DNA Testing: What is it and where can I get it done?

A few correspondents have asked about what kind of DNA testing is available.  There are four basic types of DNA testing for genealogical purposes:

1. Y-Line DNA
2. Mitochondrial DNA
3. Autosomal DNA
4. The X-Chromosome

DNA Testing: Old Peter Skaggs related to Rachel Skaggs

Subject A, a correspondent descended from Old Peter Skaggs has confirmed an autosomal DNA match with Subject B, a confirmed descendant of the Rachel Skaggs who married William Calvin Lester. Subject A is a Skaggs descending from Old Peter through his son John.  Subject B descends from Rachel Skaggs through her daughter Martha and the Blankenship family of Virginia.  A third Subject C is also a descendant from Old Peter through his son John and matches both subjects A and B at the same segment of DNA.

Sims Settlement

In the fall of 1806 a group of settlers led by William and James Sims traveled from east Tennessee on flatboats down the Tennessee River and up the Elk River to the area of present-day Limestone County, Alabama.  You can read their story from the state historical marker here.

DNA Testing: Is Peter Skaggs related to the Long Hunters?

Several descendants of Old Peter Skaggs have written to say that they are surprised that they don't have DNA matches with descendants of the Long Hunter Skaggs, e.g. Charles, Henry, etc.  Well, here is some interesting news.  There may be some DNA evidence to tie Old Peter to the Long Hunters.

Skaggs Family Groups

Since a limited amount of DNA testing has indicated that there are two or more distinct Skaggs families in the United States I have decided to try and separate the known Skaggs families into groups so that when DNA results come in we know which family we are talking about.  Here goes: