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Introduction
How DNA Jumps Brick Walls
About the Pemberton DNA Project
How is DNA gathered?
How to Join the Pemberton DNA Project
How to Donate to the General Fund of the Pemberton DNA Project
How to Donate for Specific Tests
How to Help Gather Pemberton DNA for this Project
How to Get Help with DNA Questions
DNA data, simply and painlessly gathered from living Pemberton progeny, can make the usual documentary research more efficient and accurate. Here's why.
The genealogical researcher approaches his work with a mind set or expectation of what he is looking for. Like it or not, he is forced to make some assumptions and his work is largely about trying to verify those assumptions. For example, he assumes that the parents will be biological rather than adopted, that when he finds several families in a geographical area with identical surnames they will be closely related, etc. DNA can make a very significant contribution just at this point and offers valuable assistance to the researcher. Here's a case in point from the very first two tests done under the Pemberton DNA Project:
There were two known Pemberton lines running back through Virginia. Line A is traceable into Cheshire, England. Line B has only been documented back into the Virginia colony. Researchers working on these lines found several contemporary Pemberton families in the colony and supposed that the lines would merge in Virginia. All their efforts were coloured by that assumption. There was a presumption that the two researchers were rather close cousins and that the two tests would show only one or two different markers. However, there were four markers that were different! This completely changed the mind set and goals of the researchers for now they knew that instead of looking for a common ancestor in Virginia, they had to watch for clues that would keep the two lines completely separated for at least several more generations. This was an important break through for it changed both the kind of data sought and the interpretation of the data found. It is quite possible that the expense of DNA testing can be recouped by reducing the costs of documentary research.
A DNA test result that exactly or closely matches another one in the Pemberton DNA Project proves that the two samples come from the same branch of the family tree. That means that the two people should at least work closely on their documentary research because whatever amount of family history the two have already uncovered, they will find clues to each other's history in their findings. That's the worst case. In the best case, the DNA result will prove a common ancestor in a branch that is already well documented and the new sample will definitely lead to a connection into that branch. Thus, a brick wall may be breached by proving a relationship where no historical documents can be found.
About the Pemberton DNA Project:
There was a thorough search made of the available laboratories for genealogical DNA testing. Family Tree DNA (http://familyTreeDNA.com) was chosen as host for the project because its data base was more than ten times larger than the next one, their prices were very competitive, and their work was rarely criticized. As of this writing, they have over 14,000 DNA profiles from England. Family Tree DNA also provides the Pemberton DNA Project with a General Fund where anyone keen to help Pemberton research can safely and easily donate funds for DNA testing. The funds can only be used for testing costs at Family Tree DNA and there are no administrative costs.
Family Tree DNA supplies a test kit containing three cheek swabs and three small vials to contain the three samples. (They take three: one for the initial test, a second in case there is trouble using the first, and a third is stored for future use should the person decide they would like to have more markers tested.) The three swabs are rubbed inside the cheeks and then deposited in the vials and mailed back to Family Tree DNA. The scraping of the cheeks is not painful, is not embarrassing and is not difficult. The test could easily be administered to even an invalid.
How to Join the Pemberton DNA Project:
The project has a home page on the Family Tree DNA website here: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/pemberton/. Go to this page and notice that the Project Administrators' email addresses are
available in case you need any questions answered. To order a test kit within the Pemberton DNA Project, just click "Join Request" (in the dark blue bar near the top of the page). Click "Purchase A Test To Join This Project" and then scroll down and click "Order Now" for the Y-DNA37 test. You will be expected to order a test kit posted to you, or, if your DNA test results are already at Family Tree DNA you can identify the kit number and your test will be added to the Pemberton DNA Project.
When you order a test kit sent to you, you will be expected to pay with a credit card during the order process. However, if you have made prior arrangements with the Project Administrator for part or all of your test costs to be covered from the General Fund, you will want to select the "Invoice" payment option. This will give the project's administrator opportunity to transfer money from the General Fund to your invoice. You will need to send your invoice number to the Project Administrator whose address is listed on that same page. Be sure to order the Y-DNA37 or Y-DNA67 test. The smaller tests do not examine enough markers to be useful in this project.
Problems?? Since we do not maintain the Family Tree DNA website, it may happen that the above instructions are not exactly right. If so, please notify us by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so we can correct these instructions. If you have any questions about anything regarding the Pemberton DNA Project, how to order, etc. Please be sure to ask. Use the same email address.
How to Donate to the General Fund of the Pemberton DNA Project:
Simply go here https://www.familytreedna.com/group-general-fund-contribution.aspx and decide whether you want to contribute by post or right on the internet. If you are going to use the postal service, go to the bottom of this page and read the instructions there. If you want to contribute right there via the internet, select the letter "P" in the little box on the left and then find "Pemberton" in the box on the right. Fill in the remainder of the little form and click the "PayPal" button - you will be able to use your credit card or your PayPal account. Your donation can only be used to help pay for genealogial DNA tests and there are no administrative charges so every penny you give will go directly to defray testing expenses and will be a significant help to Pemberton family history and genealogical research.
How to Donate for Specific Tests:
This involves two steps (both accomplished from http://www.familytreedna.com/public/pemberton/): 1. donation and 2. ordering the test kit(s).
- Donate: Follow the instructions above on How to Donate and make your contribution.
- Order the kit(s): Be sure to choose at least the 37 marker test and also choose the Invoice method of payment, otherwise you will be asked to completely pay for the test while you order it. Also send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and notify us that you have donated and to what kit(s) you would like the funds applied. You can completely pay for one or more kits, or ask us to allocated certain amounts to certain kits. By ordering the test kits first, you can send us the serial number of each kit to which you want your funds applied.
How to Help Gather More Pemberton DNA for this Project:
First; it is important to understand that each new test makes all the others more useful and valuable, so there is good reason to promote and assist this project any way you can. There are many Pembertons who would be happy to contribute their DNA samples, but their discretionary funds are limited. The Pemberton Family World Wide DNA Project would be keen to assist these people, some of whom carry the precise DNA needed to help identify the major branches in the Pemberton family lineage. An unspecified contribution would allow us to advertise to these people that we can offer a discount (partial or complete) to assist them. If you are interested in helping in this way, please seriously consider the great assistance this would offer to the documentary research which must be done anyway, but which is always more efficient when there are DNA samples to render guidance. Please contact the Pemberton DNA Project administrator here: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or just go ahead and make a donation. It can be anonymous if you prefer.
A second way to assist is to find and encourage Pembertons you know to become involved by contributing their DNA.
How to Get Help with DNA Questions:
If you need more information about DNA testing, how it works, what it does, what it doesn't do, etc, here is a good, simple explanation of how DNA testing assists genealogy: http://www.sprague-dna.org/telephone.html. And here is another not too technical article on the same topic: http://genealogy.about.com/library/authors/ucroderick1e.htm. Here is a pamphlet on genealogical DNA: https://www.familytreedna.com/pdf-docs/Interpreting-Genetic-Genealogy-Results_web_optimized.pdf.
If you still have questions, do not hesitate to contact the DNA expert at the Pemberton Family World Wide. Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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