Week 17 - DNA - Conner Family

 DNA does not lie.

That is what they say. So, as I was questioning the Conner origins, doing a DNA test would be able to help clear up any controversy. Right?

My husband Dan was a tall, red-headed young man when we met in High School. I soon learned he was the son of another tall, red-headed man. And his dad's brother also had red hair when younger and even went by the name of 'Red'.

With a name like Conner - I was excited to meet, date and eventually marry an Irishman. And his mom was a Daly!

Back in the early1970's there was no such thing as computers, cell phones and DNA testing.  So, I began researching his family the old-fashioned way...by mail, utilizing the local Family Search library, and subscribing to genealogy magazines. My favorite thing to do was take a 'road trip' and my husband was wonderful about driving me about.

His grandfather George Conner was born in Michigan. Great-grandfather William Conner had been born in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. And 2x great grandfather Jacob Conner was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania! And so was 3x great grandfather Conrad Conner. 4x great grandfather William was born in 1757 in New York. Where was Ireland?

As I worked my way back through birth, marriage, death, census records (remember, I had to write to all of the courthouses, send some money and then wait for their reply) there began to be more questions than answers.

Canadian census records ask a person's religion. Something that the United States doesn't ask. And from 1851, 1861, 1871...all the way to 1901...our Conner people stated they were Methodist or German Methodist. And nationalities were German, not Irish. Little hints began to come out - no Michael or Patrick names - lots of Conrad, Jacob, Eli, Isaac....

As I researched more into Pennsylvania, I began to look for Quaker records, off the beaten path records, Wills, Probate and land records. Never a definite answer, but just enough to keep the doubts going.

With the advent of DNA testing, I was one of the first to sign up. Dan's dad had passed away when Dan was only 6 years old...but his dad's brother (Uncle George) was still alive then. I offered to pay for the testing and luckily, he said yes. I purchased it, sent it off by mail to him and made the account and waited. And when the results came back - no Irish! German, Northwestern European, Scottish, French (his mother was a Robinet - French Canadian).  Over the last 20 years, DNA results have evolved and now the results are Germanic Europe, Northwestern European, Scottish, French and Irish (2%).

So, I feel that our Conner name is not classified Irish, but definitely German and Scottish. 

That 4x great grandfather William and his wife Rachel (Lemon) had seven children born in Pennsylvania. All of them and their children lived and died in Whitchurch and Stouffville, Ontario, Canada. 

3x great grandfather Conrad and his wife Elizabeth (Keeler) had 13 children. Two of their sons John and James came into Michigan and settled in Isabella County. Conrad and Elizabeth died in Whitchurch, Canada.


1861 Whitchurch, Ontario, Canada census - Religion:  Mennonist

2x great grandfather Jacob and his wife Diantha (Graham) were the parents of seven living children. Five of those children migrated into Michigan: William, Ada, Archibald, Franklin and Edward. Jacob and Diantha lived and died in Stouffville, Canada6+

53.2.

1871 Whitchurch, Ontario, Canada census - Religion:  Methodist
Origin:  German

William Conner (b1864) was the first of Dan's direct line to come to the United States. He arrived 17 Mar 1902 from Sarnia, Canada into Port Huron, Michigan via the Grand Trunk Railroad. He married Ruth (Kipp) in 1907, who he met after arriving in the Lapeer, Michigan area. He became an American citizen in 1926.



<From the History of Stouffville/Whitchurch (Ontario, Canada)....

Settlers began to arrive in Whitchurch Township as early as 1794 and came from a variety of backgrounds. Among the very first settlers to Whitchurch were a group of about 40 Quaker families led by Timothy Rogers. The Quakers came mostly from Pennsylvania, Vermont and New York and settled in the northeast part of Whitchurch in 1801. Hessian (German) soldiers, who had been hired by the British to help fight in the American War of Independence, received parcels of land as payment for their military service. Frederic Baron de Hoen was one such officer who received a total of 13 farm lots or 2600 acres. Those who settled in the southeast part of Whitchurch near Stouffville, were mostly Mennonites from the United States and arrived during the early 1800s.>

I'm still on the fence - German, Scottish or Pennsylvania Dutch? The search is on!

Barbie




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