tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41063467526806967562024-03-08T04:51:58.668-08:00McCown, Scots or IrishThis is a genealogical blog seeking to find the origins of various lines of McCowns and spelling variants, both Scots and Irish. It was started because I am a McCown with predominately Maguire related DNA.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-74989178738370181982015-01-31T16:18:00.003-08:002015-01-31T16:18:53.907-08:00Origin of the McCown SurnameThe McCown surname is derived from Eoghainn. Until St. Patrick preached the Gospels in the<br />
5th century, the there was no Irish Gaelic language equivalent for the Hebrew name John.<br />
<br />
They settled on Eoghainn (pronounced as Owen) as the Irish Gaelic equivalent of John. Owen<br />
is the root of the McCown surname using Mc preceeding Owen for McOwen. There are several<br />
other spelling variant of the surname both in Ireland and in Scotland. For example, in the Nith<br />
River Valley of Strathclyde, both McCowns and McGowans take their name from Owen the Bald,<br />
King of Strathclyde in the 8th century. This is the only instance I know of where McGowan is<br />
used for McCown rather than the literal use of McanGabhan which means son of the smith or<br />
metal worker. <br />
<br />William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-66932690632179731622015-01-26T10:40:00.001-08:002015-01-26T10:41:39.114-08:00McCown/Maguire Results<div class="Section1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear Bill,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My head is swimming with Maguire history and
DNA.<span> </span>Maguire history, although convoluted, is
not
a challenge; the DNA aspect of your genealogical search is another
matter.<span> </span>Unless you have a background in this
science,
understanding genetic patterns and relationships is like trying to
decipher
Greek.<span> </span>With that caveat, here is what I
have </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">found:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">DNA testing shows that you, your cousin and
Jim McKown are descendants
of Donn Mor Maguire (AD1302), the first King of Fermanagh.<span>
</span>Donn Mor was a descendant of the Three
Collas, descendants of Milesius of Spain, who defeated their cousins
the Red
Branch Knights of Ulidia.<span> </span>Descendants of
the Collas eventually joined with kindred and other unrelated families
to found
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Aighialla</st1:placename></st1:place>,
which encompassed the
counties of Fermanagh, Cavan and Monaghan.<span>
</span>In DNA terms, from what I have read, you, your cousin Sam and
Jim McKown
all belong to the Airghialla 2 Modal group, specifically L513 – P66+,
and
apparently are the only Maguires to belong to the P66+ category.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Maguire clan history also tells us that
the Maguires are related to
the MacQuarrie family of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region>,
who
come from an island near <st1:place w:st="on">Mull</st1:place>.<span> </span>This Scottish connection is not unusual,
since many Scottish clans actually have Irish founders. The Mc
Queen/McSweeny <span class="GramE">clan of Inishowen, Donegal are</span>
descended from <st1:state w:st="on">Conn</st1:state> of the Hundred
Battles, High King of Ireland, and the
McKenzies (McKinneys) are descended from the Norman Fitzgeralds who
were driven
from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> into <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Indeed,
the Buchananns, whom you reference as a DNA match, are descendants of
Anselan Buey Ocahan, son of the King of Ulster, who fled Ireland in
1016 and
emigrated to Argyll in Western Scotland.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bottom line: the Scottish names on your list
of DNA connections may
well have similar Irish bloodlines.<span> </span>Some
of the O’Neills disguised their names as <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Johnston</st1:place></st1:city>
after the English strongly urged the Gaels to anglicize their names.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Names like McMahon, McManus, <span class="SpellE">McAuley</span>,
McDonald, Burns and <span class="SpellE">Donohoe</span> all appear to
belong to
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="SpellE">Airghialla</span></st1:placename></st1:place>,
a
loosely connected group of families which came to share the same
geographical
location.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Historically, the Insurrection of 1641 was
led by the Maguire family.<span> </span>As you and I know, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Trinity</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>
has a website which records the actual testimony of the English and
Scottish
settlers who described the atrocities committed against them by the
Irish
rebels.<span> </span>In <span class="SpellE">Fermanagh</span>
and elsewhere, Rory Maguire, son of Sir <span class="SpellE">Conor</span>
Maguire
of the senior branch of the <span class="SpellE">Maguires</span>, was
considered
the Captain of the Irish rebels.<span> </span>I no
