Purpose of This Research
Two West lines, previously unconnected, were found to be related through a Y-DNA test from the West Surname DNA Project. We are trying to find the most common recent ancestor between these West lines by "doing the paperwork." We are excited to have a 25/25 marker Y-DNA match between the two lines.
We've posted information on our ancestors, and will add information as we find it.
Our Brick Walls
William Nelson West, was b 1775 in North Carolina or "Old Virginny," and first appears in records in Sumter County, SC in 1779. He migrated from SC, with his wife's parents (Shadrach and Hopey Rogers) about 1818 to Mississippi, where he died in 1846.
James C. West, was b c 1809, in South Carolina. He migrated to Georgia (possibly) to Pike Co., Ala. by 1840, to Walton Co., Fla. by 1850, and to Wayne Co., MS by the 1860 US Census. Family tradition says his family was from "Old 96 District" in SC, which was broken in 1795 into Abbeville, Edgefield, Newberry, Laurens, and Spartanburg Counties. Common migration patterns suggest his father was James West, b ca 1792 in North Carolina.
Names and Places Sound Familiar?
Do you have information about the parents, siblings, or early family groups of William Nelson West or James C. West? Have you run across these men in your own research? Can you help us eliminate other West families in the Carolinas? If you can like help us solve this puzzle, please contact us.
Join Our WEST Surname DNA Project
This genealogy by DNA project, administered by Dennis West, is for everyone researching the WEST surname. This new method of genealogy research is helping us break down those "brick walls" and solve puzzles when there is no paper trail. We are very excited about the potential of this technology to aid in our genealogy quest, and hope that many of you will join us in this effort.
With our first 88 participants we have been able to identify at least 39 unrelated WEST lines, and we have 19 family groups. Obviously we are a very diverse group. As more WESTs participate in this project, the benefit to all WEST researchers increases.
Much more information is available of the West Surname NDA Project website.