See updated research here
Do not discount all those Y-12 and Y-25 matches!
The Help Center at Family Tree DNA provides a wealth of information on understanding Y-DNA matches. I encourage everyone who has DNA tested or is thinking about DNA testing to visit the help pages and learn everything you can about DNA testing.
I have included a very condensed version from the Help Center of Understanding Y-DNA Matches below. In essence, if you have Y-12 and/or Y-25 matches with the same surname, you should research those matches to determine the relatedness not just to you, but to the other matches in the Group as well. If you do not know how your Y-DNA matches relate to each other, I encourage you to research your matches and learn more about their genealogy. That applies not just to Y-DNA, but also to atDNA and mtDNA.
My male Morris cousin has 524 total Y-DNA matches at 12 Markers. Of that number 11 have the surname of Morris. As you can see from the screen capture below, most of these testers have tested to at least Y-37, so they should also show on my match list for Y-37, and most of them do. The same holds true for those that have tested to Y-67 and Y-111.
But, what about those with the same surname that do not show on Y-37, Y-67, or Y-111?
Simple! Research them if they have the same surname!
I recently ran across kit number 400658 that only matches at Y-12 and Y-25, even though the tester has tested to Y-37, the kit does not show on my Y-37 match list, and I do not fully understand why. However, I do believe if the kit is upgraded to Y-67 or Y-111, it will probably then show on my match list. I reached out to the kit manager and asked them to join the kit to the Morris project. They graciously did so, and the kit was put in my Morris Group M29. After doing the genealogy research for kit 400658, I discovered that this tester descends from (see updated research at link above) Samuel Morris b. 1710 d. 1801 Campbell County, Virginia. There is another tester, kit number 146588, that also descends from (see updated research at link above) Samuel Morris. The kits match beautifully, with only one Marker off.
Kit 400658 descends from Micajah Morris born about 1811 to John Morris, the son of (see updated research at link above) Samuel Morris. Samuel, as we learned earlier was the religious dissenter from Hanover County, Virginia who in the 1740s became dissatisfied with the Anglican Church of England and took matters into his own hands. He began reading the Bible and other religious materials to his friends and neighbors. From there, at least five Morris Reading Houses were built so others could read the Bible and pray together in their own neighborhoods. Samuel moved from Hanover County to Bedford County (later became Campbell County) probably in the late 1760s.
John Morris, the (see updated research at link above) son of Samuel, was born about 1766, probably in Hanover County, Virginia. He was probably just a toddler when his parents moved to Bedford (those parts that became Campbell) County. He married Lucretia Angeline Howell about 1800 in Campbell County, Virginia. In the Marriages of Campbell County, Virginia, 1782-1810, she is noted as the daughter-in-law of John Goodman. Lucretia died about 1844 in Campbell County, Virginia.
In 1850, John Sr. is living with his son, John Jr. and wife, Mary Freeman Morris.
John and Lucretia had the following children:
Susan, born about 1800, nothing more is known of her, and I am not sure that her birth year is correct
Elizabeth, born 1801, married Thomas Winfield (of interest another branch of this Winfield family, migrated to Anson / Montgomery / Stanly County, North Carolina, the same area my ancestor, John Jacky Morris lived). The surname Winfield is also seen as Wingfield
William, born 1802, married Mary Collins
John Jr, born 1804, married Mary Ann Freeman in Caswell County, North Carolina. Thomas H. Winfield, John’s brother-in-law, appeared to confirm that the bride, Mary Ann Eliza Freeman, was over the age of fifteen years
Nancy, born 1805, married Pinkney Scott
Jesse, born 1807, married Evelyn Freeman
Achilles Goodman Morris, born 1808, married Nancy Kidd (kit number 146588 descends from this line)
Micajah, born 1811, married Lively Scott 20 Dec 1832 in Pittsylvania, Virginia (kit 400658 descends from this line)
Mahala, born 1813, married William Finch
James, born 1815, married Melvina Swinney
Micajah and Lively Scott Morris made their home in Bedford, Virginia. They lived the perfect genealogical textbook life in Bedford County and can be found on the 1840 - 1880 Census’s there. They had several children, all born in Bedford County, Virginia.
