In the last issue I announced the idea of having a number of Stidham* males participate in a DNA study in order to determine with scientific certainty, those who descend from Dr. Stiddem and those who don’t. As of this writing only five brave souls have stepped forward (not including me), which brings the total number to six, three of whom are TSS officers. Gentlemen, where is your sense of adventure? This is really pioneering stuff here for those of us in the genealogical community! Is it the cost which is holding some back? Maybe the loss of privacy that gives others pause? Let me try and answer these concerns.

At this point we still don’t know what each participant will have to pay in order to take part in the study. However, the more participants we have, the less each of us is likely to have to pay. As for privacy, we’ll know on our end who each participant is as we provide each with a number designation. The Oxford Ancestors Project will only be given that number designation with each participant’s DNA sample. After they present us with the analysis of our Y-Chromosome genetic fingerprints, their promise is to destroy and dispose of our DNA samples.

With their analysis in our hands, we’ll be able to match our pre-determined number designations back up with the proper individuals and then be able to tell those who have Dr. Stiddem’s Y-Chromosome fingerprint from those who don’t. Remember, many Stidham* males in this society have well documented evidence of their descent from Dr. Stiddem. Their Y-Chromosome fingerprints, matching Dr. Stiddem’s, establishes for others, the fingerprints to match in proving descent from him too. Recall that fathers pass their genetic fingerprint down to their sons from generation to generation with little or no change.

Hopefully I’ve answered some questions here for those who might have been hesitant before. If so, please contact me as soon as possible so that we’ll be ready to submit our DNA samples as soon as the Oxford Ancestor’s MaleMatch [editor's note, it's now called Y-Line] program is up and running. My e-mail address is [email protected], or drop me a letter. My address is in the box at the bottom of page 2.