This is a summary of general information of each participant in the West yDNA test group #5 of the FTDNA West Project. Each participant has been given a code identity to protect their privacy. The summaries were compiled by the West Family Project Administrator. Posted by John G. West, W64.
West Family Group 5
W22 and W23 match on 23 of 25 markers. They share one marker value which is somewhat rare, a value of 10 on DYS 385a, reinforcing the other information that they share a common ancestor. W23 has William West, b abt 1745 VA, as his oldest WEST ancestor. The earliest document found for William is the baptismal record for his two eldest sons in Shenandoah Co. VA, 1773. He resided in Rockingham Co. VA, where many of his children were born, before moving to Tennessee. He died in Greene Co. TN in 1829. W22 also has a William WEST as his oldest ancestor. His William was b abt 1816 in KY or TN, and lived most of his life in Anderson Co. TN. These families now believe that William WEST b abt 1745 is the grandfather of William WEST b 1816. W22 has added two generations to his ancestry through DNA testing. W24 was added to this family group on 14 August 2004 when his DNA results were completed. W24 and W23 match on 36 of 37 markers. Their relationship was known before the DNA test. W23 and W24 share a common ancestor, Samuel WEST, b 1836 MO, who was a great-grandson of William WEST, b abt 1745. They are 2d cousins, once removed. Genetic matches between known cousins reinforce the value of DNA testing as a means of identifying family groups.
W42 was added to this group on 15 Feb 2005, following receipt of his DNA test results. His oldest ancestor is Charles P. WEST, born about 1780, VA. Prior to the DNA test, a link was suspected to the line of William West, b 1745, but documentation was missing. The DNA test has confirmed that W42 shares a common ancestor W22, W23, and W24.
W46 was added to this family on 2 March 2005, following receipt of his DNA results. He matches W23 and W24 on 25 of 25 markers. The oldest ancestor of W46 is James O. WEST b 1808 in Logan Co. KY. This is a very exciting discovery for this line, because James O. West has been their brick wall. They are now working to determine the relationship to William WEST, b 1745 VA.
W44 was added to Family Group #5 on 12 March 2005, following receipt of his 37 marker DNA test. Within this group, he has the most well documented paper trail to William WEST, b 1745 VA. His DNA results reassure the other participants in this group that some assumptions based on circumstantial evidence were correct.
W59 was added to this family group on 3 May 2005. He matches other members of Family Group #5 on all markers tested, indicating that he shares a common ancestor with that group. His oldest identified ancestor is Robert West, born about 1834 in Hanover County Virginia, married Mary CLAYTON. Robert WEST was African-American, but we are unsure at present whether he was born in slavery. It is likely that his father or grandfather was a slave owner or overseer.
W62 is descended from Claiborne WEST, b 1759 in Buckingham Co. VA. He was added to WEST family group #5 on August 30, 2005, upon receipt of his DNA test results. He matches W23 on 35 of 37 markers. A relationship to the line of William WEST, b 1745 VA had not been considered by either branch prior to the DNA test, so this has given them new clues to pursue.
W64 is descended from Thomas WEST, b about 1718 in VA or NC, whose will was proven in Chatham Co NC in 1808. His DNA results were received on September 2, 2005. He matches W23 and W46 on 23 of 25 markers. A relationship to the other participants in Family Group #5 had only been suspected prior to the DNA test results. This group still has much work to determine relationships, but they can now collaborate to fill in gaps in their family history.
W65 is the 10th member of Family Group #5, and was added on 27 October 2005 following receipt of his DNA results. He matches W23 and W46 on 25 of 25 markers. His oldest ancestors are Amos WEST, b abt 1766, probably in Orange Co NC and his wife Frances HERNDON. Quoting from the genealogist for this line " We in this West line have theorized that Amos West is a possible son of Richard West (b. Ca. 1738-1739, d. Aft. 1819), who is the son of Thomas West, Sr. (Ca. 1718-1808). Thomas West, Sr. is the ancestor of W64." This DNA results certainly gives credibility to their hypothesis.
We are all very excited about the relationships being discovered for this group. In one message to me, W46 stated that he and W64 had exchanged information in about 1998, and concluded that it was unlikely their lines were related, so discontinued the correspondence. The DNA test has shown that they do share a common ancestor, and has re-invigorated their search.
W104 was added to this group on 18 July 2006. He matches WEST family group 5 modal values on 36 of 37 markers. He is descended from Phoebe Smithers, born 1843 in Tennessee. Phoebe was not married, and gave her surname to her children. His DNA match, combined with WEST descendents of family group 5 living near Phoebe, appears to confirm that his Y-chromosome ancestor is from the line of William WEST/Mary Rutherford.
W113 was added to this group on 5 January 2007. He matches W23 on 34 of 37 markers. W113 is descended from David WEST who married Susannah HOAG. The data and place of birth of David is unknown, but some of their children were born in Dutchess County, New York beginning about 1780, and later moved to Lewanee County, Michigan.
W122 was added to this group on 24 February 2007. He matches the modal Group 5 haplotype 34/37. W122 descends from James W. WEST, born May 6, 1808 in Virginia, died May 6 1882 in New Liberty, Owen County, Kentucky. He married 3 times: 1) Nany NUTTER; 2) Harriet NUTTER; 3) Margaret ORR. W122 descends from his first wife Nancy NUTTER. James W. WEST was a blacksmith.
W66 was added to this group on 27 March 2007, following completion of his 25 marker Y-DNA test. He descends from Judah WEST, born 1765, probably in Connecticutt. Judah married Mary TODD in 1786 in Colebrook, Litchfield County, Connecticut. Judah died before 1841 when Mary was probably living with one of her children in Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio. It appears likely that W66 and W113 are from the same branch of this family that either immigrated to the New England area, or moved there from the Virginia area before 1750. W66 and W113 have values of 30 for the marker DYS 389-2, while everyone else in this group have values of 29.
W257 was added to this group in June 2010. He descends from Benjamin WEST, born 1775-1780, probably in Caroline County Virginia, died in 1827 in Virginia, probably in Caroline or Hanover County. His wife was Nancy (last name unknown).
W255 was added this group in July 2010. His oldest ancestor prior to the DNA test was Silas Mercer McLemore WEST, born 1826-27 in Alabama, and died between 1877-80 in Grimes County Texas. Silas married first to Martha A. BAZEMORE in Shelby County TN in 1853. In 1877 he married Mary DAVIS in Grimes County Texas.
W270 was added to this group in October 2010. He descends from John WEST who died before Feb 12, 1745 in Stafford County VA. John married Dorothy (last name unknown), and they were the parents of James WEST b 1742 in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County VA, married Ann LYNN/LINN.
W299 was added to this group in October 2011. He descends from Thomas WEST, Sr., born 1718 in Virginia, and died in 1808. He married Catherine Rebecca EASTINGS, born 1725 in Virginia. W299 descends through Thomas son Ignatius WEST.
W338 was added to this group in April 2013. His oldest ancestor is William WEST, born 1798 in England, died 1902 in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. He emigrated from Bristol, England to Australia in 1855.