Children of Micajah and Lively Scott Morris:
John b. 1837 m. Mary Tyler
Robert b. 1839 m. Martha A. E. Tyler (kit 400658 descends from this line)
Martha b. 1841
Lucinda b. 1843 m. Littleton Goodman
Mary b. 1843 m. Thomas Tyler
Lively b. 1846 m. Edward Stinnett
James b. 1849 m. Laura Graves
Fannie b. 183 m. Frederick Murray
Sarah b. 155 m. Robert Callahan
Micajah Jr b. 1857 m. Cornelia Patterson
Otelia b. 1869 m. William Trent
Robert and Martha A. E. Tyler Morris also remained in Bedford County, Virginia. Their children were:
Robert b. 1866
Martha b. 1838
Emma b. 1870
Joseph Clifton b. 1871 m. Anna Elizabeth Betty Bradshaw (kit 400658 descends from this line)
James Tillman b. 1873
Otilla b. 1875
Lelia b. 1876
Laura b. 1879
Joseph Clifton Morris is the great grandfather of the Y-DNA tester for this Morris family. Joseph made the move from Bedford County, Virginia leaving behind several generations whose descendants remain in that area to Alamance, North Carolina where he began several successful business ventures. On 1 Aug 1899 he married Anna Elizabeth Bradshaw, daughter of James and Nellie Thompson Bradshaw. The couple settled down in Graham, Alamance, North Carolina where in 1900, their daughter Leita (or Letta) was born.
In 1910, Joseph and Anna were in Haw River, Alamance, North Carolina with their growing family. Joseph worked in the Grist Mill business.
In 1912, The North State Milling Company of Greensboro was charted for general grain and milling business. J. C. Morris of Haw River was listed as superintendent and vice president.
In 1915, Anna Bradshaw Morris, died from an infection from gall bladder surgery. She was buried at Grace Methodist Protestant Church, her funeral conducted by her pastor, Rev. R. M. Andrews.
On 14 Nov 1916, Joseph marries for the second time to Sallie Hancock Moir, the widow of James Allen Moir, listed as an Auctioneer (Tobacco) in 1900, and a Policeman in 1910. James and Sallie had married in Rockingham, North Carolina on 2 May 1894. James died in 1912. The couple had one child, James Moir Jr.
1920 finds the Joseph Clifton Morris family in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina. Living in the home are Joseph, age 45, Sallie, age 43, Nellie, age 17, Mary, age 15, Elizabeth, age 13, Clifton, age 10, and Boyd, age 8.
In 1930, the family are still living in Guilford County, North Carolina. Elizabeth and Boyd are still living with their father, Joseph and stepmother, Sallie.
In 1933, Joseph ventures into the restaurant business by purchasing the Central Cafeteria located on Market Street from the Patterson Brothers. The restaurant, renamed to Mayfair, remained open for many years, and was managed by one of his sons.
Joseph and Sallie are still living in Greensboro in 1940. Joseph lists himself with no job and I assume he has retired. As seen in 1930, here also in 1940, Joseph and Sallie have taken in lodgers. This would be the last Census Joseph is found on.
On 2 Aug 1940, Joseph died from a heart attack. His death made headlines, not only because of his prominence in the community, but also because it was so sudden. He was buried at Green Hill Cemetery next to his first wife, Anna Bradshaw Morris.
By researching a Y-12 and Y-25 DNA match, I was able to tie this Morris tester in with another match in the Morris Project who also descends from Samuel Morris (1710-1801) Campbell County, Virginia. I now have two male testers who both descend from separate sons of John Morris (1766-1861), the son of Samuel. One tester descends from Achilles Morris (1808-1887) and the other from his brother, Micajah Morris (1811-1894).
Never discount any Y-DNA match with the same surname – at least not until you’ve done the genealogy research on them.
