Who's your daddy?

The prevalence of DNA testing has uncovered quite a few secrets and surprises.   DNA testing revealed an inaccuracy in the assumed genealogy line in some of the Plymouth Colony Fullers from Redenhall England.  

Two Fuller brothers, Samuel and Edward, came over on the Mayflower. Edward's son, Samuel (BTW there were a LOT of Samuels), also came on the Mayflower with his parents at age 12.   Matthew Fuller came to the colony a few years later and was presumed to be Edward's son.   That presumption prevailed for decades.

Enter 21st Century DNA testing and Y-DNA identification.  Most of the DNA in humans is packaged into 23 pairs of chromosomes. The first 22 pairs are matching, meaning that they contain roughly the same DNA inherited from both parents. The 23rd pair is different because in males, the pair does not match. The chromosomes in this pair are known as "sex" chromosomes and they have different names: X and Y. Typically, females have two X chromosomes (XX) and males have one X and one Y (XY).

Genetic males receive a copy of their father's Y chromosome   Genetic females do not receive a copy of their father's Y chromosome. The genetic variants found on the Y chromosome are analyzed In order to assign a paternal haplogroup.  A haplogroup is a genetic group of people who share a common ancestor on either their maternal or paternal line. Haplogroups are defined by shared, inherited genetic markers or mutations. 

By examining the DNA charts of known descendants of Samuel (son of Edward) and Matthew, it was discovered that Edward was not Matthew's father; and Samuel and Matthew were not brothers.  Using the DNA charts of other Plymouth colony Fullers, it was discovered that Matthew was most closely related to Robert Fuller who immigrated from England to Plymouth Colony in 1638 on the ship Bevis probably as part of the crew.  My mother whose maiden name was Fuller is descended from Robert. 

End Note: It is possible that Edward was Matthew's step-father if Edward's wife was previously married to a close relative of Robert's.  If so, Matthew's descendants would qualify for the  Mayflower Society.