Hi Anita: You are correct on both points. Jane. -----Original Message----- >From: Anita Wills <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Oct 20, 2008 5:31 PM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] New Presidential Descendant Claimant > >A DNA test can only prove a direct descent, along maternal (for females), and paternal lines (for males), although males can also be tested for Mitochondrial (female) DNA. The problem may be in finding a relative who is on that straight line. When I had my DNA test taken, it was through my straight maternal line. There are others in the family who have taken tests (my brother for paternal/maternal) to prove direct descendancy. I don't know if that is the issue, but if so one way to resolve it is to find a relative on that direct line. > >I saw a story many years ago about a lady who stated she was a direct descendant of James Madison. > >Anita > >> Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:46:16 -0400 >> From: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: New Presidential Descendant Claimant >> To: [log in to unmask] >> >> Today's Richmond Times Dispatch had an article about a Massachusetts >> pediatrician who claims via oral history to be descended from James >> Madison's father and from James Madison. Difficulties in getting >> genetic testing done and by whom, etc. are preventing forward motion >> at the moment. >> >> The Washington Post's Jonathan Mummolo wrote the article and in it was >> a paragraph: "Despite genetic evidence that has linked Hemmings' line >> to Jefferson's family, and documentary evidence that historians say >> points to Jefferson as the father, there are still some who deny the >> link." >> >> The first part about linking SH's line to Jefferson's family is true >> via DNA. The second part about documentary evidence is highly >> contested and cannot be ascertained with certainty. The third part >> goes completely off the rails by tarring those who might deny that TJ >> was the father. >> >> Of such things is disinformation promulgated. The first step is to >> make a statement that is true. Then you warp it one degree as the >> second part did, and then the third part is introduced as the new >> "truth" and we're off to the Goebbels finals with a flourish. >> >> Let the fireworks begin. >> >> Lyle Browning >> >> ______________________________________ >> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at >> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html > >_________________________________________________________________ >Stay organized with simple drag and drop from Windows Live Hotmail. >http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_102008 >______________________________________ >To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at >http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html Lillian Jane Steele ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html