longer have access to the <span class="SpellE">Clogher</span> Record,
but I think
I remember reading that Rory had married the widow of a prominent <span class="SpellE">Fermanagh</span> English undertaker, and had moved into
her estate
in, or near, the Barony of <span class="SpellE">Lurg</span>, <span class="SpellE">Fermanagh</span>.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We both know the1641 Deposition, which we
previously discussed, stated
that Capt Rory Maguire, Hugh mc <span class="SpellE">Adeganny</span>
(the
priest), <span class="SpellE">Donagh</span> <span class="SpellE">oge</span>,
Brian <span class="SpellE">Carragh</span>, Redmond Maguire, and Pat
and Cahill <span class="SpellE"><span class="GramE">McChoen</span></span><span class="GramE"><span> </span>all</span> took part in a
massacre at <span class="SpellE">Magheraculmoney</span> in <span class="SpellE">Lurg</span>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the 1642 Deposition of Alice <span class="SpellE">Champyn</span>, in
the Barony of <span class="SpellE">Clankelly</span>, in the Manor of
Castle <span class="SpellE">Coole</span>, she names Don <span class="SpellE">Carragh</span> <span class="SpellE">Maguyre</span>,
gent, Edmund <span class="SpellE">Carragh</span> <span class="SpellE">Maguyre</span>
of <span class="SpellE">Annaharde</span>, and Redmond
<span class="SpellE">McOwin</span> <span class="SpellE">Maguyre</span>
gent of <span class="SpellE">Fermanagh</span> as murderers of her
husband.<span> </span>Members of the Maguire <span class="GramE">family</span>
who survived execution by the English, were on the run and had good
reason to
drop their surname and assume the Christian name of an ancestor as
their
surname – perhaps becoming <span class="SpellE">McCown</span>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the <span class="SpellE">Fermanagh</span>
Census 1669 for <span class="SpellE">Lurg</span>, we find: Edmund
McCone (<span class="SpellE">Culmaine</span>)
and <span class="SpellE">Cuchonagh</span> <span class="SpellE">O’Kohan</span>
(<span class="SpellE">Cluncagh</span>).<span> </span>Later,
we
find John McCone of <span class="SpellE">Collcan</span> as a 1788 poll
elector,
as well as <span class="SpellE">McKown</span> in <span class="SpellE">Aghalucher</span>,
and
<span class="SpellE">McCown</span> in <span class="SpellE">Galoon</span>.<span> </span>There are also <span class="SpellE">McCoens</span>
listed in <span class="SpellE">Fermanagh</span> in 1659.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Without further specific information, you’ll
have to be content with
the remarkable information which you have collected at this point in
your
journey.<span> </span>You are a Maguire of the main
royal line.<span> </span>That’s quite an
accomplishment!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Gail</span></span></div>
</div>
William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-87328141142981310132014-12-22T11:26:00.001-08:002014-12-22T11:31:50.754-08:00McCown, Scots or Irish blog is back AgainThis blog has been inactive since Nov 2013, but now I have regained control and plan to keep it<br />
updated. Some rascal stole my gmail account and I just recovered the account.<br />
<br />
First, let me suggest that you do an online search for a paper called "The Tribe Within" It deals with<br />
the history of L513 and L21 which mainly occur in Northern Ireland and Scotland. It deals with a<br />
tribe called the Veneti which the Roman Empire pronounced as Weneti and this tribe is the progenitor of L513 and L21. The Veneti designed and built the best boats of the time. They had<br />
high prows and were built of a particular variety of oak wood and they had leather sails all of which<br />
made them able to withstand the fierce storms of the North Atlantic Ocean as well as rot which was<br />
not the case with cedar wood at least in ships. This paragraph uses terms that are familiar mostly<br />
to men who have been tested by Family Tree DNA. If you are a male and want to track your families<br />
deep history these tests are an excellent place to start especially this week because the Y-DNA tests<br />
are heavily discounted in price.<br />
<br />
The Veneti were also the progenitors of the Dal Riata of Eastern Ulster. Some of the Dal Riata<br />
migrated to Scotland and controlled the western seaboard while the Picts controlled the rest of <br />
Scotland. The paper lists many surnames including McCown, McKown and McCowan as well as the<br />
names of the several major septs of the Maguire clan plus many other surnames as well.<br />
<br />
Many of us have been tested for the "Big Y Test" which tests for SNP's or deep subclades and for<br />
STR's which show Y-DNA matches. I have been tested to 12, 25, 37, 67 and 111 STR's which is<br />
currently as high as these tests are offered. Brad McGuire is the administrator of the Airghialla<br />
Mag Uidhir (Maguire) group. Airghialla was also known as the kingdom of Oriel and preceded the<br />
earliest of the Maguire chiefs. Brad is currently engaged in a project to shed more light on the history<br />
of the Maguire's and I look forward to sharing the results of his project to you.<br />
<br />
