Looking for...

Another pedigree has been added to the Wanted! pages, with a summary on the Patriarchs page, that of John and Christian (WOOD) FAIRBAIRN.
With a birth likely to be around 1760, and associated places of Nenthorn, Makerston etc it would seem likely that John just might be the 1760 son of John and Helen (ANDERSON) FAIRBAIRN, although John and Christian named their first son Robert, so possibly not.
Either way, a dna candidate would be most welcome. Descendants in Edinburgh and Kansas as far as can currently be determined.

Another of our outstanding kits has made it back to the lab, so we continue waiting, with the first set of outstanding results (batch 339) 12 markers expected 29 Jan.

Happy New Year folks, may 2010 continue as interesting as 2009 has been.

26th: BO pedigree

Project Summary pages updated to include the family of John FAIRBAIRN & Magdalen BO, which family has been referenced in one of the alternate views of the pedigree of John FAIRBAIRN and Helen ANDERSON.

Only a week to go until the discount promotion runs out, be in.
Click here to join the project

20th: Another pedigree update

With the kits for several new participants either at the lab, or about to be, time for some more updates:
The Summary World Families Network pages have had a catch up to the more detailed information available on the Supplementary project pages available on the DNA Projects Portal.
- added pedigree for Robert & Elizabeth (YOUNG) FAIRBAIRN (Robert's 1851 census shows him as born Eckford, c 1799).
- result summary updated to include the two IRWINs (and their matching ELLIOTs) who match our FAIRBAIRN Lineage 1 modal marginally better than our FAIRBAIRNs do
-

13th: Updated pedigrees

The Patriarchs page now includes a few more twigs in the family of John & Elizabeth (YULE) FAIRBAIRN in the hope of attracting a participant or two to represent these lines.
This activity being prompted by the receipt of a copy of a three page pedigree from the FAIRBAIRN file of the Wellington County of Ontario archives. Undated, and unsourced in the copy I was given (but subsequently identified as submitted by Nora CARLAW nee MARSTON, a now-deceased descendant of Clarissa Harlow FAIRBAIRN's), I can spot at least 7 families incorporated into this one tree.
Whereas the project is indeed showing us that many of the Scottish Borders families are indeed related, it doesn't tell us how, and many of the links shown in this document are suspect, so I felt it should be added to the Patriarchs page, linked to some hopefully useful comments on alternate data.
Treat anyone in the Supplementary pages with an "!" after their name with caution, the information presented for such people needs verification.
The tree as provided from that file begins with John 1563.

Only a fortnight left to go for kits to be ordered, and paid for, to get the discount. Be in - follow any of the Join Project or Order links on the project pages.

27th participant

Another kit, F-27, is now winging its way to a representative of a new line. Details will follow later.
Yes, I'm cheating on the numbers slightly as I've reserved F-25 and F-26 for the two ELLIOTTs who match Mike IRWIN (F-24), and our Lineage 1 "clump 2" modal.

Expansion aside, both the Supplementary pages, and the Summary pages have been updated to include the outline of another FAIRBAIRN Lineage, that of Alexander and Isabella (ATCHESON) FAIRBAIRN. Representatives wanted.
(and the Fairbairn lineage intro page map now starts with a wider view of the world)

Discounts still available for kits ordered and paid for by the end of December, so if you have a FAIRBAIRN brick wall to be explored, connections to prove, be in and join the project.
(the project summary pages have links to good overviews on dna testing, but any questions not answered there, contact the admin, details in the footers of most pages)

New member - with a twist

We have our first non FAIRBAIRN with a good 67 marker match to Lineage 1 (clump 2).
Welcome to Mike (IRWIN) F-24 who is closer to the modal than any of our FAIRBAIRNs!
His closest match in the FAIRBAIRNs is Joe (F-10).
He is also an exact match (at 67 markers) to an ELLIOTT, so our horizons are broadening.
For comparative purposes, the two matching ELLIOTT results from Y-search have been included in the overall results grid on the supplementary pages, but as one doesn't answer his email and the other has an anti-spam challenge on his we are unlikely to find out more unless they contact the project.

19th: The project is growing

Participant F-23 has just ordered a kit. More details later once results are in.

7th: Welcome to participant #22

With Family Tree DNA's holiday promotion until the end of December, it's a good time to dive in and join the project.
Welcome to Michael F-22 who has done so in the hope of teasing out a few more clues as to his ancestor Robert's forbears.
Son Robert was born c 1818 possibly at Whitton near Morebattle and his death cert shows his parents to be Robert and Isabella (SIMPSON) FAIRBAIRN (so Michael will show up as Michael(SIMPSON) F-22 once his results are in, in order to distinguish him from the other Michael in the project.
Supplementary pages have been updated to include a pedigree for Robert and Isabella, as have the WFN summary pages.
The WFN result pages have also been updated to reflect both the full set of results for F-11, and the incipient Fife/Irish/Canadian Lineage 2 in haplogroup R1b1.

3rd: Another match - clump 2 results

Final results are now in for (F-11) so he's been given a page of his own on the supplementary pages to explain the matches more fully (and why they are apparently so distant).
He has also now been included on the Theoretical signature chart for Lineage 1 "clump 2", placed over with his nearest match, the line of James and Helen (GOODFELLOW) FAIRBAIRN.
His earliest known ancestor, James (marr. Isabella CAMPBELL), has also been given a page of his own with some introductory notes.
Happy reading.

Anyone else out there wanting to see where they might fit into these trees would be most welcome to Join the Project.

9th: 25 marker result update

(F-11)'s 25 marker results are now in, and tracking along to Lineage 1 "clump 2" modal.
The next panel, 26--37 results, will show up which of "clump 2" he is more closely related too.

Supplementary pages updated.

3rd: Batch 326 results coming thru

The first panel of results have arrived for F-11 a descendant of James FAIRBAIRN and Isabel CAMPBELL.
As we don't know how this James connects to the others, he has been converted from "Lineage in progress", to Lineage 1g. Any other representatives from other twigs of this line out there to help define the dna signature for this line?
(the summary pedigree has been updated slightly to show one or two other lines, perhaps someone will find a match).

Supplementary pages have been updated to include the new "clump 2" results.

