When Sarah Roberts, my 3rd great grandmother, married Martin Joyce in 1839, James Roberts served as the bondsman. I suspect but have not been able to prove that James was Sarah’s father. In 1850, James also served as the bondsman when his son, Nebuchanezer Roberts, married Mary Floyd. Known as “Nib”, Nebuchanezer died in 1917. His death certtificate names his parents as James Roberts and Susan, or Susanna, Thomas.

The quest to prove or disprove that James and Susanna are my 4th great grandparents is underway. Neither James nor Susanna left a will so I’ll have to rely on DNA evidence. And I’m looking for a mitochondrial needle in a haystack. Sarah Roberts is the source of my mitocchondrial DNA which is passed on from mother to child. As only females can pass it forward, Sarah belongs to my maternal lineage that includes my mother, her mother, her mother, etc.

In order to prove this, I must find another person who would have inherited the same mitochondrial DNA I did from Susanna’s mother and convince them to fork over a tablespoon of spit. Susanna had four female siblings and hopefully one of them had a great, great, great, great granddaughter.

Kenfolk: Utlauts
Relationship: 3rd great grandmother
Common ancestor: Time will tell