Tracing Ancestry: A DNA Success Story of the Meeker Family
Autosomal DNA success story tracing ancestors born in the 1700s, focusing on the Meeker family. Uncovering the ancestry of Levi Perry's wife, Elizabeth, through genealogical data analysis and census records. The search for Elizabeth's father between two Meeker brothers, Grove and Forrest Meeker, based on available information and wills.
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by Tim Janzen MD tjanzen@comcast.net RootsTech February 2021
Overview An autosomal DNA success story for tracing ancestors born in the 1700s highlighting the Meeker family
Bridging the Chasm: the ancestry of Levi Perry s wife Elizabeth
Proving the ancestry of Levi Perrys wife Elizabeth _____ (b. ca 1793) Elizabeth ____ s ancestry has been unknown to my family for many years It is assumed that she married Levi Perry in Delaware Co., Ohio ca 1814 A DNA match at Ancestry.com told me in September 2018 that Elizabeth s surname was Meeker based on her family s records However, genealogical data was conflicting as to which of two Meeker brothers (Grove Meeker and Forrest Meeker) was her father
Meeker genealogical information from Howard Perry (1894-1964), great-great-grandson of Levi Perry and Elizabeth Meeker
Analysis of the genealogical data There is no evidence that Elizabeth Meeker had French ancestry based on available genealogical data Colonel Meeker is clearly Colonel Forrest Meeker (16 Feb 1769-15 May 1849) Dave Meeker is David Meeker (1806-1879), son of Grove Meeker (b. ca 1760, d. 1820-1830) Ezra Meeker (1830-1928) wasn t the son of David Meeker, but rather the son of Jacob Meeker (1804- 1869) and Phoebe Baker
Assuming Elizabeth was truly a Meeker, which brother (Grove or Forrest) was the father of Elizabeth? Grove Meeker left no will Forrest Meeker s will in 1848 doesn t mention a daughter named Elizabeth
Census data Grove Meeker had 3 daughters under 10 in the 1800 Census Forrest Meeker had 2 daughters under 10 in the 1800 Census Grove Meeker had 1 daughter 10-15 and another 16-25 in the 1810 Census Forrest Meeker had 1 daughter 10-15 and another 16-25 in the 1810 Census Forrest Meeker s daughters who were under 10 in 1800 have been identified as Esther and Mary None of Grove Meeker sdaughters who were under 10 in 1800 have been previously identified
Mitochondrial DNA data to the Rescue! My mother Betty Janzen is a direct descendent of Elizabeth _____ (b. ca 1793) on the maternal line of descent Betty has only 3 matches on the full mtDNA sequence (H1c11) G. W. s maternal line of descent is from Dorothy Fox (1723-1798) who is also the maternal grandmother of Grove Meeker s wife Dorothy Gaines (1771-1819)!
Forrest Meekers wife Patience Hurlburd s tree at Family Search
Meeker autosomal DNA analysis Two great-great-grandchildren of Elizabeth Meeker (b. ca 1793) have been tested: Maude Youngman and M. C. 16 great-great-great-grandchildren of Elizabeth Meeker (b. ca 1793) have been tested: Betty Janzen, Lawrence Youngman, Robert Youngman, S.L., W.L., M. H., F. J., J. J., J. M., B. S., L. L., M. E., H. M, M. G., M. H., and H. M. One great-great-grandchild of Grove Meeker (b. 1797) has been tested: W. W. Two great-great-great-grandchildren of Grove Meeker (b. 1797) has been tested: R. S. and J. F.-R. Four great-great-great-great-grandchildren of Grove Meeker (b. 1797) have been tested: A. S., B. S., W. L., and _. L.