I also look forward to the next update to this blog.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-73049784457716556142013-11-22T14:10:00.003-08:002013-11-22T14:10:41.698-08:00At Last, More New Testing and ThrustIt seems that this blog is heavily dependent on a need for a great deal of<br />
patience, money for new tests as they occur and a constant and abiding<br />
hope for breaks in test results. Family Tree DNA has just offered a new<br />
test which they call the Big Y which has the potential for finding up to<br />
10 million SNP's. I invested a hefty sum for this test on 11-18-2013 to<br />
find out more about how the three McCown/McKowns relate to the <br />
Maguires of Co. Fermanagh. The results are not expected before Feb.<br />
2014 but what is hoped is that it will produce a closer time line between<br />
us and the rest of the Maguire Sept. This test will show our very deep <br />
ancestry via Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP's) that show ancestry<br />
before surnames came into common use in Ireland about 950 AD.<br />
<br />
The three McCown/McKowns are closely related by markers which show<br />
relatedness since surnames came into common use and specifically how<br />
our SNP P66+ anchors SNP 513 which is shared by all of those related<br />
to the Maguires ties into this. Our most recent find from William Roulston<br />
of the Ulster Historical Association is that on 18 June 1611, pardons were<br />
approved for the following men: Edmond McGuire McOwen, gentleman of <br />
Co. Tyrone, Patrick Grome McEdmond McOwen, Brian Magwire McOwen<br />
and Terrence O'Neile. At that time, native Irish were required by law to<br />
stay on the land and Edmond petitioned for an amnesty in the event that<br />
these men were forced off of their land at no fault of their own.<br />
<br />
The FTDNATip tool which shows when a Most Recent Common Ancestor<br />
lived and that year was 1622 AD. That is very close to when the men listed <br />
above were granted a pardon in 1611 AD. At a guess, I would say that <br />
there is an excellent chance that one of the men listed is an ancestor of <br />
mine.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-16927088109103389002013-11-22T12:51:00.000-08:002013-11-22T12:51:29.759-08:00William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-29405962453928620842013-08-22T09:15:00.000-07:002013-08-22T09:15:16.072-07:00New Thrust in Maguire Genealogy and Y-DNAAs faithful readers (when a blog update becomes available know) this blog has been in<br />
the doldrums since April 9, 2013. In fact, I was somewhat surprised that it still exists<br />
since it has been idle so long. But at long last, Brad McGuire has added extra thrust to<br />
this blog and some bright hope for the future.<br />
<br />
First, an effort is being started to have a full Y-DNA Genome test performed and a<br />
donor has been found to provide most of the funds to have this test performed. Because <br />
one of them is also a genetic distance of only four from the baseline of all of the members<br />
of Brad's Airghialla Mag Uidhir (Maguire) FTDNA Group, Brad proposes that he be the<br />
one to provide the Y-DNA sample to be used in this test.<br />
<br />
Second, Charles Robert Maguire, can document his genealogy clear back to the brother<br />
of the last ruling ruling prince of Fermanagh in the Junior line of Maguire. His ancestor was<br />
Lord Thomas Mor Maguire, 1400, brother to Hugh II, 1600. It is not known to us if<br />
Robert Charles Maguire of South Carolina is still living or not (he was in 2010) but we do <br />
know that he had brothers and two sons. <br />
<br />
It is our hope to have one of this family fully tested to 111 markers and even perhaps to<br />
be tested for the full Y-DNA Genome. Great hope and expectations abound.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-75979648208416253372013-04-09T21:57:00.003-07:002013-04-09T21:57:58.505-07:00The Rest of the Cormac and Maguire/McCown StoryMy source has sent additional information that counters the last issue of this blog. It seems <br />
that the Eoghain(Owen) was not of the Maguire line but was an early progenitor of the <br />
Ui O'hEoghain (modern Owens, O'Howens families) and none of those are DNA matches with<br />
me. I was really excited with the potential break through with my deep family history, but<br />
now that I know more about that period, I am not particularly disappointed. After all, what I <br />
want is what actually applies to my McCown/Maguire connection and so the lack of <br />
dejection. Actually, it was a ray of hope in a generally grim research. The O'hEoghains were<br />
a family of church men and therefor would have been a welcome part of my family tree but<br />
apparently they were closer to being of the O'Neill sept than the Maguire sept. Now that the<br />
decks have been cleared, I am still interested in the McChoens in the Barony of Lurg in<br />
northern County Fermanagh as possibly being of my surname.<br />
<br />
Dr. William Roulston of the Ulster Historical Foundation, Belfast, shows interest in them as<br />
well, so that is a bit of encouragement. I have read that very few Americans of American <br />
