A DF41+ Stevens/Stephens Group

[Stevo]

You all may be aware of this, but one of the ancient samples in the Patterson et al paper, Large-scale migration into Britain during the Middle to Late Bronze Age, is R1b-DF41. He's sample I16469, radiocarbon dated to 1090-900 BC, from Raven Scar Cave in North Yorkshire, England. The paper itself got him only as far as R1b-P312, but Alex Williamson has taken a deeper look at the Y-DNA data and has him at R1b-DF41.

Here's the paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04287-4

Here's Alex's analysis of the Y-DNA data (search for I16469 or for DF41):

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1ZkUK42bC3CUBn9PLhreYOYmOI2AWiptTEmYonMNao5c/htmlview#

Raven Scar Cave: https://goo.gl/maps/h4AP8BrDyzg5RBfT9

[Stevo]

Augustine Stevens descendant tree_R1b-FGC36982 privacy mode.jpgHere's a graphic I probably posted in this thread already, but I just finished cleaning it up tonight using a different font, because it was looking faded. Not sure how that happens with computer stuff, but it did.

Anyway, it shows known Y-DNA descent from my fifth great grandfather, Augustine Stevens, who was born about 1750, probably in Maryland. His wife, Sophia Young, was also born about 1750, but in England. That's my grandfather in the lower left (Clifton LeViers Stevens). I'm not sure where his middle name, LeViers, comes from. That name, which looks like a French surname, appears nowhere in my family tree.

Ever make any graphics like that, using old photos of ancestors or of their tombstones?

Notice some things about this tree. Auguston Stevens was born in Wheeling, [West] Virginia, and John Stevens was born in Brooke County, [West] Virginia, just north of Wheeling. Amos Stevens, David W. Stevens, and Amos Young Stevens were all born in Columbiana County, Ohio, while James Holmes Stevens was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, which borders Columbiana County on the east (right next door).

Here's another thing. Everybody on that tree shares the SNP FGC36982, but only kits 59080 (me), 623694 (my second cousin), 870841 (my second cousin once removed), and N40760 (my second cousin once removed) share the SNP FGC36981, one step downstream of FGC36982. That's how we know Augustine Stevens was derived (positive) for FGC36982 but ancestral (negative) for FGC36981, because everyone on that tree is descended from him, but not everyone on the tree is derived for FGC36981. Only the descendants of Augustine's great grandson James Holmes Stevens are. We don't know the FGC36981 status of Augustine's grandson Auguston or of Auguston's father because we don't have any of their Y-DNA descendants tested yet who are not also descendants of James Holmes Stevens.

[Stevo]

Here's something interesting. A SNP has been discovered between BY166 and FT83585: FT92330. All the guys who are derived (positive) for FT83585 are derived for FT92330, but there's at least one guy, with ancestral origin in Ireland, who is derived for FT92330 but ancestral (negative) for FT83585. Fascinating!

I like it when previously unknown SNPs like this are uncovered due to Big Y-700 testing, although it creates a lot of work for me, since I have to go back and update all the tree graphics I have made.

Why does this matter? Because all of us Stephens/Stevens bunch are derived for FT92330, so it's a new one for us.

R1b-FT92330 Tree.jpg

[Stevo]

It's kind of aggravating being the one person in my group of Y-DNA matches and family members who is on fire for genetic genealogy and genealogy in general. When I post on my project's activity feed and elsewhere (like here) I feel like I'm talking to myself. Sigh . . .

Guess I shouldn't complain. I've been blessed with many really good Stephens/Stevens matches, both with Y-DNA and autosomal DNA. Some of them have been really significant. God has really blessed me.

[Stevo]

It's kind of aggravating being the one person in my group of Y-DNA matches and family members who is on fire for genetic genealogy and genealogy in general. When I post on my project's activity feed and elsewhere (like here) I feel like I'm talking to myself. Sigh . . .

[Stevo]

Here's a short, redacted summary of some of the evidence from DNA testing.