29th: As promised

The summary patriarchs page has been updated to include the new Irish/Canadian FREEBORN pedigree that has a dna match to the existing Fife pedigree.

The delay was because of a behind the scenes switch in the technology I use to create the page, so I hope all the links and formatting survived unscathed.

28th: Irish Canadian FREEBORN link to Fife FAIRBAIRN

This is to extend a welcome to K(F-21) who has just joined the project.
Those of you who are participants already via Family Tree DNA wont see his matches from your personal page as he tested using the Ancestry-33 test.
However, of the 25 comparable markers with a Y-DNA37 test, he's a 25/25 match with our Fife representative Bill (F-20), showing yet another link between the Irish/Canadian FREEBORNs and the Fife FAIRBAIRNs (the other link has not yet joined the project).

A lineage 2 has now been created and the Supplementary pages updated to reflect this.
The Summary result and patriarch pages will follow in due course.

15th: No longer Missing in Action

The Summary Result pages have been updated to reflect that our Missing in Action kit has finally made it to the lab. Been on a long journey across three oceans!

Also updated is the confirmed haplogroup for Ron (F-19), which is unsurprisingly, I1.

So, watch this space for the next piece of the FAIRBAIRN DNA jigsaw.

Lineage 1 "clump 2"

Ron (F-19)'s 37 marker results came hot on the heels of his 25 marker ones.

All pages have been updated, and some of the supplementary result, discussion and dna signature pages tweaked.

It looks like the line of Robert and Elizabeth (TAYLOR) FAIRBAIRN is typified by marker 460 = 11 (within those with 391 = 10), with Joe (F-10)'s branch of this line having a further identifier of marker CDYb=37.

At some stage in the future it would be good to get Ron's results up to 67 markers, although I expect from results to date, that they will match the modal values for 38 thru 67, ie those of (F-17)'s and Joe (F-10).

All as it should be

Ron (F-19)'s 13-25 marker results are in - all as they should be for our second representative for the line of Robert and Elizabeth (TAYLOR) FAIRBAIRN.
Supplementary pages all updated, as are the summary pages.

Researcher list updated

Ron (F-19) has been his approval to be given a page of his own on the Supplementary project pages, and included in the FAIRBAIRN researcher list.

The resultant updates are to link him to his forbear, Robert (marr. Elizabeth TAYLOR)'s page, and to update the Genetic Distance results for his closest cousin in the project, Joe (F-10).

"clump 2" addition

Preliminary results (12 marker) now in for Ron (F-19). As expected, he is showing up a 12/12 match to his 3rd cousin Joe (F-10).
We are hoping that the panel of markers 26 thru 37 will help shed some light on the "Hoquiam Triangle".
Supplementary pages have been updated to include Ron(F-19)'s results, including the dna signature chart for Lineage 1 "Clump 2".

One of our missing in action kits has been reported as winging its way to the lab, so another Borders FAIRBAIRN family will soon be added to the jigsaw, that of James and Isabella (CAMPBELL) FAIRBAIRN.

9th: Another patriarch added - Francis

Another line of FAIRBAIRNs has been added to the Patriarchs page on the Summary pages of the project.
That of Francis and Isabella (HENDERWICK/HENDRIWORTH/INNERWICK) FAIRBAIRN, of Kelso then Selkirk.
Family spread from Kelso to Selkirk (Broomhill and Hartwoodburn), Peebles, and to Canada (Ontario) and the States (Detroit, and California).

The supplementary pages have also been updated to include additional data on this line, including a plea for a dna participant to represent this family.

Lineage 1 "clump 2"

With the final panel of results in for (F-17) the result grids, and dna signature charts on the Supplementary pages have been reviewed, and the line of John & Jessie (JOHNSTON) FAIRBAIRN included in the theoretical signature chart for "clump 2".
Please bear in mind that this is best efforts only, and any help in working out how these families may be connected would be most welcome.
The Summary pages result grid has also been updated (and a couple of typos corrected).

A number of the individual pages for participants have been updated to reflect the latest information on their Genetic Distances to each other, particularly those matching F-17.

5th: Fife update

The final panel of results for our Fife representative, F-20, have arrived.
The match to the FREEBORN has slipped from 24/25 to 33/37, so fairly distant, which isn't that surprising given one line has a patriarch born Ireland c 1790 was in Canada by the 1830/40s, and the other in Fife from around 1770.

World Families Network Summary result pages updated, both for the above, and as a catch up for yesterday's results for F-17.

Supplementary overall grid page also updated for the Fife F-20 results.

4th: More matching results

The 26 thru 37 marker panel for (F-17)'s results have arrived, and show an excellent match to the Lineage 1 modal from prior results.
Looks like markers 389-2 = 30 and CDYb=39 signify the lineage of John and Jessie (JOHNSTON) FAIRBAIRN.

The Supplementary pages have been updated.

1st: addenda

Supplementary pages overall DNA results grid updated to reflect an additional panel for F-17's results. Still waiting on 26 thru 37, but 38 thru 47 are now available, and match the rest of Lineage 1.

1st: Pedigree updates

The Overview Pedigree Page on the World Families Network pages has had a couple of tweaks.

• a link has been added between a posting on the Pedigrees Forum for a researcher of the line of Robert and Isabella (WEAVER) FAIRBAIRN, and their pedigree on the Patrarchs page (represented in Haplogroup R1b1)
• A newly found line of descent from James and Joan (FORSYTH) FAIRBAIRN has been added in the hope of finding a representative (and their Wanted! descendancy chart has been updated on the Supplementary project pages)
  Anyone know what happened to descendants of Lester (Sarah), William (Ermina), Edmund, along with the more usual James and Robert, children of William George and Margaret FAIRBAIRN living Buffalo, Erie Co, New York from about 1888?

25th: 18th kit at lab

Our 18th kit has hit the lab, two more still out there somewhere.

Patriarchs page updated to include a very brief outline of the Irish FREEBORN family who match 24/25 (so far) with F-20 our Fifeshire FAIRBAIRNs representative.

John & Jessie (JOHNSTONE) F.

Next panel (markers 13-25) now in for our representative of the line of John & Jessie (JOHNSTONE) FAIRBAIRN.
Looking good confirmation of another Lineage 1 "clump 2", with the previously advised 389-2 = 30 being the only marker being non-modal for this grouping.

With only a week, to go before the end of the Summer discounts, it would be really, really good to hear from FAIRBAIRNs willing to represent some of our un-represented lines.
Any of the Ednam Blacksmith line out there to see how all those "stone in Ednam" references in published trees may stack up against modern science?

Result pages have been updated on both the Supplementary pages on the DNA Projects Portal, and the Summary pages on the World Families Network.

21st: Fifeshire FREEBORNs?

The next panel of results are in for Bill (F-20) our Fifeshire line representative.
They are still showing a match (now 24/25) with a FREEBORN representative, but no match to any of our existing project members.
Supplementary pages have been updated with these results, and now show the predicted haplogroup that wasn't available last update.

18th: SNP Backbone result update

Summary result page, updated to reflect the expected results of John (F-17)'s SNP backbone test to confirm his haplogroup (John a descendant of John & Jessie (JOHNSTON) FAIRBAIRN).
It was indeed I1, so we weren't jumping the gun assigning him to Lineage 1.

17th: Beyond the Borders

Preliminary (12 marker) results are in for Bill (F-20), our sole representative of the Fife line of FAIRBAIRNs, Thomas and Jean (LAWSON/LOWSON) FAIRBAIRN.
They don't yet have a haplogroup assigned, but there isn't an immediately obvious match to the Borders lineages, although 10/12 to Stan (F-15).
The latest results do however have a 12/12 match with someone not in our project but tested with Family Tree DNA by the surname of FREEBORN, no further information currently available.

The overall results on the Supplementary pages have been updated, as has the summary result page on the World Families pages.
At the same time, some additional pedigrees have been added to the Patriarchs page in the hope of finding representatives:

• preliminary outline for the Stitchel/Maxton family of schoolteacher Charles FAIRBAIRN (married to Agnes MARK)
• basic info for the Massachusetts line of Chris, who has hit a brick wall trying to identify his 2*great grandfather and where in England (or Canada) he came from.

Remember that if you are thinking of seeing what dna testing can do for your family history, brick walls, refining your paper trails, that the discounts are still are on offer until the end of July, and we would love to hear from any male FAIRBAIRN interested enough in his family history to help us identify as many FAIRBAIRN lines as we can and see how they may link up.
Click here to read about various tests, and to join (y)our project (we prefer 67 markers, with 37 the bare minimum for anything useful for genealogical purposes).

Thick and fast

Now the batch 312 preliminary results are also arriving.

Check out the Summary result pages for the latest update, 12 markers for a descendant of John FAIRBAIRN & Jessie JOHNSTONE, who belongs to Lineage 1 "clump 2".

The match is only 11/12 as we have our first difference on marker 389-2 in Lineage 1 (30 instead of the 29 all others in Lineage 1 have).

The Supplementary pages have also been updated to include the above, and the Wanted! pages have had a bit of a revamp to reflect the current state of play.

2nd: Spoke too soon

The missing panel was only a day longer than the rest, and did indeed prove rather interesting.
At 67 markers David (F-7) turns out to be only a Genetic Distance of 2 from (F-8), one marker of which, 447, only (F-8) has as 21, so that probably typifies his line of Thomas & Elspeth (REDPATH) FAIRBAIRN, not that that helps fill in too many gaps to connect up David's Trotter FAIRBAIRN as yet.
The supplementary pages have been updated, as has a preliminary attempt at joining up all of "clump 2" of Lineage 1 into one signature chart (as opposed to the subset there previously).

1st: What is it about markers 48 thru 60?

One of the more interesting panels of results for our FAIRBAIRNs is that from 48 thru 60, and it always seems to be the one that takes longest to come thru.

With the recent upgrade promotion David (F-7) took the opportunity to upgrade to 67 markers, and I noticed that two of the 3 panels of results this involves have come thru, but markers 48 thru 60 are still outstanding.

38 thru 47 and 61 thru 67 are as expected.

Supplementary pages on the Projects Portal have been updated with the results to hand.

25th: 19th recruit; new pedigree added

The Cockburnspath Fairbairns are now represented by a brief outline pedigree on the Patriarchs and by John, married to Helen Grieve, on the Supplementary pages.

We have also welcomed our 19th recruit.

Still waiting for the "in progress" results to pop out the other end, and 3 of the 19 kits to make it back to the lab.

Remember the discount promotion ends 30th June, with payment now not required until 7th July to be eligible. A good time to be in if you've been dithering.

18th: Another Schoolmaster

Updated the Patriarch's page for the John and Helen (ANDERSON) FAIRBAIRN pedigree to include a few more details for son Peter, factor to Lord Seaforth, and previously a schoolmaster in Coldingham.
Also gave Peter a page on the supplementary dna pages in the hope of finding a descendant willing to join the project and represent this line.
Also expanded the Cockburnspath stub ever so slightly on the Patriarchs page.
Still waiting for results from the kits in progress, so nothing new to report there as yet.
Remember the good discount on the Y-DNA37 +mtDNA test is still available until the end of this month for those thinking about joining.

12th: Good entrant level discount till end of month

Anyone hesitant about joining our FAIRBAIRN Surname DNA Project because of the cost might be interested in an excellent special offer until the end of June.
Family Tree DNA have reduced the price of their Y-DNA37+mtDNA test to $US119, which is below the price of the normal Y-DNA37 on its own, and has the added benefit of an entry level mtDNA test thrown in.
Should you then get hooked on what you may or may not have learnt from that test, you can always upgrade to a more detailed one later.
To take advantage of this, follow the Join project links at our World Families project pages, or any of the supplementary project pages for that matter.
The WorldFamilies pages have additional reading material about what dna testing is about that may be of interest, e.g. About DNA Testing
More members are most welcome as the journey to date has been fascinating, and we're only scratching the surface of having as many FAIRBAIRN (etc) families represented.

4th: The 'wait is over

Michael (F-16)'s missing panel of results have been received, and updated to the FAIRBAIRN DNA Project supplementary pages.
Good to see he's still an excellent match to Doug (F-14)
The above links are just the preliminary updates of the basic information from the results, more will follow after I've had a chance to look further at what they might tell us.

Another kit has been ordered, so our research base is growing. More welcome!

PS WFN Summary result pages also now updated.

Variety is the spice of life

Variety being the spice of life, and given that all our dna results should be supplemented by paper trails, I've updated the Summary WFN Patriarchs page with another version of the family of John and Helen (Anderson); John and Jessie (Johnston) ; Patrick and Margaret (Purves) etc that you may find interesting (and would love to re-find the original I spotted on the web some time ago to be able to check the sources).

The researcher list has grown by two:

• John has agreed to be shown as the researcher/line-leader for the family of William and Margaret (Scott) FAIRBAIRN, the schoolmaster of Bowden and Galashiels (but only because I promised him he wouldn't be flooded with enquiries, only useful information on where to find descendants willing to join the project to represent his line )
• Bea is researching the St Andrews Fairbairns from Fife

Also included is a stub for a new pedigree being worked on for inclusion:

• Cockburnspath Fairbairns

31st: Patrick or James?

Given we're in a holding pattern waiting for results, or more participants, I've been digging around checking what I can on the family of our latest recruit, that of John and Jessie (Johnson) FAIRBAIRN of Hallyburton, Greenlaw.
Of the two schools of thought as to John's parents:
Patrick and Margaret (Purves)
or
James and Elizabeth (Purves)
I've plumped for the latter, for the reasons briefly outlined on their respective pages.
We have to wait for the dna results to see if we've any further hints as to the overall connections between the families however.

Bit more light reading

Further to yesterday's updates, the Supplementary pages have also been updated.
Main changes (that I can remember):
Inclusion of a  chart for Thomas and Margaret (CLARKSON) FAIRBAIRN, along with some explanatory comments about some erroneous published info re their son Thomas.
Check out the addition to the Fairbairn Lineages intro page (My ancestor was a cousin of Sir Williams - Hit or Myth?)
As yet, nothing on the page isn't published elsewhere over the linked sites, but it is pulled together into one place, with room for expansion where a published pedigree may need further "clarification" in light of more current information.

28th: F-17 back to lab

Notification has been received that kit F-17 has made it back to the lab.
A few tweaks have therefore been applied to the pedigree of John & Jessie (JOHNSTONE) FAIRBAIRN, ie linking between the World Families results and patriarchs pages, shifting the pedigree into the "in progress" section of the both pages, and adding a few twigs of another of the descendant lines in the hope of a verifying dna signature from another son of John & Jessie.
This latter is looking rather short of candidates as most of the lines appear to have "daughtered out", and are therefore not shown, but there's a bit more digging to be done yet before that conclusion is verified.

Still waiting on the final panel of Michael (F-16)'s results, and for the upgraded results for David (F-7) from the recent promotion (but it is obviously way too soon for the latter).

The replacement for the missing in action kit F-11 has been traced, and chased.

In a few weeks, we may also have some results from a Fifeshire branch of FAIRBAIRNs, all going well, and a possible representative for the Cockburnspath line is "under discussion".

So who wants to represent the Yorkshire line?
And any of the other assorted "don't know where they fit" Scottish Borders ones?
Or any of the Argentinians?

All welcome - just follow this Join the Fairbairn Surname DNA Project Link.

Filling in the gaps

Another panel of results in for Michael (F-16).
Supplementary pages updated for the overall grid (nothing exciting, a fully predictable exact match with everyone else in Lineage 1 on markers 61 thru 67).
Still waiting for the more interesting panel, markers 26 thru 37.

14th: Upgrade promotion

Family Tree DNA have just announced an Upgrade Promotion (not for new kits).
Those eligible will be receiving an email with instructions on how to claim the discount, reputed to be on average 25%.

Note the instructions in the email you will receive (if eligible):
To order this special offer log into your personal page and click on the special offers link on the left hand navigation bar.

As an indication as to whether you are in the right place to order an upgrade, normal upgrade prices are in the vicinity of $US99 for 37 to 67 markers and $US 49 for each of 12 to 25 and 25 to 37.

(most of our results are already at 67 markers, so I suspect few of our participants will receive the email).

14th: Still a good match for F-16

A few more panels of results in for Michael (F-16) still showing exact match to "clump 1", and an excellent match to "clump 2", further justifying John and Elisabeth (MILLER) FAIRBAIRN's positioning in the overall family.
The most interesting panel, markers 26-36 have yet to arrive.

DNA Signature chart for John and Bessie (fflint) FAIRBAIRN has been updated, as have the overall results on both the DNA Projects Portal supplementary pages, and the WFN summary pages.

8th: More Lineage 1 results; marker 534 puzzle

(I'll have to think of a catchier title than the rather predictable "more results").

The remainder of Doug (F-14)'s results have been received, and included in the overall grid online.
As Doug's notes say, more thought needed as to the implications re marker 534 matching other than Martin, although I don't believe there's another Archibald son of Archibald that fits as well as where Doug has been slotted into the tree.

WorldFamilies Summary results grid also has now caught up on all known results to date.

More results; new features

Another panel of results in for Stan (F-15).
Not a very good match for the other representative of the R1b1+ haplogroup.

Also the full set of results are now in for Tom (F-13), showing one marker different to his proven by paper trail "cousin" Doug (F-6).

As the DNA Surnames Site Blog states, the dna sites have had a revamp and now include rather more of the dna result grids than before.
In addition, there are now some theoretical lineage charts where I've attempted to build trees for some of the lines/participants, given the dna evidence.
Read the Explanations tab for how to drive it and the notes and assumptions around each chart.

Both "clump 1" and "clump 2" have a theoretical dna signature chart now, so check out the DNA Results and Charts pages.

Any ideas on how better to connect up our obviously related Lineage 1 lot would be most welcome.

Isn't DNA wonderful!

One of the latest set of results just in have finally added considerable weight to something I've been trying to find proof of for years. Ever since Ed, a descendant of John FAIRBAIRN of Delaware Co, NY, contacted me way back in Jan 1999, we have been trying to prove that his John, son of a "Walter of Roxburghshire" was a previously unknown son of my 3greats, Walter and Agnes (ROBERTSON/ROBISON) FAIRBAIRN.
With the increasing acceptance and availability of dna testing it looked like we might finally be able to (dis) prove our theory - if only we could find suitable candidates.
The FAIRBAIRN Surname DNA Project was set up in Oct 2007 primarily out of this curiousity with the first candidate Martin (F-1), a descendant of Archibald (marr. to Janet SCOTT), assumed to be the brother of the above Walter, other candidates still proving elusive. It was only a few short weeks ago, a year and a half later, that a willing participant, Michael (F-16), was finally found to test the original hypothesis.
Although it is only a 12/12 match to date, it does look extremely likely that John is Walter's son, and this also adds weight to the supposition that Archibald is indeed Walter's brother (theory #2 that was waiting for proof).
In the meantime, all sorts of other FAIRBAIRNs originating from the Scottish Borders have been shown to be related, and a lot of fun had tracking down suitable dna participants.

Filling in the gaps

Another panel of results in for Doug (F-14), showing that his particular line of Archibald and Jane (BLAKEY) FAIRBAIRN have two markers differing from his "cousin" Martin (F-1). As these markers are uniquely his over all of lineage one, they have to typify this particular line.

World Families Network Results page updated - also reflecting the confirmed haplogroup for Tom (F-13).

Another kit ordered yesterday, bringing our totals to:

• 14 having some/most of their results in,
• 1 in progress no results yet,
• 1 a replacement kit en route to the one that swam and didn't make it to the lab, and
• 1 newly ordered one,

a total of 17.

More participants most welcome however as we still haven't "joined the dots" on how Lineage 1 in particular "fits" together, although all are obviously related to some greater or lesser extent.
Keep checking out the Wanted! page for assorted lineages that are particularly needed.

Theory blown

Preliminary results in for Stan (F-15), descendant of Robert and Agnes (BLACK) FAIRBAIRN, show that he doesn't belong to Lineage 1 after all. Pity the theory of a descent from Robert and Agnes (LANDRETH) FAIRBAIRN of Melrose has been blown out of the water.
With a predicted haplogroup of R1b1b2 he fits rather better with Lineage 2, which I've renamed on the WFN Result pages as Haplogroup R1b1, as we are unlikely to be able to link the two representatives of this Haplogroup, without some miracles occurring.

Rev Patrick and new results

The header items are unrelated, but together reflect today's updates.

A few more of Doug (F-14)'s results have arrived, with further confirmation he is in his rightful place in the FAIRBAIRN tree, and show that although both Martin (F-1) and Doug descend from Archibald and Janet (SCOTT) FAIRBAIRN, the variations have crept in.

Doug's lineage from their son Archibald has a faster mutating marker 576 value of 18, all others in Lineage 1 have 17, so this is assumed to identify this Archibald's line.
Martin's lineage from their son John has marker 641 = 10, all others in Lineage 1 have 11, so again, this is assumed to identify John's line.

And as for the Rev. Patrick FAIRBAIRN: a passing comment was made in a conversation with a descendant of James and Mary Bell (THOMSON) FAIRBAIRN, about a long time family friend of theirs, not known to be related, living in my area. Discussions ensued, hopefully with further updates to come. In the meantime, the Patriarchs page has been updated with a few more twigs on the line of John & Jessie (JOHNSTONE) FAIRBAIRN , and a very brief outline chart included on the Wanted! pages.

GD/TMRCA overall and Ralphs

Thought it was time to update the Discussion page with the current overall summaries of the Genetic Distance (GD) and Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) results. There never seems to be a time when all results are in, so some partial results are shown, Doug at 12 markers and Tom at 37, more to follow. (Only the overall tables have been updated, not those for the split of Lineage 1 into clumps 1 and 2.)

Also expanded the stub for the Patriarchs page for Ralph & Helen (CROW) FAIRBAIRN.
A participant for this lineage is required.
NB the Ralph born Coldstream 1848 may have married an Elizabeth and lived in Heaton, Newcastle on Tyne, Northumberland. If so, sons George and James may have descendants able to contribute to the overall picture of the Borders FAIRBAIRN families.

Another Lineage 1 match

Do so love it when a theory is proved correct!
The preliminary 12 marker matches have come in for Doug (F-14) a proven descendant of an Archibald (born Scotland) and Jane (born England) FAIRBAIRN via their son Robert, miller of Vegreville, Alberta.
The death cert of Walter, believed to be a brother of Robert, show his mother as nee BLAKLEY, which trail leads back to the Archibald FAIRBAIRN and Jane BLAKEY who married in Northumberland in 1841. This marriage cert. shows Archibald as the son of a gardener, another Archibald. The age of Archibald Jnr matches the baptism of the Archibald born to Archibald and Janet (SCOTT) FAIRBAIRN, forbear of Martin (F-1), and is the only Archibald son of Archibald that I know of in this timeframe.
Results page has been updated, and the supplementary pages will follow as time permits. Could take a while as this means quite a bit of reshuffling to assign Archibald into his correct slot and tidy up several duplications.

The activity on updating all the implications from this welcome match have rather halted further inclusion of the family of Ralph Archibald RICHARDSON into the Wanted! pages, and pedigree onto the Patriarchs page, although a stub does now exist on the latter.

Next kit has made it to the lab

Michael (F-16)'s kit has made it to the lab, to represent the line of John & Elisabeth (MILLER) FAIRBAIRN of Delaware Co, NY, John being the son of a Walter of Roxburghshire.
This connection is one of the main reasons I initiated the project, so I personally am going to be very disappointed if this isn't a match to Lineage 1. Let's hope that no confirming representatives are needed as it has taken long enough to find a descendant willing to join the project and help us out.
Results page updated to reflect kit status change.

Further results F-13

Another panel of results in for Tom (F-13). Nothing unexpected, continues to prove a good match to his paper trail connection to Doug (F-6) on the James & Helen (GOODFELLOW) FAIRBAIRN line.

Some updates - results as expected

Two of our Lineage 1 members have had their haplogroups confirmed under FamilyTree DNA's free offer where their initial results could not predict or confirm a haplogroup.
Unsurprisingly, both were I1.

The results table has been updated to reflect the above, and to include another panel of Tom (F-13)'s results. Again, no surprises, as he does indeed match the representative sharing his paper trail. This will be our first dna signature with a fully confirmed paper trail linking two participants, Doug and Tom, descendants of James & Helen (GOODFELLOW) FAIRBAIRN.

A replacement kit has been ordered for the one still swimming across the Pacific somewhere, and our 16th member has advised his kit is en route back to the lab.

If you are a male FAIRBAIRN interested in your family history, do consider joining the project to assist us in determining an overall picture of how the assorted lines may or may not relate.

See the Wanted! pages for lines where representatives would be particularly welcome, but any male FAIRBAIRN is welcome to join in the fun.

Our confirmed paper trail

The dna signature for the line of James & Helen (GOODFELLOW) FAIRBAIRN, is well on the way to being confirmed with the preliminary results (12 markers) in for Tom (F-13), a descendant of their son George & Electa (COWDREY) FAIRBAIRN showing a 12/12 match with Doug (F-6) a descendant of James & Helen's son Andrew.

Results chart and Tom's page updated,

More updates

A good day for updates today.
The missing panel of markers for Bill (F-12) finally arrived. Interesting how they show the cross relationships between the "clumps" I've been dividing up via marker 391 = 9 or 10.
The Hoquiam triangle consists of reported relationships between ancestors of F-3, F-12 and F-10.
Firstly F-10 showed up as belonging to "clump 2" of lineage 1, although F-3 was "clump 1".
Now F-12, the 3rd side, and more or less proven as related to F-3, if we factor in the dodgy paper trail AND the dna evidence, has shown as having two of the markers closer to F-10, particularly marker 460 which up to now, only F-10 had as "11", all the rest of lineage 1 having a 10 repeats.

Anyway, whatever it all means, the Results page, and the Discussion page, have been updated.

Another kit back to the lab

Zooming along here.
The kit for the Norfolk branch of the FAIRBAIRNs, whom I'm hoping will show a good match to Robert and Agnes (LANDRETH) FAIRBAIRN, has made it back to the lab.
Results page updated to reflect the status update.

Not an April fool's joke

Or at least I hope not!
Our 16th member has just joined the project, Michael (F-16), a representative of the line of John & Elisabeth (MILLER) FAIRBAIRN who were in New York by 1840.
John was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland in 1812 and his father was a Walter of Roxburghshire. But which one?
Ed and I have been trying to prove that he is the Walter who married Agnes ROBISON/ROBERTSON (they are buried at, Morebattle), but so far the only evidence for the prosecution is that Agnes' father was a John, that there are gaps in the known children where this John could fit, easily, and as yet no known son John shows up in Scotland for Walter and Agnes.
Walter and Agnes had a disliking of the Established Church so it is definitely not unknown for unexpected children to pop out of the woodwork.
Here's hoping that science can prove we are right.
Mind you, if it doesn't, we'll have to keep testing other branches, just in case.
The Patriarchs page has been updated to shift John and Elisabeth's pedigree into the In progress section, and link Michael to the supplementary FAIRBAIRN pages at DNASurnames.

Next kit back at lab

Another of the issued kits has made it to the lab, so patience while we await the results for Doug (F-14), descendant of Archibald & Jane (BLAKEY) FAIRBAIRN, which Archibald's father Archibald, may or may not be the son of Archibald and Janet (SCOTT) FAIRBAIRN.

More participants in the project are welcome, especially if you belong to any of the families on the Wanted! page - but we're not fussy, we'll accept ANY FAIRBAIRN/FAIRBURN/FAIRCHILD wanting to see where he fits in the overall scheme of things.

Even better match

Noticed that a few more of Bill (F-12)'s results were available (all bar 26-37 now in), along with his predicted haplogroup (unexpectedly I1).
Results page updated, showing an excellent match with F-1 and F-2, again as expected, once you believe his ancestor John is indeed a son of David and Jane (Williamson) FAIRBAIRN, which theory this certainly vindicates.

Just to make things tidy, the two of the group with un-predicted haplogroups have had their Backbone SNP tests requested (advertised as free where haplogroups could not be predicted or confirmed).

The Hoquiam triangle one step closer to solution

Preliminary results (25 markers so far) of the 3rd side of the Hoquiam triangle are in, and we have a match with "clump 1" of Lineage 1 (marker 391 = 9), so yes, it looks like we have proof of the stated "cousinships", AND that John A FAIRBAIRN Snr's marriage and death certs were telling less than the truth about his parents.
The next batch of markers will prove interesting, showing how closely this line matches the others in Lineage 1, even if we cannot immediately solve how come the Robert side of this triangle connects in at all.

Another kit back to the lab

Another kit, Tom (F-13), has made it back to the lab and begins the long process. Results scheduled for end April, all going well.
This should be our confirming dna signature for the lineage of James & Helen (GOODFELLOW) FAIRBAIRN.

Results page updated to show change of kit status.

Full Lineages section update

Prompted by the receipt of the final panel of Joe's results, the full Lineages section of the Supplementary pages on the DNA Projects Portal has been reloaded.
Main changes are:
- Inclusion of the long promised Wanted! chart for Thomas & Elspeth (WOOD) FAIRBAIRN
- addition of several Genetic Distance reports for individual participants
- shifting of Joe's lineage from Lineage in Progress x to Lineage 1e (now 1b3)
(there may well be other changes I've forgotten about since I last did a full upload)

"cousins" update

The final panel of results are (finally) in for Joe (F-10), one side of the triangular "cousins" mystery centering on John A of Hoquiam, and still show he is more connected to the second group of lineage one who share marker 391 = 10 and marker 520 = 20 rather than the 9 and 21 respectively of the descendant of William & Jean (WANLESS) FAIRBAIRN that he was expected to match more closely, given that William's brother is meant to be David, forbear of one side of the cousin triangle.
The results for the 3rd side of the triangle, William (F-12) aren't scheduled until towards the end of March. Patience.
Would still be good to get a confirmed descendant of David & Jane (WILLIAMSON) FAIRBAIRN into the project to help pinpoint these linkages more, given the uncertainties in the paper trail for David and Jane's son John.

Another set of results are still missing in action somewhere between Australia and Houston, and the status updates are yet to be received on the remaining kits known to be out there, only recently sent, so again, patience.

Results page has been updated, and any necessary changes to the supplementary pages on DNASurnames will follow later when time permits.

Cove, Cockburnspath, Eyemouth family link

Updated the  Fairbairn Web Page links to include some very informative pages on the Fairbairn families of Cove, Cockburnspath, Eyemouth, namely those of John & Grizel (JOHNSTONE) FAIRBAIRN etc.

Any FAIRBAIRN males of this line out there to represent this family? Admittedly a large number of them were caught up in a number of tragic fishing fleet disasters, but there must be some modern day ones left.

Robert & Agnes BLACK

The list of potential candidates for a representative from the line of David & Margaret (WHILLANS) FAIRBAIRN, has shrunk slightly as son David has been found to have died in WW1 unmarried (but with a daughter).

Archibald, son of Archibald

The newly received marriage certificate of Archibald Fairbairn and Jane Blakey, forbears of Doug (F-14) , shows Archibald's father as a gardener named Archibald.
A candidate for Archibald Snr is the one married to Janet Scott, forbears of Martin (F-1).
The relevant supplementary pages have been updated as a result, and Archibald Snr added to the Patriarchs page.
As to whether of not Doug and Martin are really 3rd cousins once removed, we'll have to wait until Doug's results are in, and if not, keep looking for another Archibald son of Archibald in the right timeframe.

It (hopefully) pays to advertise

On the basis that it should pay to advertise, I've placed some queries on CousinConnect for the FAIRBAIRN families I am particularly interested in. Representatives for any of the FAIRBAIRN lines shown there would be MOST welcome to join the project (and even if not interested in joining the project, I'd still love to hear from descendants).

All others are obviously also welcome, as the more we have the better our understanding of the overall FAIRBAIRN lineage(s) will be.
Our preference is for at least two representatives, distant cousins, for each line to confirm a line's dna signature.

Keep checking out the Wanted! page as it gets updated with additional lineages.

15th recruit

The work on the Melrose/Jedburgh/Stody (Norfolk) family posted yesterday has paid off, with our 15th recruit now in the project to represent son Robert's line. welcome Stan (F-15).
The Wanted! page updates have been altered to show son David's line for confirmation of the family's dna signature.
David married Margaret WHILLANS and remained in Roxburghshire. Any descendants out there?
In addition the Patriarch's page now contains an outline of the family under the "In progress" section.
One kit appears to be taking it's time to cross the oceans from Australia to Houston, must be swimming the long way round.

Any/all contributions towards this project would be most welcome. Testing is expensive, particularly as we try to use the 67 marker tests with the best mix of slow and fast moving markers.
Contributions may be made via the link on the left hand side of the Family Tree DNA project pages.
This uses a secure link, and the money is held in the FAIRBAIRN Project kitty at Family Tree DNA for assignment towards future kits as the admins see fit.
Anything in the kitty can tip the balance into someone joining the project, and is used to "assist" those particularly wanted to prove a puzzle, or represent a new line.

The Melrose/Norfolk connection

The lineage of Robert and Agnes (BLACK) FAIRBAIRN has been included on the One Name Study pages.
This Robert moved south to Norfolk after his 2nd wife Euphemia ROBSON died (1871).
As the notes indicate, it is possible that this Robert, born abt 1801, Melrose, may be the Robert born 1801 at Broomhill, Melrose to Robert and Margaret (ELLIOT) FAIRBAIRN.
And this Robert is of an age and place to be a son of Robert and Agnes (LANDRETH).
The naming pattern of the known children supports this.
If all true, a descendant of Robert and Agnes (BLACK) should be a good dna match to Earl (F-2).
Any takers?

Lineage added

The lineage for our newest recruit, Doug (F-14) has been added to the Patriarchs page.
As noted on his ancestor Archibald's page, given Archibald was a blacksmith, I wonder if he'll turn out to be one of the Ednam smiths who moved south (then West somewhat, to Ontario).
Given Jane was head of the household in 1871 in Erin, Wellington Center, Ontario, I presume Archibald died sometime between 1860 and 1871, probably prior to compulsory registration in 1869.

New recruit

Our 14th kit has just been ordered, for a representative of the line of Archibald & Jane (BLAKEY) FAIRBAIRN who emigrated to Ontario (yes another one).
(Lineage yet to be posted).
Results page has been updated to show the two latest kits in progress, and to add a confirmed haplotype for Joe (F-10), which is, of course, I1.

10th: Kit received; The British Guiana connection

The kit for another side (F-12) of the "cousins" triangle has been received, so patience while we await results.
Patriarchs page has had some minor updates to include a few more twigs on the far-flung lineage of John and Jessie (Johnstone) FAIRBAIRN, namely a few of the British Guianian twigs and an Australian one, both down from the Rev Patrick FAIRBAIRN.
Anyone out there still a FAIRBAIRN male and willing to represent this lineage?

7th: Patriarchs updates

The Patriarchs page has had some updates, mainly to include more links to further information on the people concerned, but also to include some preliminary information re the family of Thomas and Elspeth/Eppy (WOOD) FAIRBAIRN.
As yet the link shown doesn't lead to more information, but it will, in time.
Remember that all such charts are oriented towards highlighting lines ending in a male able to represent their line in the dna project - in the hope they'll take the hint and help out by joining.

New recruit; Some updates

Welcome to Thomas (F-13) who has agreed to help us define more fully the dna signature of the James FAIRBAIRN who married Helen GOODFELLOW.

Confirmation today that yes, a descendant of James & Mary Bell (THOMSON) FAIRBAIRN does indeed live in my neighbouring town. Watch this space.

Both of the above are reflected in some minor changes to the Patriarchs page

DNA Surnames has had a full re-load so there may be some wording changes, new charts, or simply some missing links fixed. One change is that a Researchers index has been added to the Lineage overview page.

Some small twigs added here and there

Small twig or two added to the pedigree of James and Mary Bell/Mabel (THOMSON) FAIRBAIRN given that a sequence of coincidences have led to my finding someone I think just might be a descendant living in the town next to me. Awaiting confirmation of the connection.

Also documented a new branch of the James & Helen (GOODFELLOW) FAIRBAIRN pedigree in the hope that a participant may join to help firm up James' dna signature.

Further results in for one of the "cousins"

Further results are now in for Joe (F-10), one of the sides of the triangle of Hoquiam connected cousins.

What is most interesting is that F-10, is showing marker 391 as "10", rather than the "9" of the group he is supposedly a cousin of (F-3).
Likewise F-1, part of the 391 = "9" cluster, matches the rest of the 391 = "10" group on marker 534, neither of these being faster mutating markers.
This does lead me to believe, rightly or wrongly, that any branching may well still be more recent than John and Bessie (Flint) FAIRBAIRN.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?

There is still one more section of his results to come, so watch this space.

New results - and yes, another match

The Scottish Borders have moved south as well as across the pond.
To date the matching dna signatures have been from participants able to trace their lineage back to the Scottish side of the Borders, most of whom had family who emigrated to Canada and the States.

The latest set of results, also from a descendant in the States, is from a family whose paper trail ends in Sunderland, Durham.
This is one side of the reported "cousins" triangle. Only 12 markers in so far (Joe, F-10)

Results chart updated.

Also check out the Discussion pages as they now have some tables for Lineage 1 Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA), and Genetic Distance (GD).

Alternate John F/Helen Anderson pedigree

Included an alternate view of the John Fairbairn/Helen Anderson pedigree on the Patriarchs page.
Author and date of this version is unknown. (I have only ever received a copy of the first two pages).
A scan of the title page of this version is included on the DNA Projects Portal page for John Fairbairn in case someone can come up with the answer to who produced it and when.
Perhaps we should run a competition as to how many people have a copy and the furthest back they can date its appearance in their family?

Would also still love to hear from anyone with a copy of the earlier transcriptions of the Ednam stones which must have existed at some stage. Thought the Hawick Archaelogical Society Transactions might be a starter, but Ednam doesn't appear in their online index.

John FAIRBAIRN 1563, & the blacksmiths

A Fairbairn researcher (thank you John) has kindly looked up the file indexed in the Scottish Genealogy Society Family Tree Index.
It looked like it just might be the oft quoted, but also somewhat incorrect, FAIRBAIRN pedigree quoting stones in Ednam etc.
And so it turned out.
The tree was deposited in 1976 by Ethel Fairbairn, a descendant of John Fairbairn and Elizabeth Yule.
DNA Surnames page for the 1563 John has been updated, as has his associated descendant chart. This latter shows the FAIRBAIRN tree as documented on the first page of this pedigree, the former contains links to information that corrects some of the linkages shown.

As part of the clarification of the trees shown, DNA Surnamces now also includes a page for the earliest of the Ednam Blacksmiths, Edward FAIRBAIRN, and his descendant chart, which includes the family of Dr John FAIRBAIRN, of Mayo Clinic fame.

Thomas & Eppy (WOOD); Clan FAIRBAIRN or ARMSTRONG?

Thomas FAIRBAIRN marr. Elspeth (Eppy) WOOD stub added to show researcher information, and highlight that a recruit is needed for this line (or two).
A link to their dna oriented descendants chart (yet to be provided) is also now included on the Wanted! page.

Should anyone wish to see if there is any substance to the legend on how the Clan ARMSTRONG got it's name (from a FAIRBAIRN helping a king), check out the ARMSTRONG project.
No need for you all to rush and join as a member of our Lineage 1 has joined, and as most of the rest of the participants in our FAIRBAIRN project belong to Lineage 1, we are represented there.
Any connection looks rather remote.

Web links added

Added a couple more web links to the Portal FAIRBAIRN Web pages, namely to WorldConnect trees for the Fife family of John FAIRBAIRN and Helen GRIEVE, and another with Eckford and Ontario connections, that of John FAIRBAIRN and Margaret DEANS.
Also changed the link formatting slightly so that the places were presented first.

Yet another Lineage 1 member

Results in for David (F-9) - and we shouldn't be that surprised, but yet another match for Lineage 1, and no idea how to connect them up.

WFN Results table has been updated.

If anyone has any early Eccles families that may connect up to David's John and Helen (CAMPBELL) FAIRBAIRN, that might get them back a generation or two, we'd love to hear from you.

More participants definitely needed to confirm dna signatures and aid the analysis!

New recruit ; Wanted! page updated ++

Pity it was after the discount period ended, but never mind, the project now has a representative for the family of John A FAIRBAIRN Snr of Stillwater, the lynch pin family for the 3 cousinships claimed: to Angus, a descendant of David & Jane (WILLIAMSON) FAIRBAIRN, and to Albert, the Sunderland emigrant to Hoquiam, a descendant of Robert and Elizabeth (TAYLOR) FAIRBAIRN, represented in the project by Joe (F-10).

Thank you William (F-12), look forward to seeing how this match pans out, as you should be a match to Roy (F-3) if all our detective work is accurate.
It would still be great to have a proven descendant from David and Jane (WILLIAMSON) FAIRBAIRN to represent their lineage though as the identification of John A as David and Jane's son does rather go against two of his official certificates.

Check out the updated pages linked above for more information on some of the assumptions involved in the identifications.

Finished working on a version of the Patriarchs report for John and Helen (ANDERSON) FAIRBAIRN.
Also included this as a descendancy chart on the supplementary dnasurnames.info site where some additional notes may be found.
A link to this is now included on the FAIRBAIRN Wanted! page.
The chart is NOT a full descendancy report for John and Helen as it is only trying to identify those lines where the project may find a representative for the line.
So many FAIRBAIRN families claim "oh we're related to Sir William", without verifying this claim that it would be wonderful to have a proven dna signature for the John and Helen lineage, ie at least two distant cousins from the line.
Any takers? Anyone in touch with any of the family?

8th: SNP results in for 2 more kits

SNP results have been received for two more kits, so the Results page has been updated to show their tested haplotypes (both I1, unsurprisingly given the dna match with others in Lineage 1).

Also updated the Patriarchs page to correct a missing indent on the pedigree of John FAIRBAIRN and Helen ANDERSON that mistakenly showed the 2nd Baronet as Sir William's brother instead of his son.

More links, and comments, added

Over the last week or so I've seen at least three different versions of a Fairbairn tree as it relates to George Fairbairn and Janet Murray.
I have therefore added some comments to George's page in the Lineages section.
Comments welcome, particularly from anyone who can quote sources and shed light on George's ancestry!

Trotter Fairbairn has also had an alternate set of grandparents offered up as a suggestion, John Fairbairn and Jean Trotter, who seemed to cover most geographical bases in the area. Who says our ancestors never moved around much?

Patriarchs page tidied up to reflect lineages for current tests in progress, and to add a few more links for people with comments in the lineages section of DNA Surnames, and for researchers also listed on those pages.