Genealogy Wish List: Searching for Cousins to Help Solve Deep Puzzles
DNA testing is an important way to solve genealogy problems by combining science with traditional research. My research focuses on several ancestral lines of Jack Long and Polly Kendall. I have identified candidates for many of these, but finding an interested potential cousin is often the hardest part of the puzzle. For some of these puzzles, I already have a hypothesis that I hope to test by seeing if two descendants match. Genealogist Roberta Estes suggested offering "DNA Scholarships" to living descendants who might carry a specific DNA signature (or haplogroup) that matches a specific ancestor who represents a "brick wall" in your family tree.
Here is my current DNA Wish List, broken down by the type of DNA required to crack the case.
#1: James Kennedy (born ~1769 Pennsylvania, died after 1850 Paulding, Ohio)
Goal: Determine if James Kennedy is a son of James Kennedy of Chester County Ohio.
We have Y DNA results for two brothers of James Kennedy Sr., William and Hugh, and one likely son, another William. James Kennedy Sr. had several others sons, but all male Kennedy lines I have traced down from James Sr. seem to have died out except for one that leads to William Herbert Kennedy (1920-1998). Three living male adult Kennedys descend from that William Herbert, and they currently represent the best and last opportunity to confirm this lineage. The tester would need to be a male Kennedy with direct patrilineal descent and he would need to do some kind of advanced Y DNA test so we can confirm descent from James Kennedy Sr. For more information see this post.
mtDNA Priorities (Maternal line Descendants)
While #1 goal involves Y DNA, my other wish list targets need to follow a maternal line. Men inherit it but do not pass it on; women inherit and pass it on, so the tester must have descent from the ancestor through females only.
#2: Agnes Alley (born ~1756, died 1790?)
Goal: Determine if Agnes, wife of Jonathan Alley, was indeed a Morford daughter of James Morford and Rachel Dye. We have mitochondrial DNA results that trace back to Rachel's presumed sister Grace/Ann Dye Long. I am actively seeking a matrilineal descendant of Agnes Alley to see if her mitochondrial signature matches that of Grace's descendant. For more information see this post.
Status: I have identified a few promising candidates as of late 2025 and am hoping one will be willing to accept a scholarship to test.
#3. Wife of George Barmore, through daughter Elizabeth Barmore Shirley or granddaughters Mary Polly Rhoney, or Elizabeth Roane
Goal: George Barmore had three daughters, Elizabeth (1743-1814) who married John Shirley, a daughter who married Jonathan Rhoney, and a daughter who I think married Archibald Morrison. I have identified two likely daughters of Jonathan Rhoney: Elizabeth Roane Bonner (1771-1790), wife of Dempsey Allen Bonner, and Mary Polly Rhoney, wife of Squire Alexander. For more information see this post.
Status: I have contacted a lot of matrilineal descendants and remain hopeful that one will be willing to test.
#4. Sarah (Wife of Johann/John Reinhardt/Rinard)
Goal: Seeking matrilineal descendants of Sarah, wife of John Rinard of Bedford, colonial Pennsylvania, who had daughters Elizabeth Rinard Hinish, Christina Rinard Swartz, Sarah Rinard, and Martalina Rinard. Based on autosomal DNA matches, I suspect that one of the wives of my Slaughter ancestors was a sister of Sarah.
Status: Over the last few years, I have contacted nearly a dozen potential candidates. We only need one completed test to identify Sarah's family.
#5. Sarah South (Sister of Keziah South) or sisters of their mother Sarah Gilpin
Goal: My goal is to determine if my Barmore ancestors were daughters of Kezia South, who was a wife of Jonathan Barmore. Testing descendants of her sister Sarah South Danser or sisters of her mother Sarah Lydia Gilpin would allow us to confirm the maternal origins of the three older Barmore children. The will of Kezia's father, Joseph South, names the two younger Barmore boys as her children. For more information, see this post.
Status: Several descendants have been contacted. I am patiently waiting for a descendant ready to take the plunge to help us confirm this lineage.
#6: Mary Buchanan Hartley
Goal: Identify the maternal lineage of Mary Buchanan (1789-1881), wife of Mahlon Hartley Jr. Autosomal DNA matches strongly suggest that Mary's mother was a member of my Kennedy family. For more information see this post.
Status: Success in progress! I successfully connected with a descendant who was willing to help. A kit was ordered in late November, and we are eagerly awaiting the return of the sample.
The Strategy: Confirmation vs. Discovery
My current wish list utilizes two different strategies:
Hypothesis Confirmation (using YSEQ or FTDNA): In some cases, I have a specific theory (e.g., "Family A is related to Family B"). Here, I need a targeted test to compare a new test subject against an existing one. If the markers match, the hypothesis is supported.
Possible Ancestor Identification (FamilyTreeDNA): In other cases, I am looking to "fish" in the main database. I need a descendant to take a full sequence test to populate a match list. This helps identify potential ancestors by seeing who else the test subject matches with in the global database.
Summary
Genealogy is a marathon, not a sprint. While waiting for emails to be answered and kits to be returned can be frustrating, each "DNA Scholarship" accepted is a permanent victory for our collective family history.
If you believe you know someone with the required connection to any of these lines, please let me know!
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