The following post is NOT an endorsement by the New Mexico Genealogical Society of FamilyTreeDNA.com or any other type of genetic genealogy testing site. It only offers options for the reader to consider regarding genetic genealogy.
On the New Mexico Genealogical Society's Facebook Page, we have been have been discussing Y-DNA results. FamilyTreeDNA.com and other similar companies have tests in which men can test their Y-DNA against others to see if they are closely related. Only men can do this test because only men have the Y chromosome. The Y chromosome is the thing that makes men male - women have two X chromosomes instead of an X and a Y. However, women can have their brothers, fathers, grandfathers, or uncles and cousins who are on the same paternal line take the test for them.
The great thing about the Y-DNA test is that it often shows the relatedness of individuals along the paternal line, which is the line that we often get our surnames from. The Y-DNA test shows the DNA of one's father's, father's, father's, father's, father, etc. Since this is passed on from father to son with little change, we can compare our DNA to people who may be our relatives within a few generations and see if we match with people who have the same or similar surnames as us. Sometimes people don't match. This might mean that one of the two people in the comparison might have a female ancestor who had a child with someone other than her husband, or an ancestor may be adopted, or an ancestor took on his mother's name rather than his father's.
What is a surname, anyway?
It's my opinion that surnames are arbitrary anyway. Western Europeans have been using surnames for only about 500 years, with a few going back further. Even then, many families named their children after grandparents who were not along the direct paternal line. For example, Cristobal Baca, the first Baca who came to New Mexico with his family in 1600, had daughters by the names of Juana de Zamora, Isabel de Bohorquez, and Maria de Villanuevo. Spanish explorer Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca (no relation to the other Baca) took his mother's surname rather than his father's because it was more prestigious. I find through my own research that many surnames in New Mexico seem to become standardized by the middle 1600s. However, that's only about 350 to 400 years ago. If we look at each generation being approximately 25 years, we're only talking about 14 to 16 generations. Not much at all.
To add to the confusion, there were many adoptions in New Mexico. Because of war, disease and general bad health, parents sometimes died early. Children were raised by uncles and aunts and other relatives. Sometimes they kept their names, sometimes they took their adopted parents names. In addition, many household had Native American slaves who they adopted. These people often took their slave owner's surnames as their own.
However, a Y-DNA test might be helpful in solving some genealogy problems. I have two of them in my own family tree. The first is that my uncles claim that my great-grandfather Juan C. de Baca y Luna was adopted. They say that we are not actually Bacas. The other is that I'm not too sure about my genealogy past my fifth great-grandfather Juan Antonio Baca. Does it continue straight along the Baca paternal line, or does it veer off towards Josefa Baca, who had children out of wedlock and gave them her last name? I'm closer to answering the 1st problem, but I'm waiting for some responses from other people to try to answer the other. For more information on my quest, read my blog post.
Which Y-DNA test to take
There are five options for Y-DNA testing on FamilyTreeDNA.com: 12, 25, 37, 67, and 111 markers. The more markers, the higher resolution of the test. With higher resolution, you are able to more directly pinpoint how closely two individuals are related to each other. However, both individuals can only compare at the lowest common resolution. For instance, if one person took the 67 marker test and another took the 37 marker test, the resolution will be only as high as the 37 marker test.
Many New Mexicans have ancestry that goes back 12 to 14 generations in New Mexico. Because of this, I believe that 12 marker tests do not have enough resolution to accurately pinpoint someone who is related within that timeframe. According to a chart on the FamilyTreeDNA website (link), a person with an exact match of 12 markers on a 12 marker test has a 50% probability of being related within 7 generations, 90% probability of being related within 26 generations, and 95% probability of 29 generations. If two people only match 11 markers out of 12, the 95% probability goes up to 47 generations. I have people who match me perfectly who have Irish roots. Since my haplotype is Celtic, that's not a surprise. However, the separation between the Spanish Celtiberians and the Irish Celts is over 2,000 years!
25 marker test are better, but not good enough. The same chart shows that someone who matches 25 out of 25 markers is 50% likely to be related within 3 generations, 90% likely to be within 10 generations, and 95% likely to be within 13 generations. This is not close enough within the 12-14 generation timeframe.
