And atDNA studies won’t show “when.” Y DNA & mtDNA studies with calculated mutation rates might more readily. Apologies for being unscientific about this, it’s been well described by others & I’m sure it’s well known.
So when the DNA studies show related family groups, and I know I’m in there on some of them, I’m not questioning those results. Geography says a lot. If you had early arrivers to Virginia’s Northern Neck, as I did (I think!), odds are good there is going to be a relationship somewhere: there were only so many people to marry.
But that brings me to another important point just touched on & that needs expansion, in my opinion: class and money. The Pettus family was wealthy and prominent, they’ve made the history books. The Martins and Elkins ? Not as much. Is that just record loss? No. We have records of many land transactions. We have the lists of Burgesses. We have vestrymen in the church. We have correspondence. We have tobacco sales, wills, Probate records, and other court records.
Look at Christian1’s deed of gift to her grandson James1 Elkins, it’s carefully detailing her property to be sold or increased for his education costs, residue to be given to him at age 23. No slaves. No land. Personal property including household goods. Some good livestock. She signs with her mark. Her witnesses are not “important people.”
She’s a farmer. She’s not from the same class as the Pettus family from what I can see so far.
