As I mentioned in my previous post, I expect more from my DNA. A week ago, one of my Joyce cousins posted new information about my 3rd great grandmother, Sarah Ann (Roberts) Joyce. He discovered that she was still living in 1889, when one of her granddaughters was married in her home. This same cousin went on to describe Sarah Ann as the daughter of Thomas Roberts and Sarah Joyce. SCRRRREEEEEEEEEEECHHHH went the brakes in my head. What?? Who?? No!!

In a nutshell, I came to the conclusion long ago that Sarah Ann, a.k.a “Sally” was most likely the daughter of Thomas and Sarah’s son, James Roberts, and his wife, Susannah or “Sukie” Thomas. Sukie’s father was Michael Thomas, whose ancestral line traces back to Germany when “Thomas” was “Thoma”. There is strong DNA evidence through dozens and dozens of DNA matches that suggests that Michael Thomas is my ancestor.

More importantly, I carry Sally’s mtDNA which I inherited from my mother, she from her mother, she from her mother, etc., back to Sally and then from her mother, etc. etc. etc. My mtDNA is considered somewhat rare and it originates almost without exception from Germany, Austria, Hungary and Sweden. Since Michael Thomas and his wife Barbara, whose last name is unknown, likely descend from German ancestors, it stands to reason that Sally inherited her mtDNA from Michael and Barbara’s daughter, Sukie.

Can I prove that Sally was not the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Joyce) Roberts, but their granddaughter? Nope. But I can prove (potentially) that Sally didn’t inherit her mtDNA from Sarah (Joyce) Roberts. All I need to do is find someone whose direct maternal (mtDNA) line extends to Sarah (Joyce) Roberts and compare their mtDNA to mine. If our mtDNA is not in the same, Sarah cannot be Sally’s mother.

How hard should this be?

Kenfolk: Utlauts
Relationship: 3rd great grandmother
Common ancestors: A man whose last name was Roberts and whose wife had ancestral roots in Germany, Austria, Hungary or Sweden.