paid by the 'possible newcomer into the family'. Much to our delight the test proved that we did indeed have a common ancestor, born 1717, which made us 5th cousins. We arranged to meet in Addington, where the family had lived for 300 years or so, for lunch. Trouble was, that as soon as I saw him I knew that 'he be one of ours'!!! He looked so much like my aunt's boys that had we exchanged photos before the DNA test we could have saved him the money!
All I can add ( this being my first foray into this site!!!!) is to try swapping photos before you pay out for a test!

[Lydart]

Hello HCB ... welcome to the peculiar world of RootsChat !

Yes, as you say it might have been cheaper to meet first .. but so good that you did connect up with a distant cousin, and will have lots of info to exchange I expect !

Lydart

[MarkyP]

MarkyP: The Mt-DNA test of your father would trace back his maternal side.  That is, his mother's mother's mother's.... and so on.  Did your nan have a brother?  If so do you know of any male descendants with the same surname?

Thankfully I do, although they are all in America so the logistics could prove a bit of a problem. I've only ever seen them twice in the last 45 years! 

[patrish]

Hi HCB and a very warm welcome to Rootschat.  I am sure you will love it as much as we do.

Patrish,.

[dollylee]

 If you want to test the DNA of the father of your mother (your maternal grandfather), you'll need to test (the maternal grandfather himself) his son/your uncle (brother of your mother) or a son of the uncle (your nephew).
Kojak

Wouldn't the son of my uncle be my cousin not my nephew?

Please say that is what you meant as I only have cousins left.

dollylee

[kojak]

Hi Dollylee,

Yes a cousin.  Apologies for the confusion.

Kojak :-)

[dollylee]

Thanks for replying kojak.

My head was reeling trying to keep the lines of DNA and possible test subjects straight and I started to confuse myself 

I imagine there are families where you uncle's son could be your nephew...but then you would have one warped sister...(not meant to offend anyone who has found that kind of situation in their family)

dollylee

[Lydart]

I've got that sort of distant family, where of two brothers, one had a daughter; the other brother had a fling with her (when she was old enough) and they together produced a child X.  Thus, X had a father who was also its uncle ? 

And I thought the Victorians were very straight-laced !!

[patrish]

There seemed to be far more  "hanky panky" in those day than we could ever imagine. perhaps thats why they appeared so upright and Christian to cover it all up