37 marker test are probably good enough for most New Mexicans. A perfect match has a 50% probability of 2 to 3 generation separation, 90% probability of 5 generations, and 95% probability of 7 generations. If you are off by one marker, 50% to 95% go from 4 generations to 10 generations. Most people who are close matches to me have taken the 37 marker test. However, if you wish to get a little bit more resolution, try the 67 marker test.
If you are an exact match on the 67 marker test, the 50% to 95% probability range is 2 to 6 generations; off by 1 and it's 4 to 9 generations and off by 2 it's 6 to 14 generations. Many people testing in New Mexico are using the 67 marker test.
Although the 111 marker is an option, I actually believe that it is unnecessary for most New Mexicans. Not many people who have tested have used this option.
I hope this discussion helps out with any questions you may have about Y-DNA testing.
27 May 2013
18 May 2013
July 2013 NMGS Program (NO PROGRAM IN JUNE!)
The Genealogy Center
On the Second Floor of
The Albuquerque Main Library
501
Copper SW
Albuquerque,
New Mexico
(on
the northwest corner of 5th and Copper)
Saturday,
July 20, 2013
10:30
AM – Noon
No
NMGS Program in June!
On June 15, 2013, enjoy the Genealogical
Society of Hispanic America Conference in Albuquerque instead. Click on this
link for more information: http://www.gsha.net/Events.html
July
20, 2013 NMGS Program
The New
Mexico Genealogical Society
Presents a
Genealogy
Brick Walls Workshop
Bring your charts and materials. Ask questions our of genealogy experts.
Break down your genealogy brick walls and discover hidden branches of your
family tree!
We’ll be in the Genealogy Center on the Second Floor of the Main
Albuquerque Library on 5th and Copper. See you there!
For more information about
our programs, check out the New Mexico Genealogical Society’s website at www.nmgs.org.
This program is free and
open to the public.
26 March 2013
April and May NMGS Programs
April 20th Program
The Auditorium
In the Lower Level of
The Albuquerque Main Library
501
Copper SW
Albuquerque,
New Mexico
(on
the northwest corner of 5th and Copper)
Saturday, April 20, 2013
10:30
AM – Noon
Please note that our programs are at a new location this
year!
The New
Mexico Genealogical Society
Presents
Miguél
A. Tórrez
Independent
New Mexico historian and genealogist
The
Espinosa DNA Quest
In
1695, Nicolás de Espinosa, a colonist listed as a Coyote and son of Jose Gomez
and Maria de Espinosa came to New México as a member of the Juan Paez Hurtado.
The origins and ancestry of the contemporary Espinosa families of Northern New
Mexico and Southern Colorado were investigated by comparing genealogies and
Y-DNA test results of male Espinosa participants. The goal of the study was to
determine if Nicolás de Espinosa was indeed the sole progenitor for
contemporary Espinos(z)a families of New Mexican ancestry. Miguél will be
presenting his discovery of the Y-DNA genetic code of the Nicolás de Espinosa
lineage and which 18th century branches belong to this clan.
Miguél
A. Tórrez
is a
research technologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and has his degrees in
Natural Resources, Southwestern Studies and is currently pursuing a BS in
Environmental Science. Miguél has served as a member of the board directors for
the Chimayó Cultural Preservation Association in the capacity of President and
Vice President. He is currently involved in a “Family Tree” project for the
City of Española
For more information about
our programs, check out the New Mexico Genealogical Society’s website at www.nmgs.org.
This program is free and
open to the public.
May 18th Special Workshop:
The Auditorium
In theThe Lower Level of
The Albuquerque Main Library
501
Copper SW
Albuquerque,
New Mexico
(on
the northwest corner of 5th and Copper)
Saturday,
May 18, 2013
10:30
AM – 12 Noon
1:00
PM – 2:30 PM
The New
Mexico Genealogical Society
Presents an
All Day Workshop
FamilyTreeDNA
Of Houston,
Texas
Bennett
Greenspan
Founder and
president of FamilyTreeDNA
Seating
is limited! RSVP Today!
You
may RSVP by sending an email with the heading “Family Tree DNA Workshop” to president@nmgs.org
c/o
New Mexico Genealogical Society
PO
Box 27559
Albuquerque,
NM 87125-7559
Please
include the names and number of people attending
01 March 2013
Member passing: Albert Vidaurre
We at the New Mexico Genealogical Society are sad to report that one of our members passed away recently. According to people who knew him, Albert Vidaurre was a very dedicated and helpful genealogist. Below is his obituary.
