Burk-Burks-Burkes-Birkes DNA Surnames Project
Burk-Burks-Burkes-Birkes DNA Surnames Project
Jean and I would like to invite all you Burks (and all the various spellings, including but not limited to: Burk-Burks-Burkes-Birkes) researchers to join in this exciting new project. The project's purpose? Establish a Burks DNA database!!!!
QUESTION: Why have a Burks DNA database? ANSWER: DNA research can establish family relationships! And YOU can participate!
Over the years while researching our family genealogy, Jean and I both noticed that many Burks researchers were running into their Burks "brickwall" after tracing back a few generations. During our research we both learned of many fascinating events that possibly happened to our Burks ancestors. I say possibly because most of the connections that we learned of and were excited about were passed down thru the generations by family tradition and not truly "provable" in the genealogical sense. I'm sure the same experiences that Jean and I have had also apply to you other Burk-Burks-Burkes-Birkes. DNA technology offer a way trace our family "lines."
So during the early spring of 2004, Jean McCullough and I, (Don Burks) decided to begin a project using DNA technology to enhance our genealogy research. Jean and I both descended from William Carroll Burks, a son of James Lyon Burks.
In our instance, much mystery surrounds the origins of James Lyon Burks, some say his parents were a John Burks and wife Mary, others state that he was the son of a John or James Lyon and a daughter of John Peartree Burks and that he and his brothers (William and Chesley by most sources) were raised by their grandfather (many family sources say John Peartree Burks was the grandfather) and that they assumed the Burks name. Are we Burks or are we Lyon. Which story is truth and which is fiction? By using DNA technology we perhaps can answer this and many other questions.
James Lyon Burks born 1791 at location unknown and died 1866 in Scott Co, MS. William Carroll Burks was born Talbot County, GA in 1819 and died in Hamilton County, TX in 1904.
Two individuals who share a DNA pattern are also likely to share a common ancestor. If we could find other Burks descendants who share our DNA, then we would concentrate our search for other Burks on those lines. If we gathered DNA samples from as many Burk-Burks-Burkes-Birks lines as possible, then we would begin to see groups of like DNA among those results. The descendants from each DNA group could then pool their research efforts.
As other Burks descendants join the project we will began to see some exciting results. Are the surnames variations of one line? Are they separate lines? DNA technology can help us all find new answers.
When you decide to participate, contact either Jean McCullough ([email protected]) or me ([email protected]) and we will show you how to get started. Generally, it goes as follows. You contact the DNA tester (FTDNA) online and order your kit. You should receive the kit within a couple of days. FTDNA says they will get it out in that time frame unless it's a weekend. The sample you provide consists of two oral sample swabs. One swab first and 8 hours later the other and then you mail both swabs to FTDNA in the envelope they send you. It goes to a lab in Houston and they process it. Then it usually takes 6 weeks for them to process the swabs and collect the DNA .
This DNA Project promises to very exciting as we will all learn more about our Burk-Burks-Burkes-Birkes surnames and newly discovered family connections. Jean and I appreciate everyone that choses to participate with us.
If you are in contact with other Burk-Burks-Burkes-Birkes researchers or family historians, please encourage them to be part of our DNA Project group. For you Burk-Burks-Burkes-Birkes guys, many times women researchers in your family have a surnamed brother, grandfather or uncle and will even pay (or help pay for) for the test, so don't rule out asking these women to help. In one of Jean's family groups they have about 1/3 of the participants because their sisters, granddaughters or cousins paid for them and encouraged them to donate their DNA.
To join the project contact: Jean McCullough at [email protected]
or me, Don Burks at [email protected].
Thanks