Comparisons at the 4th cousin level of genealogical relationship between W. W. and Elizabeth Meeker (b. ca 1793) descendents Comparison at 5 cM threshold Maude Youngman and her 4thcousin W. W.: 38 cMs M. C. and her 4thcousin W. W.: 28 cMs Average: 33 cMs using a 5 cM threshold Expected amount if the relationship is 4thcousin: 14 cMs
Comparisons at the 4th cousin once removed level of genealogical relationship between W. W. and Elizabeth Meeker (b. ca 1793) descendents Comparison at 5 cM threshold Betty Janzen: 6.6 cMs; R. Y.: 20.3; W. L.: 9.8 cMs; M. H.: 14.5 cMs; J. J.: 7.1; J. M.: 36 cMs; B. S.: 29 cMs; L. L.: 47 cMs; M. E.: 17 cMs; H. M.: 17.1 cMs; H. M.: 13.8 cMs; M. H. 27.4; M. G.: 21.2 L. Y., S. L., F. J.: 0 cMs Average: 16.66 cMs using a 5 cM threshold Average: 14.15 cMs using a 7 cM threshold Expected amount if the relationship is 4thcousin once removed: 7 cMs
Comparisons at the 4th cousin once removed level of genealogical relationship between R. S. and J. F.-R. and Elizabeth Meeker (b. ca 1793) descendents Comparison Maude Youngman and her 4thcousin once removed R. S. 22.1 M. C. and her 4thcousin once removed R. S. 15.8 Maude Youngman and her 4thcousin once removed J. F.-R. 0 M. C. and her 4thcousin once removed J. F.-R. 12.1 Average: 12.5 cMs using a 5 cM threshold Average: 9.5 cMs using a 7 cM threshold Expected amount if the relationship is 4thcousin once removed: 7 cMs 5 cM threshold
Comparisons at the 5th cousin level of genealogical relationship between R. S. and J. F.-R. and Elizabeth Meeker (b. ca 1793) descendents Comparison at 5 cM threshold R. S. and 16 Elizabeth Meeker descendents: 8.94 cM average J. F.-R. and 16 Elizabeth Meeker descendents: 4.46 cM average Average: 6.7 cMs using a 5 cM threshold Average: 4.4 cMs using a 7 cM threshold Expected amount if the relationship is 5thcousin: 3.5 cMs
Comparisons at the 4th cousin twice removed level of genealogical relationship between 4 Grove Meeker (b. 1797) and 2 Elizabeth Meeker (b. ca 1793) descendents Comparison at 5 cM threshold Maude Youngman and A. H.: 17.7 cMs; B. F.: 17.5 cMs; W. L.: 11 cMs; _. L.: 0 cMs M. C. and A. H.: 6.2 cMs; B. F.: 6.2 cMs; W. L. and _. L. (comparison unavailable) Average: 9.76 cMs using a 5 cM threshold Average: 7.7 cMs using a 7 cM threshold Expected amount if the relationship is 4thcousin twice removed: 3.5 cMs
Comparisons at the 5th cousin once removed level of genealogical relationship between 4 Grove Meeker (b. 1797) and 16 Elizabeth Meeker (b. ca 1793) descendents Comparison W. L. and 16 Elizabeth Meeker descendents: 5.49 cM average _. L. and 16 Elizabeth Meeker descendents: 2.11 cM average A. H. and 16 Elizabeth Meeker descendents: 6.89 cM average B. F. and 16 Elizabeth Meeker descendents: 7.09 cM average 5 cM threshold Average: 5.4 cMs using a 5 cM threshold Average: 3.5 cMs (3.6+4.3+5.3+0.7)/4 using a 7 cM threshold Expected amount if the relationship is 5thcousin once removed: 1.75 cMs
Additional confirmation of Elizabeth Meeker s ancestry Among a cluster of about 20 matches for Betty Janzen on a segment on chromosome 3 that has been mapped to Harriet Lawrence (b. 1876), one descends from Daniel Dart (b. 1691), the brother of Samuel Dart, the grandfather of Dorothy Dart (b. 1771), wife of Grove Meeker. Daniel Dart's mother was Elizabeth Douglas (b. 1669). Matches K. U. and J. B. both have Douglas ancestry.
More confirmation of Elizabeth Meeker s ancestry at Ancestry.com Betty Janzen s 2ndcousin Jane Jeans has a match at Ancestry.com who shares 35 cMs with her. This match R. S. descends from Dorothy Darte s sister Ruth Darte (b. 1769). Jane Jean s sister Myrna Hunt shares 36 cMs with R. S. Another 2ndcousin J. M. shares 26 cMs with R. S. Betty Janzen and her two brothers share no matching segments at Ancestry.com with R. S. The average number of shared cMs with R. S. is thus 19.4 cMs. Additional review at GEDmatch for Jane Jeans matches revealed an e-mail address that matches R. S. s profile name at Ancestry.com!
R. S. shares 11 cMs on average with 17 Meeker descendents with shared segments shown below
R. A. shares 13 cMs on average with 17 Meeker descendents with shared segments shown below
Comparisons at GEDmatch at the 5th cousin once removed level of genealogical relationship between 17 Dorothy Dart (b. 1771) descendents and 2 Ruth Dart (b. 1769) descendents Comparison R. S. and 17 Dorothy Dart descendents: 13.0 cM average R. A. and 17 Dorothy Dart descendents: 11.0 cM average 5 cM threshold Average: 12 cMs using a 5 cM threshold Average: 10.75 cMs (10.4+11.1)/2 using a 7 cM threshold Expected amount if the relationship is 5thcousin once removed: 1.75 cMs
Meeker and Dart summary A combination of quantitative autosomal DNA analysis and a full mtDNA sequence match has helped confirm that Elizabeth ____ (b. ca 1793) was indeed a Meeker and that her parents were Grove Meeker (b. ca 1760) and Dorothy Dart (b. 1771). Autosomal DNA analysis using triangulation and a full mtDNA sequence match has helped confirm that Dorothy Dart s (b. 1771) parents were indeed Nathan Dart (b. 1744) and Dorothy Gaines (b. ca 1745).
Questions? Feel free to contact me at tjanzen@comcast.net Acknowledgment: professional genealogist Danny Hall at dannyhall@dr.com did extensive research with me on the early Meeker and Darte lines
