Important Information For Descendants Of Solomon Baldwin
One of our Baldwin Family member’s participated in the Baldwin DNA Project and received an unexpected result. Read the following to learn more from John R. Baldwin, his daughter Harmony and how you can get involved.
Folks,
I am creating this Blog as a way to keep all of you informed about the progress of our new journey of determining the true origin of Solomon Baldwin and hopefully push our family history knowledge back even further in time and place. The revelations revealed through DNA analyses will will result in a great deal of our our family history being rewritten.
- I want to personally thank Roy Haas for being our official Kentucky/Ohio Baldwin family historian. And, a special thanks to Ray Haas for setting up this Blog for us to use.
Here’s a summary of what we know so far:
As you know, the male Y chromosome passes as a sort of family brand ‘bar code stamp’ from father to son. This fact allows for genetic relationships (in the male line) to extend far back in time tens of thousands of years. Now, present day family trees are being supplemented with the indisputable hard evidence of DNA test results. So, not only is DNA being used to solve crimes, it is also being used solve family mysteries such as who was Solomon Baldwin’s ancestors.
I was asked and I agreed to participate in a Baldwin Family DNA Project about 6 weeks ago. I received the test kit from Family Tree DNA and sent my samples back. I participated at the 37 marker level (more genetic markers reveal closer matches to modern ancestors). Processing DNA samples takes time 4-6 weeks. This week I received the 37 marker test results. Using the FTDNA web site tools I was able to look at the closest matches to my DNA. Of the 235 samples (with more being added each week) that closely or exactly match my DNA, none were Baldwin. Instead, the surname Manes/Maness/Maynor/Lawson matched perfectly. Link To Data
Needless to say I was stunned. Since I am a Baldwin male my DNA represents the male Baldwin DNA (the Baldwin Y chromosome bar code brand) back in time as far as you can see. Since there were no Baldwin surname DNA matches but instead exact Maness family matches one can only conclude that the true origin of Solomon and his descendents was as a Manes/Maness/Maynor/Lawson. [As an aside, FTDNA reports that there is high probability that this family originated in Ireland.]
This startling fact will cause us to reconsider not only who Solomon really was but also who we, as Baldwin family members, really are. Culturally of course we are Baldwin’s. But, now, we must contend with the new fact that we are genetically Maness’es.
The questions we await answers to include: Who was Solomon? Why did he adopt the Baldwin surname? Did he know he was not a genetic Baldwin? If he did know; then, why the secret? What was his wife Sarah’s role in all of this? When and where did the surname switch happen? Is there a Melungeon connection in all this.
Please forward this Blog link to any and all Baldwin cousins that you know. Advise them to contact me to get on this list