An article in one of my husband’s magazines explained how Family Tree DNA began. It spelled out the differences between mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) and paternal DNA. Mitochondrial DNA is passed from a woman to her children (both sons and daughters) but only to her daughter’s children through the female line. The paternal DNA is passed from father to son to son and so on.
Reading this, I decided to follow the female line to see where it would take me – both in personal terms (how they are related) and geographical (where were they born and lived) to get a clearer picture on where my female ancestors originated.
Me – born in SW Ohio
Mary – born in Eastern Indiana (mother)
Vesta Christena Wilt – born 1898 in Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana;
died Jan. 1984 Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio (gr-mother)
Martha Jane Stern – born 1872 in Clarksville, Hamilton County, Indiana;
died Nov. 1956 Lane County, Oregon (gr-grandmother)
Nancy Caylor – born 1840 in Wayne County, Indiana;
died Dec. 1900 in Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana (2nd gr-grandmother)
Susannah Miller – born bet. 1800-1804 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio;
died Nov. 1859 in Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana (3rd gr-grandmother)
Catherine (or Katherine) Botafield – born 1780 in Pennsylvania;
died Oct. 1855 Washington Twp, Tippecanoe County, Indiana (4th gr-grandmother)
Now it’s time to start researching the Botafield family and especially Katherine in order to find her mother. I also need to do some documentation in order to verify that Katherine was indeed Susannah’s mother.
Wendy,
Great pictures! footnoteMaven would love to have a copy of Martha Jane Sterns as she is partial to people wearing glasses in old photos.
Thanks for sharing.
Sheri Fenley
Sheri – the picture is deceiving – she’s not wearing glasses – just a spec or something on the photo that I didn’t notice until I enlarged it! But I’m sure I can accomodate her on other photos! Thanks for the comment!
Wendy, Thanks for an interesting look at the women in your history. mDNA is a fascinating way to study the direct line between females within a family. The cardinal (well almost cardinal) rule that all life comes from pre-existing life is so evident in the rule that all mDNA comes from pre-exisiting mDNA.
That you have so many generations of photographs is an amazing look at the direct lineage in all that mDNA. Thanks for sharing such an interesting view of your maternal line.
Terry Thornton
Fulton, Mississippi
HILL COUNTRY OF MONROE COUNTY MISSISSIPPI
Wendy,
I am related to you via Katharine Botafield and Joseph A Miller. Their son, John Holsapple Miller is the line I am descended from. I was wondering if you had any info on Katharine Botafield. I have been trying to find out more about her.
Kathryn Miller Brown
Austin, Texas
kmb@austin.rr.com
Hi Wendy, It’s been a long time since I last communicated with you. My last post was February 17, 2010. I was wondering if you ever discovered information about our great ++ grandmother Katherine Botafield? Thanks, Kathy 512-785-3448
I sure haven’t but I keep searching!