descent have been able to locate others in Ireland who descend from the same ancestors but <br />
a couple of them in my Maguire group have a record of their earliest known ancestor and where<br />
he lived in Ireland. My hope is that maybe some of these families can be found in the same<br />
general area and thus my line might as well.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-5966335893342272532013-03-28T12:18:00.001-07:002013-03-28T12:18:47.415-07:00Explanation of Possible McCown/Maguire Ancestors<div>
Found 2 additional names among the <b>1641 Depositions taken at Magheraculmoney</b>,
Fermanagh. Names included many Magwyers, a sampling: Rebels Rory, our
friend Hugh mcAdeganny, Hugh Boy, Bryan Carragh, Donagh oge, Redmond,
and finally, Patrick <b>mc Choen</b> and Cahell <b>mc Choen. This folio 201</b><b>v document places 2 McCoens among the Magwyers of Magheraculmoney, which is a parish in the Barony of Lurg, county Fermanagh.</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Now to your Mac Eoghain forebears whom you cite in your latest blog:</b></div>
<div>
Father
Gallachair in Clogher Record Vol 7, No.2, states that the Ui Eoghain of
Fermanagh and Clogher, Tyrone, were Ui Cremthainn of the Airghilla
confederation. Eoghain, or Eoghanan, was fourth in direct descent from
Cormac, the brother of Daimhin of Clogher, from whom Feargel of
Tamhnach also sprang. Eoghain was a brother of Mag Uidhir, and they
were both sons of Cormac. At this time surnames were not used. Since
Owen and MagUidhir were brothers, they should have the same dna.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I received the above information from my very helpful genealogical friends, the Leibells.</div>
<div>
It is my hope that this will jumpstart our first connection to County Fermanagh as it names </div>
<div>
names and the time (before the general use of surnames). It is being sent to Dr. William</div>
<div>
Roulston of the Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast to see if it does indeed give us a </div>
<div>
way around our current impass.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-54918760082459957362013-03-27T13:09:00.002-07:002013-03-27T13:09:39.806-07:00Spelling Variants of McOwen (McCown) in UlsterIn the Fermanagh Census of 1659, in the parishes of Aghalurcher, Enniskillen and<br />
Magheraculmoney, there were four individuals with the surname of McCoen. The fair<br />
Coane also found Cucghanagh O'Kohan in the Barony of Lurg, Edmund McCone,<br />
Culmaine, Cluncagh in the 1659 Hearth Money Rolls of Fermanagh and John McCone, of <br />
Coolcran in the 1788 Poll Electors.<br />
<br />
Previously, I had also found several with the surname McKown in Aghalurcher and McCown<br />
in Galloon parishes. All of this causes me to wonder if our McKown and McCown were<br />
spelled phonetically when they came to Virginia and South Carolina respectively. The<br />
reason I suspect this spelling problem could have possibly occurred, is that in the 1850<br />
census of Kentucky, my great great grandfather was shown as McCowen, my great grand-<br />
father was shown as McCown and a younger brother was shown as McKeown. All three <br />
lived in the same tiny village within easy walking distance of each other by the same census<br />
taker on the same day.<br />
<br />
I believe that all of these spellings derive from MacEoghain (pronounced "McOwen). Our <br />
name did come through correctly in the case of William McCown deported from England in <br />
1748 to Port Oxford, VA and Elizabeth McKown was deported on the same voyage to <br />
somewhere in North Carolina. I have been in contact with a descendant of this William.<br />
<br />
Also, in the census of 1790, there is a William McCown in York Co., South Carolina. An <br />
interesting thing about Jim McKown, Sam McCown and I, William McCown, is that all <br />
three of us have good Y-DNA matches with the Maguire Sept of Fermanagh and uniquely <br />
share Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) P66+ between the three of us. All three of<br />
us are closely matched at 111 markers through Family Tree DNA proving that we are closely<br />
related going back to about 1662. SNP's show deep ancestry and markers show ancestry in<br />
the male line going back to about 950 AD.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-49772405943292339072013-01-03T22:08:00.003-08:002013-01-03T22:08:46.658-08:00FTDNA Reverses Itself and a New McCown?After all of the fanfare about more new matches, I am now back to ground zero because<br />
FTDNA has reversed out all of the new matches at 111 markers. The good news is that<br />
Rev. Bill McCown sent an email to me wanting to share his family history with me and mine with<br />
his. His ancestor was born in 1792 in Anderson (formerly Pendleton Co., South Carolina. He is <br />
now living near there. My earliest known ancestor was Lawrence McCown, born ca 1790,<br />
somewhere in South Carolina. I don't believe that we will be able to connect our ancestors <br />
unless he takes the FTDNA Y-DNA test. I haven't heard back from him and the deadline for<br />
the year end discounts was supposed to be on Dec. 31st. I heard tonight that FTDNA extended<br />
the grace period for three more days, but now they are also past.<br />
