yDNA Results

The yDNA analysis of groups and their migration patterns is changing rapidly as new data comes online. In fact, the name of our subgroup has changed several times and is now I2a2a or I-M223; it was formerly I2B1.

We now have results from twelve matching DNA tests, plus a partial test that was done at the now defunct Sorenson lab. Results are posted in the matrix below.

The Anthony Bryant line has two tests and both show a distinctive mutation on DYS 576; it probably occurred with Anthony himself, as it is found in descendants of two different sons but not in Anthony's brothers. Another mutation on DYS 570 occurred in the line of Anthony's son, David, sometime within the last four generations.

The Austin Bryant line has 3 tests. One is from a descendant of his son Reuben whose results match our overall baseline. The other two tests are from descendants of this line Austin > Elisha > James Madison. Both show a mutation on DYS 19. This marker is generally slow to mutate; the rate is estimated at ten times less frequent than DYS 576. The mutation occurred in either either Elisha or James Madison.

We have 6 DNA tests on the John Jr. line. Three are a perfect match, and along with the Austin > Reuben >Henry K. results, they establish the baseline for our family group, meaning that they represent the DNA signature of John Bryant Sr. The 4th test in the John Jr. line was from a descendant of James who married Eudocia Littrell; he showed a mutation on CDYa. Due to conflicting censuses, it's unclear whether James was a son or grandson of John Jr. If grandson, the CDYa mutation occurred in James' unknown father, in James, or in one of his descendants. The 5th test was from a descendant of Howard Bryant, who had a mutation on 385b that occurred in John III, Howard, or one of his descendants.

The 6th test is an outlier in the John Jr. line. It was for a descendant of Harmon Bryant. He was a 34/37 match for descendants of John Bryant Jr. and did not match anyone else in the FTDNA database. One of his variations is DYS570, which has a very fast mutation rate and has also mutated in the Anthony line. Another is DYS449, another very fast mutator; however, this is the first time we have seen a mutation on this marker in our line. The third is DYS390, again, a fast mutator but not one that we have previously seen. Thus, the Harmon line has a very distinctive DNA signature.

These are the markers that have mutated:

NPEs and the Ballew connection

Now, we will move to the topic of non-paternity events (NPEs). Many people think that men with the surname should belong to the same haplogroup. That's not how it works. Surnames are a relatively modern invention and emerged late in some countries, such as Scotland. Also, surnames and DNA are shuffled by adoptions, name changes, rape, and children born out-of-wedlock. These events are collectively called NPEs.

To elaborate on NPEs, men and women lived much shorter life spans until recently. If the father of a male child died and the mother remarried, the stepfather might adopt the boy. DNA remains the same but his name changes. Alternatively, if both parents died, a brother or sister might adopt a sibling's child. Over many generations, the probability of NPEs will increase substantially—in all family lines, so haplotypes must be used in combination with traditional genealogy.

We have an unbroken DNA line back to John Bryant, Sr. of Rock Island Creek, Buckingham Co. Va born before 1732. The NPE comes into play because a pair of half brothers with different surnames (Ballow and Taintor) match our yDNA. These half brothers can trace their heritage back to an Alvin Riley Ballow but beyond that it gets sketchy.

When we first discovered the Ballow connection, the presumed paternity of the half-brothers was as follows: Meredith "Owen" Ballou or Ballow>Baker Ballow b. abt. 1811>James Meredith Ballow>Alvin Riley Ballow>the two half brothers. Recently, the family has changed their earliest known ancestor to James "Billie" Madison Ballew b. 1873 in Louisiana. Trees like this one trace the man who died 1955 in Fannin Co, Texas back to Albemarle, Buckingham and Bedford Counties, Va: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12521421/person/-239939462

Unfortunately, due to a lack of collaboration with Ballew researchers, we can only interpret the data they present. Some of this appears questionable. The man who died 1955 in Fannin Co was clearly the Jim M. Ballew b. 1873 in AR ennumerated in the 1940 Grayson Co, Tx census with a wife named Betty b. 1884 in TN and mother Helen b. 1857 in TN. In 1830, the Ballew researchers think he was ennumerated in Dawson Co, Texas as James M. Ballew b. 1876 in AR with a wife named Ellie E. born 1878 in Tn. This could be the same man but the distance between Fannin and Grayson Counties is considerable, and the men have wives with different names. Setting those issues aside for a moment, we follow their trace back in time. In the 1900 census, he becomes a James Ballew b. 1874 in Louisiana with a wife named Ella b. 1879 in Tn. Even if we can accept the accumulating inconsistencies, an egregious problem arises. Ballew researchers trace him back to an 1880 census in Dallas, Tx as a Jas. M. Ballew b. 1847 in Georgia.

To date, it appears that our Ballew DNA matches are still searching for their genealogical heritage. Until that becomes clear, we'll have to revert back to what we know. Murrays, Bryants and Ballews can trace a connection back to the the 1700s in Buckingham Co, Va, when a Ballowe owned land near Richard Murray. Later, in 1772, Thomas Ballow and Elizabeth Ballow witnessed the will of Richard Murray in Buckingham County. In 1882, T. H. Ballowe and W. S. Ballowe witnessed the will of Richard Murray's presumed great great grandson, Henry K. Bryant, also in Buckingham Co.

3/7/18 Update: Several more descendants have tested since the chart above was compiled. One of those has the surname of Williams. This is not a NPE but a documented surname change from Bryant to Williams. The descendant's line is as follows: John Bryant Sr > Anthony > Richard B. Bryant> Edwin Bryant > John B. Bryant > Stephen Lee Bryant/Williams (The surname change occurred with Edwin's son). Another test subject (JRB) has this lineage: John Bryant Sr > Anthony > David P. > Anthony Murray. Both of these men have a value of 19 on DYS that is distinctive of the Anthony line.

Additionally, we have a new match with the surname of Prather. Since he does not match any Prathers but does closely match our Bryant line, we know that somewhere in his father's father's father's line is a male Bryant. Based on a marker match, that person appears to have been John Bryant III or one of his sons who apparently had a child with a Prather.