Hello Everyone, I am looking for advice from anyone who might have been involved in a DNA study to determine ancestry...Particularly the number of samples needed and whether "controls", ie, other possibilities were included. My case... I am in the process of getting cousins together to support a DNA study regarding the ancestry of my great grandfather Hugh Lawson White Hill, b. March 1840, in Warren Co TN. There is a great deal of circumstantial evidence that his father is Hugh Lawson White Hill, b. 1810, a Congressman and son of a man, Henry John Alexander Hill, who had two families, legit and not legit, who lived side by side, buried with both wife & consort, etc. (It's all on "the web" several places). Circumstantial evidence regarding HLW Hill b. 1840, is HLW Hill, b. 1810 -- among other evidence, he gave no sons any version of his name (a shocker for that family), proximity, info at the time regarding the possible father's "love" of women, and a letter I am still trying to find stating that HLW Hill, b. 1810, had a bastard (how mine's descendants refer to him) right before his May wedding and the bride was ticked off mightily about it and everyone knew. FYI, the will of HLW b. 1810, relevant estate papers are lost, burned, etc. Anyway, in going through my aunt's old letters, I find that she thought at one point maybe he was a Miller (living with Miller family in 1850), and got mad, ran away in 1854, dropped the Miller part. He DID later go back to Warren Co, retrieve Miller children he called his half siblings, etc. and brought them to Lawrence Co Missouri. Of course, MILLER could be via the mother. Anyway, I have four of my HLW Hill, b. 1840s, grandsons still alive, at least three of whom I am sure I could get samples. I have no doubt I can find descendants of Henry John Alexander Hill willing to participate (all expenses paid, of course), as we have actually been accepted as part of the family (also "on the web"). I don't think I can find a descendant of the Miller "half-siblings" that came to Missouri, because the one male went to "Yoming" per letter of 1885. But I am looking. I have followed DNA studies on a couple of other lines and am always struck by the fact that they are based on minimal samples, with little thought to comparisons with persons of the same name. I've never seen the details of any results to be able to interpret the "it's a match" claims, but have been led to believe that variations do appear over time. It seems as though usually (Jefferson studies excepted), there are two, maybe three samples involved. Anyway, I realize what I am thinking about is a bit complicated, but would appreciate any advice. I took too many science classes in high school and college. (Never again! Astronomy did me i). Maybe I am complicating it too much. Maybe if a DNA study shows a "match" with Henry JA's descendants, I can conclude that we are of that clan, if nothing else (and yes, I do know exactly which of his sons, cousins might also be the "culprits" shall we say). FYI. Of the four grandchildren in question, three descend from different sons, and I know two are tickled pink (origins of that expression??) about the whole thing. Thanks in advance, There are a whole lot of folks that would be happy to get some better "evidence". Janet (Baugh) Hunter To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html