"Albert Vidaurre, 65, of Taos, loving husband and father was called home into the arms of the Lord on February 26, 2013. He graduated from Quantico, VA FBI Academy and was a major for the Taos Police Department. His passions were geneology, painting and woodcarving. He is preceded in death by his parents, Juan and Alice Vidaurre and grandparents, Tranqulino and Matilde Romero. He is survived by his wife, Diana, children, John Vidaurre (Terra), Yvonne Vidaurre, Yvette Vidaurre, grandchildren, Christopher Vidaurre and Nekai Tsethlikai, brothers and sisters, Juan (Lydia), Joann (Pat) and Helen Vidaurre, many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
"Public visitation will be held on Monday, March 4, 2013 from 6 to 7 PM at Rivera Chapel. Rosary will be recited on Monday, March 4, 2013 at 7 PM at Rivera Chapel in Taos. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, March 05, 2013 at 9 AM at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Penasco with interment to be held at 3 PM at the Santa Fe National Cemetery."
"Albert Vidaurre, 65, of Taos, loving husband and father was called home into the arms of the Lord on February 26, 2013. He graduated from Quantico, VA FBI Academy and was a major for the Taos Police Department. His passions were geneology, painting and woodcarving. He is preceded in death by his parents, Juan and Alice Vidaurre and grandparents, Tranqulino and Matilde Romero. He is survived by his wife, Diana, children, John Vidaurre (Terra), Yvonne Vidaurre, Yvette Vidaurre, grandchildren, Christopher Vidaurre and Nekai Tsethlikai, brothers and sisters, Juan (Lydia), Joann (Pat) and Helen Vidaurre, many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
"Public visitation will be held on Monday, March 4, 2013 from 6 to 7 PM at Rivera Chapel. Rosary will be recited on Monday, March 4, 2013 at 7 PM at Rivera Chapel in Taos. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, March 05, 2013 at 9 AM at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Penasco with interment to be held at 3 PM at the Santa Fe National Cemetery."
18 February 2013
March 2013 NMGS Program
The Albuquerque Main Library
501 Copper SW
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(on the northwest corner of 5th and Copper)
Saturday,
March 16, 2013
10:30
AM – Noon
Please note that our programs are at a new location this year!
The New
Mexico Genealogical Society
Presents
Family
Historian and Photo Essayist
Historical
Family Images and Artifacts:
A
creative approach to visualizing
and
narrating your family history and genealogy
In
the first part of his presentation, Andrés Armijo will interpret historic
family photographs and artifacts, and demonstrate how to draw on them to
broaden your family history while keeping, and using your genealogical research
as a foundation. He will present
selections from his family history narrative demonstrating creative and
informative approaches. In the second part of his presentation, he will
facilitate a mini-workshop in which you the participant will use your personal
family photographs, artifacts, oral histories and genealogy to create a photo
essay about your family. Bring your photos, small artifacts, genealogy charts
and other family information.
Andrés
Armijo is the author of Becoming a Part of My History and So
that it may be validated: Family History in the Rio Abajo. He holds a
Master’s degree in Southwest Hispanic Studies and a BA in Spanish with a minor
in Flamenco Dance. He maintains a blog at http://Highnoonarmijo.blogspot.com.
This year he became a member of the New Mexico Genealogical Society Board.
For more information about
our programs, check out the New Mexico Genealogical Society’s website at www.nmgs.org.
This program is free and
open to the public.
10 February 2013
Family History Library microfilms at Albuquerque Genealogy Center
Recently, the Genealogy Center at the Albuquerque Main Library became a depository for the LDS Family History Library. As such, microfilm and microfiche that can be ordered through www.familysearch.org can be delivered to the Albuquerque Genealogy Center. For more information, click on this link.
The New Mexico Genealogical Society has ordered a few microfilms that are in indefinate loan to the Genealogy Center. That means they are there until the Family History Library asks for them back. The films were ordered that are now the Albuquerque Main Library are listed below.
