Winslow Family Y-DNA Project Goals
Background
My great uncle, Fred Winslow tried unsuccessfully over 50 years ago to identify Timothy Winslow’s father. Since that time there have been numerous journals and books written on the Timothy connection speculating on his ancestry. All of which contained a significant amount of circumstantial evidence without any compelling proof.
The relatively recent accessibility and affordability of Y-DNA testing presented a unique opportunity to shed a new light on this particular brick wall in the Winslow genealogy. However, while investigating the possibilities of Y-DNA testing for the Timothy connection a number of people were found with their own obstacles in recording genealogy for their branch of the Winslow family.
Because of the desire to shed new light on the Timothy connection and the additional desires to solve record shortfalls of several branches of the Winslow family, the Winslow Family Y-DNA Project was initiated.
Goals
The primary goal of the Winslow Family Y-DNA project is to bring better clarity and understanding of who the ancestors of the Winslow family are and assist the family members in their understanding of their heritage.
Phase I Objectives
One example of the many questions to be answered by this effort is the mysterious ancestry of Timothy Winslow (b. abt. 1654). Even though the last 50 years of research has provided significant subjective evidence that Joseph Winslow (b. abt 1627) is his father, no hard document exists showing their relationship.
If the connection to Joseph can be proven, then the descendents of Timothy can be proud to be direct descendant of John Winslow (b. 1597) and Mary Chilton (b.1605). Mary, a Mayflower passenger, is credited by some as the first Pilgrim woman to set foot in the new world (See http://www.pilgrimhall.org/hpbacon.htm ). John Winslow, a successful shipping merchant, was said to be the richest man in the country during his time and brother to Governor Edward Winslow (b. 1599). These are only a few of the many historically significant connections that can potentially be made.
Future Objectives
Additionally, other branches of the Winslow family have expressed interest in a Y-DNA test to help prove their ancestry. Some believe they have origins in Ireland and want to know if they are related to the English ancestors of Edward Winslow (b. 1560). Another group believe they descend from Kenelm Winslow (b. 1599), brother of John and Gov. Edward Winslow, but have links missing from their lineage. These questions just scratch the surface of possibilities to be discovered by the Winslow DNA project.
