Designing the Adamthwaite DNA Project

In order to confirm the accuracy of the reconstructions of the nine family lines we have identified through traditional genealogical research, we would ideally need to find a minimum of two male Adamthwaite individuals who would be willing to be tested from different branches of each line we have identified – although some of the larger lines have multiple branches, so we may need to test more than two males to be certain of their accuracy. This is particularly important as all of our lines originate well before the start of general registration, which means there is a greater likelihood of fundamental errors in our reconstruction. For this reason it is possible that we would need to undertake more than the recommended two tests, at least in the larger lines such as VIOLET, YELLOW, OLIVE and GREY lines.

One potential problem is that we have a number of documented illegitimate births back there in Ravenstonedale and Sedbergh! (and of course, there could have been other cases where the father was not actually an Adamthwaite). Each of these breaks in the male line would result in a negative match; so we need to select our testers carefully.

We are also fairly certain that at least two of our identified lines no longer have any living male Adamthwaite descendants. On the following page you can read a summary of the situation for each of our identified lines, together with descendancy charts showing where we believe any existing male Adamthwaites fit into the different coloured lines, and find out how you can help in our research project –

VIOLET line – five main branches	We can trace this line back to Sedbergh in the early 1600s. There are known to be several living male Adamthwaites in this line, living in the UK
YELLOW line – three main branches	This line originates in Ravenstonedale in the late 1600s. There are known to be several living male Adamthwaites from different branches of this line.
ORANGE line – two main branches	This line is now known to be a branch of the VIOLET line – it is probable that there are now only living male Adamthwaites from one branch of this line.
OLIVE line – four main branches	We can trace this line back to Ravenstonedale in 1730, and we are in touch with several living male Adamthwaites in this line, both in the UK and Australia
PINK line – one main branch only	The PINK line is now known to be a branch of the OLIVE line, but we think that it originates with a female Adamthwaite, so we may not be able to demonstrate a connection, even if we are able to locate a living male Adamthwaite in this line.
GREY line – four main branches	We have traced this line back to Brough in Westmorland in the 1750s, and there are living male Adamthwaites in both Canada and Australia
BLUE line – two main branches	The BLUE line traces back to Appleby in the 1790s and though there appear to be a couple of living male Adamthwaites, I think they may belong to the same branch.
Lt GREEN line – one branch only	This line goes back to a John Adamthwaite who was born about 1776 in Ravenstonedale – however, I don’t believe there are any living male Adamthwaite descendants
TURQUOISE line – one branch only	This line also dates from the 1770s in Ravenstonedale, but again, I don’t believe there are any living male Adamthwaite descendants.