<br />
Some time ago, I also exchanged emails with still another William McCown who is descended<br />
from a Scottish Rebel prisoner deported to Oxford, Maryland in 1748. On the same ship was a<br />
woman prisoner named Katherine McKown but she debarked in North Carolina.<br />
<br />
A number of McCowns settled in South Carolina by 1790, at least one William McCown was<br />
listed in the 1790 census of York Co., South Carolina. Many others moved down from <br />
Pennsylvania and Virginia and settled in Chester and Union Districts. Two William McCowns<br />
were shown in the 1790 US census in the Old 96th District of South Carolina. It is conceivable<br />
that Rev. Bill McCown's ancestor was one of those.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-67401743988518140162012-12-16T21:37:00.001-08:002012-12-16T21:37:29.010-08:00New DNA ResultsFamily Tree DNA (familytreedna.com) recently changed how they report matches at each level <br />
of testing. If you have been thinking about it, they are currently discounting the costs of the tests<br />
and upgrades.<br />
<br />
Since upgrading to 111 markers some time ago, I have waited patiently for more matches at that<br />
level and due to their new method of determining matches, I now have 11 where I had only 4.<br />
This is very encouraging to me as well as it is to others. One member of the Mag Uidhir<br />
Airgialla Group now has 34 matches. There are about 60 members of the group.<br />
<br />
Brad McGuire has suggested that FTDNA has stopped counting some of the fast moving markers<br />
but we won't know for sure until we hear that from FTDNA. Also, both Brad McGuire and a<br />
scientist from FTDNA have suggested that many more Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP's)<br />
will soon become available to test and these are perhaps even more important than the Single<br />
Tandem Repeats (STR's) or markers in establishing relationships. That is all for now.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-56354218458911935612012-11-19T12:05:00.002-08:002012-11-19T12:05:43.670-08:00Out of TouchMy blog has fallen far behind because I have not been able to straighten out my password<br />
difficulties with blogspot. That said, there has been nothing new to report. Hopefully, that<br />
will change since I have received an email from someone who matches me closely at both<br />
37 and 67 markers with the McManus surname.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-38243033309811975292012-09-21T21:45:00.001-07:002012-09-21T21:45:36.154-07:00Y-DNA to the Rescue?Two of my DNA contacts came up with some interesting ideas. First, Brad McGuire mentioned<br />
that the three of us with Maguire DNA but the McCown/McKown surname, were also the same <br />
value, 16, on marker DYS 464b. Then Pat Meguire, adm. of the McGuire Surname Group<br />
suggested that since about 25% of his group were also 464b=16, that perhaps this indicated<br />
a particular Maguire family line that we could trace back in time. Then, Brad McGuire <br />
suggests that the following markers and values in combination could identify those with <br />
a McGuire surname that should be tested for SNP P66+. That would then tie that particular<br />
line of Maguires to which the McCown/McKown lines are descended. Sounds good to me,<br />
now all that is left to be done is to find Maguires with those specific marker/values and get <br />
them to test for SNP P66+. The markers and values are as follows: DYS 390=25, DYS 481<br />
=24, DYS 640=12 and DYS 464b=16.<br />
<br />
Brad McGuire is the adm. of the Airgialla Mag Uidhir Group and also points out that some<br />
markers mutate faster than others and that some SNP's mutate within a given family. For<br />
example, all five of the markers that separate me from being an exact match for the Maguire<br />
modal at 25 markers are fast mutating and he mentioned that fast mutating markers could<br />
take 3,000 to 4,000 years to mutate. To me, that would put past mutations well before the use<br />
of surnames became common in Ireland, about 1,000 AD. I don't know yet whether <br />
mutations repeat over the years and began at different times or if they vary within a single<br />
family line. I hope to have more on this later because I surely am at my limit tonight.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-50814854729217118802012-08-16T11:05:00.000-07:002012-08-16T11:05:31.371-07:00Latest on Genealogical ContactsFirst, let me say that I have to post every five or six weeks to keep the blog alive. That being<br />
said, I have had a contact with a woman who has an ancestor with the McCowan spelling. She<br />
and I both have the surname, Dye, in our family trees. She is currently on a trip to visit <br />
relatives who have more information on their Dye ancestors to see if we have any in common.<br />
<br />
Mine is the mother of my paternal grandmother and her name was Margaret Delilah Dye and<br />
Margaret's father was John Dye whose father was Shippe Dye with a connection to the<br />
Goodnight family. I have no idea whether that is the same line that owned the Goodnight<br />
Ranch in Texas and whose surname appears in the name of the Goodnight-Loving Cattle<br />
