Rogers surname around Barnstaple (Pilton, Bideford)
Posted by Don Rogers on 9/8/2017, 16:45:41
I would like a chance to verify a theory. My direct patrilineal ancestor, John Rogers, lived and died in the state of Maryland in the U.S. c.1717. He was an attorney, and a factor (business agent) for Sir John Rogers, Baronet, of Plymouth. Other genealogists assume my John was born in Maryland but I am convinced he was from Devon. I have court testimony in which my John Rogers, in 1705 and at about the age of 22, said he KNEW Sir John. Since Sir John Rogers was never known to have come to the colony of Maryland, or anywhere in America for that matter, I question how he could have known him without knowing him in Devon. It is also of interest that in his will my John Rogers wanted a young man born in Pilton, Devon to raise his children should his wife die in their childhood. His name was Alexander Conte(e). My assumption is that they had known each other in Devon or were in some way related. I would like to have my DNA (which was obtained through Ancestry.com) checked against that of the Rogers' of Devon. Any advice or suggestions as to how I might accomplish this task? Thanks.
Don Rogers Camano Island, WA USA
Re: Rogers surname around Barnstaple (Pilton, Bideford)
The AncestryDNA test is an autosomal DNA test. Autosomal DNA is best used for verifying connections within the last five or six generations. Your potential link with Devon is too far back in time for autosomal DNA to be of any use.
However, you can test this hypothesis through Y-chromosome testing. I don't currently have anyone in the Devon DNA Project with the Rogers surname so you would have to actively recruit someone with a documented line from Devon for comparison purposes. To qualify for the Devon Project you need to have documentary evidence of a link with Devon. However, there is a large Rogers DNA Project at Family Tree DNA that you could join:
If you've tested on the AncestryDNA v2 chip you won't get the speculative matches so there is some merit in doing a completely new Family Finder test at FTDNA rather than doing the transfer.
Re: Rogers surname around Barnstaple (Pilton, Bideford)