Big Y-700 match (Family Tree DNA of Houston, Texas): SNP FGC36982; 757/758 STR match (99.868%) to a man with my surname (Stevens) who has an excellent, well-documented paper trail to Augustine Stevens and his wife Sophia Young through their son, Amos H. Stevens (b. 1778). Based on this Y-DNA match, Family Tree DNA estimates that there is a 99% chance that this documented descendant of Augustine Stevens and I share a common Y-DNA ancestor within the last eight generations. (Augustine is 6 generations back from him and 7 generations back from me.)

Y-DNA matches (Family Tree DNA of Houston, Texas) to two Y-chromosome descendants of Benjamin Stevens Sr. (1737-1811) of Fayette Co., PA, identified by professional genealogist Joan Peake as probably a brother of Augustine Stevens. One of those matches has been Big Y-500 tested: terminal SNP FGC36974, which is just upstream of FGC36982. He is a 106/111 STR match for me (626/634 STRs based on his Big Y-500 and my Big Y-700: 98.7%). The second of those descendants of Benjamin Stevens Sr. is a 104/111 Y-DNA STR match for me (he has not had any Big Y testing).

Note: Augustine Stevens is mentioned in the will of Samuel Stevens, documented brother of Benjamin Stevens Sr. Augustine was also a witness to the will and signed it.

Y-DNA match (Family Tree DNA, Houston, Texas) to a documented Y-DNA descendant of Obadiah Stevens (b. 9 Oct 1787), who was born and lived in Fayette Co., PA, at the time when Augustine Stevens and Sophia Young lived there and who, as this descendant’s Y-DNA matches prove, was closely related to Augustine. Big Y-500 tested. Terminal SNP PF5064, one step downstream of FGC36974. 107/111 Y-DNA STR match (666/670 STR match based on his Big Y-500 and my Big Y-700: 99.4%).


Autosomal DNA:
I have seven autosomal DNA matches to descendants of Amos H. Stevens, best documented son of Augustine Stevens and his wife Sophia Young: one via Amos H.’s son Amos Stevens (b. 1815); two via Amos H.’s daughter Nancy Stevens (b. 1801); three via Amos H.’s son Daniel Stevens (b. 1822); and one via Amos H.’s daughter Hannah Stevens (b. 1813).

One autosomal DNA match of 17.4 cMs across 1 segment (AncestryDNA) to a descendant of Benjamin Stevens Sr. (1737-1811). She is the 4th great granddaughter of Benjamin Stevens Jr. (son of Benjamin Stevens Sr., ancestor of the two Y-DNA matches mentioned above) and his wife Sophia Peairs via their daughter Elizabeth Stevens (b. about 1812), who married William Boyd.

[Stevo]

Stevo, you could contact the genealogy society library for the area where Augustine Stevens and Sophia Young lived and see about sending them a copy to preserve. If you feel that multiple genealogy libraries are relevant places for the information, you could send it to more than one. If you ware worried about living people being listed and that information getting out there too soon, you could have copies printed up and kept with your lawyer and have in your will such that they get sent upon your death. You could even have something saying each of your progeny is to receive a copy at that time. Some might throw their copy away, but at least there would be multiple copies out there. Or have a copy attached to your will to be filed with the will to be found by some researcher many years from now when they look up your will, the treasure trove they may be looking for if the information has been forgotten by then.

Great ideas! Thanks!

[bhemph]

Stevo, you could contact the genealogy society library for the area where Augustine Stevens and Sophia Young lived and see about sending them a copy to preserve. If you feel that multiple genealogy libraries are relevant places for the information, you could send it to more than one. If you ware worried about living people being listed and that information getting out there too soon, you could have copies printed up and kept with your lawyer and have in your will such that they get sent upon your death. You could even have something saying each of your progeny is to receive a copy at that time. Some might throw their copy away, but at least there would be multiple copies out there. Or have a copy attached to your will to be filed with the will to be found by some researcher many years from now when they look up your will, the treasure trove they may be looking for if the information has been forgotten by then.

[Stevo]

A while back I typed up a paper I entitled, "Simple Summary Explaining How I Know Augustine Stevens and His Wife Sophia Young Are My Fifth Great Grandparents". I want to preserve that paper so that all I have learned about my Y-DNA line through DNA testing does not pass away when I pass away. I emailed a copy to my youngest son and asked him to save it to his hard drive, and he said he did. That's great, but he's not particularly interested in genealogy. I'm hoping at least one of his kids - he has three, two boys and a girl - develops an interest in it eventually and can make good use of the information.

I'd like to add the paper to "Sources" at Ancestry, but it contains the names of many of my DNA matches, both Y-DNA and autosomal, and I'm afraid it would violate their privacy,

I'd really like to be able to share what I have written, because the DNA evidence is just overwhelming.

Guess I could sanitize the paper by editing it and removing the names of my matches, but I'm afraid what would be left would be rather bland and that no one in the future would be able to track down the facts it contains.

[Stevo]

Yesterday I sent an email to a woman who is the sponsor of the kit belonging to her father, with the surname Price, which is a Welsh patronymic surname (ap Rhys, son of Rhys).

I thought he had had only the Big Y-500 and needed to upgrade to the Big Y-700, but she informed me he was on the cusp of the 500 and the 700 and got the 700 results. She said she checked his FT83585 status and he was ancestral (negative) for FT83585, even though he was derived (positive) for BY166 (one step upstream of FT83585).

I was surprised. That makes one Welsh patronymic surname that is BY166+ but FT83585-.

[Stevo]

Here's yet another graphic, taking one step back upstream from FGC36974 to FT83585, which is apparently the specifically Welsh branch of R1b-BY168. All the surnames on this tree are Welsh patronymic surnames. I think we'd have at least two more if we could talk a man with the surname Lloyd who is Z18021+ (BY166+) at 23andMe and our Beddoes STR matches into joining our project and doing the Big Y-700.

The flag on the upper right and left is the banner of Owain Glyndwr ("Owen Glendower" in Shakespeare's Henry IV).

FT83585 Tree_Wales.jpg

[Stevo]

I like Paint, and I'm used to it, but I am looking forward to learning to use something a bit more sophisticated. It might be awhile before I do it, however, because I am getting ready to retire at the end of this school year. We've sold our house and are in the process of moving to a state that is kinder to retirees than the one where I currently live.

[KATM]

I've made some customized charts using my genealogy software (Reunion, for Mac only), so perhaps that might be a possibility for whichever program you use. Otherwise, you could try the open source substitute for Photoshop, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program), or some other graphics program. There are many options, and I'm sure your daughter will know of one or more that would be suitable.

[Stevo]

Pretty obviously, I enjoy making graphics to illustrate what I and my closest matches have learned from DNA testing, especially Y-DNA testing.

My youngest daughter Anna, the computer nerd, says I need to start using something more sophisticated than Paint. She's supposed to teach me how to do that sometime soon.

[Stevo]

I'm posting that graphic again, because I got bored and fiddled with it some more: mainly in making the cross on the shield on the left into a Celtic cross.

I am in the box in the lower left under my second great grandfather, James H. Stevens, and FGC36981. The kits in the box with me include two of my second cousins once removed who share James H. Stevens with me as Y-DNA MRCA. That's how we know James was derived for FGC36981, but we don't know his father's FGC36981 status, because thus far we don't have anyone who shares him with us as Y-DNA MRCA. (All of us in the FGC36981 group share him as a Y-DNA ancestor, but not as our most RECENT common ancestor.) We know that my fifth great grandfather Augustine was ancestral for FGC36981 but derived for FGC36982 (the next step back upstream) because of the fifth cousins of mine represented by the two kit numbers in the box to the right below him. They share Augustine with the rest of us as Y-DNA MRCA,

Those two fifth cousins of mine are very close STR matches for me: 109/111 and 110/111 respectively at 111 markers. After the Big Y-700, the 110/111 match is now a 757/758 match (99.9%), and the 109/111 match is a 748/751 match (99.6%).
FGC36974 tree_Stephens_Stevens_with symbols.jpg