Month: July 2018

Why Are My Y-DNA Surnames Different Than Mine?

When my father submitted his DNA, he submitted an Autosomal test to Ancestry.com and a Y-DNA test to FamilytreeDNA.com.  The Autosomal testing would help us identify more recent relatives (within the past 5-8 generations), and Y-DNA would help us identify the origin of our surname.  When the Y-DNA results came in, my father’s matches were men with the surname O’Byrne, Byrne, Burns, etc.

The results were confusing to us so we joined the O’Byrne  Surname Project on FTDNA.  The project researchers study the male DNA to determine the origin.  Here is what we learned:

Thank you for notifying me of Jerry’s Z255  pack result.  His confirmed Haplogroup as you said is A5411. I did mention that I thought he might be Z16950. He is positive for it as it is above A5411. Looking at his matches at 67 a few of his closer matches were Z16950 which is why I predicted this one. Great to see that he is A5411. On our SNP chart I will now move Jerry from the Z255 group and into Lineage 1e.  You can see from the chart that that A5411 is the ancestor a large group of six lineages 1e to 1j and is dated as 1250 AD. I think this confirms Jerry’s O’Byrne Clan of Leinster ancestry.

Fortunately, the project managers are very skilled researchers.  We gained much infomation about our origin from them.  We descend from the O’Byrne Clan out of Leinster, Ireland dating back to 1250 AD.

Our Autosomal results were interesting.  We had matches to cousins on many sides, but none to the Cubbison lineage.  I looked for O’Byrne cousins and was not able to find any.   This became the beginning of a two year research project. I had to trace my father’s genetic past from the DNA results instead of the family tree paper trail.  I discovered a non-paternal event in the 1870’s in my father’s line.  My great-grandfather descended from a male neighbor.  My research timeline.

 

 

 

 

 

Reaching Out To Others

Inevitably, while tracking down DNA matches, you will find a match that sends you reeling.  Reeling because suddenly there is a new name in your tree.  You found that match through the curiosity of a DNA match which shows you related to someone or some family with a completely different name than those you have been using from either family records or oral tradition.

While this is extremely exciting for you, and may actually be met with disbelief or awe in your family; before reaching out to the others – REMEMBER that the information you are asking them to share with you (or that you want to share with them) may actually be hidden behind a deeply held belief of “we never talk about that”.  Your inquiry may actually cause another DNA enthusiast pain and grief.  Be cautious and considerate.

Tell the other person your story, about how you have seen these DNA matches and that you are curious as to how the connection might be possible.  Ask them if they are willing to share.  If they are willing to share, go slowly and be gentle.

Consider their level of activity on the DNA site, if they are always logging in and spending time building and researching ( you can find this in the member’s site or their postings) they may be more open to your outreach.

If your DNA research is true and valid, you have your truth.  The other person’s  matches to your DNA may not yet be their truth.

William McCurdy Cubbison: Two Families

William McCurdy Cubbison was born in Indiana in 1872.  He married Nellie Hadley, a Quaker, in 1893.  They lived together in Burr Oak Kansas and had three boys; John Franklin Cubbison “Frank”, Albert Jennings Cubbison “Matt”, and James Funston Cubbison.  According to the Census, they were living together in 1900 in Burr Oak, Kansas.  By 1907, the following article appeared in a Nebraska newspaper.  And thus, my search began….

In order to find additional information, I had to look for court records.  I reached out to Platte Valley Kinseekers, in Columbus, Nebraska and asked them for assistance.  Carol Jacobs agreed to assist me.  She went to the court house, copied the records and mailed them to me.

My great-grandmother, Nellie, was an incredibly strong woman.  She was notified of the circumstances with her husband on June 27, 1906.

Mrs. Wm. Cubbison,

Dear Madam,  Mr. W. Cubbison is keeping company with a lady friend of mine.  He claims that you left him and I have heard that he left you in destitute circumstances with three children to suffer and is not divorced.  You would do a great favor to this lady and also myself as her friend if you would write me giving the true state of affairs.

Respectfully, J. A. Canfield

At some point, Nellie Hadlie sent her brother-in-law, Arthur Garmon (married to her sister, Flora E. Hadley), to Nebraska to see if what she was hearing was true.

The witnesses in the case against Mr. Cubbison were, Nellie Hadley, John Regan, Mrs. John Regan, and Nellie Regan.  William McCurdy Cubbison left his wife and children and went to Nebraska.  He married another woman, Nellie Regan, in St. Joseph’s Church on Oct. 14, 1904.   Mr. Cubbison and his wife Nellie Regan had a daughter named Maureen Irene Regan who was born in 1907.  My family shares DNA with descendants of Maurine Regan.  She is my grandfather’s half-sister.

Nellie Hadley was a witness and provided many letters written to her from her husband.  In those letters he wrote,

September 11, 1901

Dear wife I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know how we are getting along.  We are about 101 miles from Burr Oak at this writing.  Talk about their not being any corn in the country.  We have traveled ever since yesterday at 3 o’clock in corn.  That will make from 25 to 50 bushels.  And wheat made from 30 to 40.  I tell you wife this is a nice country.  We have traveled since yesterday noon.   You can see for 25 miles where we are at now if it was not for the timber planted around the farm house, you could see that much further….

Raleigh, Nebraska, Oct. 29

Dear wife, I will write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope that these lines will find you well and the baby the same.  How is my baby boy?  I would like to see him. (much more)

Nellie Hadley and Mr. Cubbison reunited after his release from jail and they had a 4th son, Richard “Jack” Cubbison in 1912.  On June 26, 1916, my grandfather was born in Milford , Nebraska.

Nellie Hadley with grandson’s, Lloyd and Jerry.
My grandfather: “Cubby” Charles Chester Cubbison

William McCurdy Cubbison did not settle down.  My grandfather never knew his father.  William McCurdy Cubbison died in Sundance Wyoming, alone, in 1929.  Nellie Hadley is buried with three of her sons in Sundance Wyoming.  She was a wonderful grandmother to my father and left him many wonderful memories.

Interesting Research Discoveries

Researching family history is most enjoyable when you make new discoveries.  I have made many new discoveries, for my self and others.  Some of the discoveries come from researching documents and records, while others come from understanding the genetic trail left behind by our DNA.  Although we never can anticipate what we might find, we might find some family secrets, which were embarrassing at the time.   I have found it helpful to put the information into context.  What year did the event happen and what were the circumstances?  Trying to better understand life at the time and setting aside judgement and emotion, might be necessary to fully enjoy what you might find.  I have many interesting discoveries to share and hope you find them as interesting as I have.   This article refers to my great-grandfather, William McCurdy Cubbison.  It is an interesting read!    William McCurdy Cubbison: Two Families