trail. If it is, none of it washed off on us.<br />
<br />
Another interesting thing about this contact, is that her maiden name was Cone and Cone is<br />
certainly a version of Co'an or Cowan or Owen which would relate to my surname. I hope to<br />
inform you whether or not our Dye connection is related to hers. Dye appears to be a fairly<br />
common surname.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-36326776980070252262012-07-15T22:30:00.000-07:002012-07-15T22:30:04.960-07:00A Good Source for County Fermanagh RecordsNavigate to Fermanagh-Gold and then join the forum. That will allow you to download many<br />
records listed by experts. Two of these experts are Yvette Sage and John Cunningham. On<br />
the home page, scroll down to John-Cunningham and see the records he listed along with<br />
Yvette Sage. Scroll down further, and you will find Yevette-Sage. She has listed records<br />
that you can download and further down, you can download her CD---at no cost to you.<br />
<br />
There is a downside to this in that by joining the forum you will receive many emails from<br />
other forum members. I suggest just reading the titles, and if these don't interest you, then<br />
just delete that email. I believe the John Cunningham, mentioned above was our tour guide<br />
in September 2010 when we visited practically every county in what was formerly known as<br />
Ulster. John is a historian, a genealogist and a speaker of Gaelic as well. He picked us up at<br />
the Belfast Airport and drove clear across northern Ireland to Fermanagh in less than three hours.<br />
<br />
If you, or someone in your paternal line have not been tested for Y-DNA, this is the place to <br />
start. There are several good DNA services, but I have all of my experience with Family<br />
Tree DNA and it has been a marvelous experience over the years. A good place to start with<br />
Family Tree DNA is at their home page. There you will see the many types of tests offered<br />
to track both your male (Y-DNA) and your female (mtDNA). At the moment they are having<br />
an excellent sale to encourage new members to be tested.<br />
<br />
One of the chief virtues of having the DNA tests is that it allows you to find people closely <br />
related to you since their data base is the largest of those offering the test. Also, if you can <br />
research your family tree, the test results can prove that relationship and that is the gold <br />
standard of genealogy. Another is that I contact many people and together we try to find<br />
our ancestors---although I readily admit, that often I am the beneficiary of their guidance.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-46166458121552564962012-06-13T22:44:00.001-07:002012-06-13T22:44:53.028-07:00McCown and McKown on Fermanagh-GoldThere are some McCowns and more McKowns to be found on the free Fermanagh-Gold<br />
genealogical website. Most of these, so far, are shown in Galloon and Aghalurcher Parishes.<br />
Parishes are, in this case, civil subdivisions of County Fermanagh. You can go to the site<br />
and search freely. I was interested in information regarding just where in the county people of <br />
our surname are located. There is also a mailing list. So far, the only surname bulletin boards<br />
I have found are from Rootsweb which belongs to Ancestry.com and probably require membership<br />
to join.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-53595588587319330912012-05-17T09:23:00.003-07:002012-05-17T09:26:03.099-07:00All Ireland DNA Project Study and AtlasThis just in from the Fair Coane. The subject study is a combined genealogical and medical/scientific<br />
study of all test subjects living in Ireland or if not, whose eight great grand parents all lived in Ireland.<br />
<br />They will study Y-DNA, mtDNA and whole genome. There is to be no cost to the participants for the test other than the cost of a postage stamp to return the DNA sample(s) to the study center. There are a couple of downsides to this. The biggest one is that the person providing the sample will not get the results of his or her tests but rather they will be grouped with other DNA in communities that may <br />
even cross county lines. The other is that no mention is made of the testers testing for deep clades<br />
and therefor, they cannot even get down to the whole haplogroup level.<br />
<br />In short, it doesn't come anywhere close to appealing to those of us tested by Family Tree DNA so<br />
does it have an upside? Perhaps. The biggest problem for Americans of Irish descent trying to find<br />
ancestors in Ireland has been identifying their names and where they lived. I find it very frustrating <br />
that I can spend hundreds of dollars on DNA and other research and still not make a connection even<br />
with having engaged genealogists with excellent track records.<br />
<br />For example, how did they locate Barack Obama's ancestor in Ireland without a whole lot of input <br />
being furnished by Obama? John Kennedy was probably much simpler to research.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At best, the all Ireland DNA study can probably show hot spots where specific haplotypes are concentrated and thus give a clue as to where research may be most productive---but still it seems<br />