Catholic Church. Holy Name of Mary (Del Norte,
Colorado)
|
|||||||
Latin, English
|
|||||||
2 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
|
|||||||
Baptisms
1877-1880 Marriages 1877-1895 Baptism 1881-1942 FHLM 2714
|
|||||||
Baptisms
1942-1957 Communion 1946-1957 Confirmations 1913-1955 Marriages 1876-1957
Deaths 1911-1957
FHLM 2715
|
|||||||
English, Spanish
|
|||||||
El Paso, Texas : Golightly, 1956
|
|||||||
3 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
|
|||||||
English, Spanish
|
El Paso, Texas : Golightly, 1956
|
3 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
|
Confirmations 1877-1956 Communions
1882-1956 Marriages 1852-1956 Deaths 1852-1956 Baptisms 1877-1888 (with deaths
1881-1888) Marriages 1908-1920 (with deaths 1881-1888) FHLM 16829
English, Spanish
|
El Paso, Texas : Golightly, 1957
|
2 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
|
English, Spanish
|
El Paso, Texas : Golightly, 1957
|
2 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
|
English, Spanish, Latin
|
El Paso, Texas : Golightly, 1956
|
3
microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
Baptisms
1874-1911 FHLM 16889
|
English, Spanish, Latin
|
El Paso, Texas : Golightly, 1956
|
3 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
Confirmations
1892-1956 Marriages 1874-1956 Deaths 1883-1956 FHLM 16891
We will be ordering more films in the future. NMGS will only be ordering films that pertain to New Mexico genealogy. If you have any suggestions of films that you wish us to order, please contact us. Please remember that the Genealogy Center already has microfilms from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
If there other microfilms that you wish to order, you may still order them through the Genealogy Center. There will be a fee for each microfilm that you order. Click on this link for more information.
|
09 February 2013
February 2013 NMGS Newsletter
February 2013 NMGS Email Newsletter
1.
Membership Renewal Deadline
2.
Request for volunteers
3.
February 16, 2013 NMGS Program: Francisco Sisneros: ” A Difficult Birth: The Re-Settlement
Families of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de la Joy de Sevilleta, 1800-1819”
Greetings to NMGS members and friends:
February may be the shortest month, but we have a lot to
talk about.
1. Membership Renewal Deadline
If you haven’t renewed your membership for 2013 (or you wish to become a new member), you have
until March 1st to send in your membership before having to pay a
surcharge. It’s only $25 for one year, or $45 for two. Get four quarterly
issues beginning March 2013 and support our society in providing programs and
services for genealogical community. Visit our website at http://nmgs.org/NMGSMemberForm2012.pdf
to print up a form.
2. Request for volunteers
As always, we are looking for volunteers. Our organization
runs on volunteers. We had to put “Primeras Familias de Nuevo Mexico” on hiatus
until we have some help. We always need help in transcribing, data entry and
editing our books. We need someone to be our Publicity Chair. And, ironically,
we also need someone to be our Volunteers Chair in order to organize our
volunteers. Please send me an email at President@nmgs.org
if you wish to volunteer.
3.
February
16, 2013 NMGS PRogram
The Community Room
In the Lower Level
of
The Albuquerque
Main Library
501 Copper SW
Albuquerque, New
Mexico
(on the northwest
corner of 5th and Copper)
Saturday, February
16, 2013
10:30 AM – Noon
Please note that
our programs are at a new location this year!
The New Mexico
Genealogical Society
Presents
Francisco Sisneros
Noted genealogist
“A Difficult Birth:
The Re-Settlement Families of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de la Joya de
Sevilleta, 1800-1819”
La Joya de Sevilleta, located
strategically in central New Mexico along the Camino Real, was already a large
community before 1819. This presentation will discuss events beginning in 1800
leading up to the conveyance of the La Joya de Sevilleta land grant in 1819,
and will focus on the re-settlement families, the surprising places they came
from, and the difficulties they endured.
Francisco Sisneros is a life-long
student of New Mexico history and culture. As time has permitted over the last
33 years, he has researched numerous articles and made many presentations on
these topics. He and his wife Inez live in Casa Colorada, New Mexico.
After Francisco’s presentation,
join members of the New Mexico Genealogical Society on the 2nd Floor at the
Genealogy Center to research your own genealogy and answer any questions that
you may have.
For more information about our
programs, check out the New Mexico Genealogical Society’s website at
www.nmgs.org.
This program is free and open to
the public.
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