to me that this is still like looking for a needle in a haystack and wondering if you found the right<br />
needle.<br />
<ol>
<li></li>
</ol>
<div>
</div>William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-13554898843698512422012-04-21T09:59:00.001-07:002012-04-21T09:59:29.580-07:00An Embarrassment of SortsIn a prior blog, I mis-reported my haplogroup. It should be R1b1a2a1a1b4c and this time it has<br />
all of the correct digits in all the right places. I am a bit surprised that no one commented on this<br />
faux paux since several of those who follow this blog are group administrators of groups of which<br />
I am a member. Perhaps the blog is stealthier than I thought.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-48891147410905053322012-04-03T20:53:00.001-07:002012-04-03T20:53:10.776-07:00Cousin Sam's Results are All InSam's haplogroup, like mine and Jim McKown's are identical at R1b1a2a1b4c, This is the same as<br />
the rest of those with Maguire DNA except for the letter c suffix which means that Sam, Jim and I<br />
are all three Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) P66+ as expected. The three of us share a <br />
Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) in the year of our Lord 1661. It is extremely gratifying<br />
to have us match so very closely over a period going back to the common use of surnames in<br />
Ulster, Ireland. The deep subclades, unlike markers can and do show our common heritage going back<br />
to about 3,000 b.c..William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-15775750351115350842012-03-22T11:29:00.000-07:002012-03-22T11:29:50.530-07:00Cousin Sam's 111 Marker Results are inCousin Sam and I match on 108/111 markers. His deep subclades, including SNP P66 are still<br />
expected on Monday, March 26th. I no longer believe that P66+ is a necessary indicator of our<br />
relationship. If Sam isn't P66+, the STR evidence of our relationship at 108/111markers coupled<br />
with our documented genealogy from US census reports meets the gold standard for genealogical <br />
proof our ancestry. I still expect Sam to be P66+, but this SNP is subject to skipping whole gener-<br />
ations within a single family line.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-3401844922562540372012-02-29T22:42:00.000-08:002012-02-29T22:42:01.167-08:00Initial Test Results and derivative happeningsMy cousin, Sam's, initial test upgrades are beginning to come in. First, two of his <br />
Maguire Clan DNA signature STP's (single nucleotide polymorphism) have been <br />
received and as expected he is L513 and L69 positive along with the rest of the<br />
Airghialla Mag Uidhir (Maguire) Group. Brad McGuire, working with Thomas<br />
Krahn and Mike Walsh and others have come up with about five Maguire SNP's<br />
that allow them to predict, very reliably, how different members will show positive<br />
results on certain STP's. His SNP P66 result is expected by this Friday and it is<br />
expected to be P66+ along with that of Jim McKown and I. Brad also believes <br />
that there are three STR's (single tandem repeats) that my predict which others with<br />
Maguire DNA would likely be P66+.<br />
<br />
I also want to welcome some new associates who are now following this blog. I<br />
suggest to them that if they scroll all the way to the bottom of the current posting,<br />
they will be able to track all the way back to the beginning of the first posting to <br />
this blog. It has been a very rewarding trip so far for me. Cousin Sam and I are <br />
descended from our great great grandfather, Lawrence McCown, via his two first<br />
born sons, William and Eli and I am told that this means we are second cousins.<br />
As you might expect, we match exactly on the first 66 of 67 markers and when his<br />
upgrade to 111 marker results come in sometime this month, I expect them to be<br />
very close to mine at that level as well.<br />
<br />
If you are considering having your paternal line tested, you will have to have a male<br />
relative in the line you are tracing take the test if you are not that male yourself.<br />
Family Tree DNA.com has been running a special on these and other tests and <br />
they can furnish valuable discounts. It was through this means that I discovered <br />
Cousin Sam and also discovered that rather than being of Scottish descent, I am in<br />
fact of Ulster Irish Heritage---most likely County Fermanagh but possibly Tyrone<br />
or Donegal because all three have evidence of McCown (Mac Owen, McCowen or<br />
McKown) residents of Maguire descent. <br />William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-5832341020566354442012-02-08T16:49:00.000-08:002012-02-08T16:49:12.970-08:00Recloh EventsSNP P66+, which I had hoped to use to identify a specific Maguire ancestor is not<br />
a reliable indicator according to Thomas Krahn, head of FTDNA's Houston lab.<br />
A Maguire who was P66+ long ago can well have sons several generations later<br />
who would be P66- and that is the problem with Recloh events. These act more like<br />
STR's (Short Tandem Repeats) also called alleles or markers than like SNP's<br />
(Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms). The practical difference to those like me<br />
who don't understand this scientific stuff, is that STR's generally show family <br />
history back to about 200 years before surnames came into common usage whereas<br />
SNP's generally go back, way, way back thousands of years. For example, Niall <br />
of the Nine Hostages has SNP M222+ but SNP M222- goes back four thousand<br />
years ago while M222+ only goes back 3,000 years ago.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, cousin, Sam, is now upgrading to 111 markers, having his deep sub-<br />
clades (SNP's) tested plus SNP's L513 and L69. If all goes as expected, he will <br />
also be P66+, L513+ and L69+. Brad McGuire, adm. of the FTDNA Airghialla <br />
Mag Uidhir (Maguire) group that is based both on surname and geographical<br />
origin, can now predict who will have Maguire DNA and who will not based on <br />
six markers and from those can predict which SNP's an individual will + or -.<br />
<br />
This reminds me of why I enjoyed history classes that dealt with battles fought and <br />
wars won or lost but totally lost interest when it came down to economic history.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-5728219140271664862012-01-26T11:22:00.000-08:002012-01-26T11:22:38.515-08:00I could still be of Scottish DescentAlthough my DNA says that I have Maguire DNA, it doesn't say how that came about. One speculation would be that a McCown ancestor married a Maguire widow with Maguire sons or<br />
perhaps one on the way and then adopted her son(s). The McCown ancestor would<br />
have had McCown DNA but the adopted sons would have Maguire DNA. It also<br />
does not address whether they were living in Scotland or Ireland at he time of the<br />
non-paternal event.<br />
<br />
One reason I am pursuing this line of reasoning is that Family Tree DNA has a tool called Ancestral <br />
Origins. That provides percentages of those tested in Scotland, Ireland or wherevere.<br />
Percentages above 4% are said to be especially meaningful in determining where<br />
ancestors live. The calculation is admittedly based on only 11/12 markers, but the results are of some<br />
interest. They are Scotland, 6.4%, Ireland, 4.9% and Northern Ireland 4.9%.<br />
<br />
Jim McKown is in contact with Bill McKown who has devoted a lot of time to <br />
finding his ancestors and he says that Jim's earliest known ancestor is Scottish.<br />
Jim and I are closely matched and had a Most Recent Common Ancestor about<br />
1661 AD so it is entirely possible for us both to have Maguire DNA but have<br />
Scottish roots.<br />
<br />
This brings to the fore the critical need for taking FTDNA's Y-DNA tests because <br />
documented genealogy can be fraudulent, but if it is supported by DNA, that is<br />
considered by FTDNA as being the gold standard of genealogy. One Maguire and <br />
one McCarthy both attempted to change their genealogy by falsifying their family<br />
trees. This wasn't detected and rejected many years later after first having been <br />
accepted.<br />
<br />
Many people make the mistake of taking only the 12 marker test when they should<br />
take a minimum of 37 markers to find their most meaningful matches.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-85327130248189767732012-01-15T21:57:00.000-08:002012-01-15T21:57:04.389-08:00Was William one of the six Brothers?I found three records of people searching for William McCown, b. 1708, in Antrim, died 1747 in<br />
Knockmaokigan, Fermanagh on Ancestry.com. It says that his father was Alexander McCoun who<br />
according to what I have read elsewhere, was a Presbyterian minister and immigrated from Antrim<br />
about 1715 and setteled with his six sons in Pennsylvania. If this is the same Alexander, then I know by DNA results that they are not in my line. The searches were done by people trying to fill in family trees other than McCown trees.<br />
<br />
I find a potential ancestor and then only two weeks later have my hopes dashed. Such is life!William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106346752680696756.post-31638856040824536982012-01-10T21:20:00.000-08:002012-01-10T21:20:05.787-08:00Correction to William of Antrim and FermanaghThe Knockmaokigan, Fermanagh address is mispelled and doesn't give an exact location. For that <br />
reason alone, I might not have had any comments to the previous posting. I hope to do better this<br />
time. The correct detail address where William McCown died in Fermanagh is Knockmakegan,<br />
Manor Hightower, Newtownbutler, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ulster, Ireland. I don't have <br />
the Irish equivalent to a zip code. The corrected information came from the Ordnance Survey<br />
Memoirs of 1834/5, Vol. 4 of Enniskillen, Fermanagh.<br />
<br />
So far, I have not succeeded in returning to the records for the original entry, but there were between<br />
five and ten listing the birth of this William McCown in Antrim in 1708 and his death in "Knockmaogkigan, Fermanagh in 1747. We endeavor to maintain your trust with accurate information.William McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762902084370734860noreply@blogger.com1