Capeflier

Taylor, Sproul and Cottrell  Family History and Genetic Genealogy  Research Project

Welcome genetic cousins and other visitors who have found their way to  my  Taylor, Cottrell and Sproul family history research pages.  Genetic cousins who match me  from the 23andme,  Family Tree DNA,  GEDMatch.com or Ancestry.com  genetic genealogy databases  will find the resources here to help us locate our common ancestors.

Members of the Taylor, Howell and Covey family from Tell City Indiana and the Cottrell, Gibson , Toman family from Michigan and Darke County Ohio will find information on  my family history genetic  research project and how they can help with our research. Current research focus is on  locating  genetic connections with the descendants of the ancestors  of  Philip J. Taylor of  Tell City , Perry County,  Indiana and Owen Cottrell of Cement City,  Michigan.

As an adoptee I am twice blessed .  First  I was welcomed by my Mom and Dad into a loving delightful family as their own child  with a caring brother and a whole boatload of  awesome Aunts, Uncles and  cousins. Second I am blessed  because  thanks to genetic genealogy I am  now finding connections to   my genetic roots with wonderful sisters and a delightful group of genetic relatives.    Finding my genetic roots has resulted in a new understanding of my sense of self and my identity as well as provided important  medical history that very likely saved my life. Family researchers often hear I am adopted  and run, I ask that you stick around and read my story, when you know me you will understand I am a kind and compassionate soul who is  only  seeking the same connection to my genetic  roots as everyone else. I am currently working on three  genetic genealogy projects connecting me to my genetic roots  as summarized  below.

Welcome Taylor,  Sproul and Cottrell cousins as together we walk this incredible journey of discovery.  The goal of our site is to determine which of three possible genetic outcomes that created our genetic relationships  is the historical truth. I will be forever grateful for  everyone’s kindness and compassion as we untangle the branches of my tree of life.

Philip J Taylor, Tell City , Perry County Indiana Family Research Genealogy Project and Free Genetic Genealogy Testing.

According to my birth mother Philip J.  Taylor  was with  her the night she believes  I was conceived. The address written on a piece of note paper   to the right given to my birth mother the summer of 1953 supports the fact that   Philip J Taylor  visited  with my mother when  the USS Shenandoah,  a Navy Destroyer Tender , made its  stop in Boston in August of 1953.  My mothers story of the events that evening support the Philip Taylor biological connection.   In addition to what I call my “Cocktail Napkin Birth Certificate” I have  twelve genetic matches with descendants of ancestors of  Philip Taylor adding  genetic evidence that Philip Taylor was my birth father.

Philip Taylor did not have any children in his later marriage  so I hope that perhaps one of Adlai Taylor’s other  descendants  or other potential genetic cousins from the  Albert Taylor or  Albert Howell  and Uriah  Howell families  will help me out with the information I need.    I also  hope my existing  genetic matches  from 23andme,GEDMatch.com , Family Tree DNA, and ancestry.com  will take the time to do a quick check for any Taylor, Covey or Howell connections.

I hope that members of Philip Taylor’s family of Perry County Indiana will consider taking the free AncestryDNA or  Family Tree DNA Family Finder test to help in documenting family history.   If interested contact me at mark@capeflier.com Genetic genealogy has come a long way in a few short years. Not only can siblings and first cousins help but anyone one with a recent genetic connection can contribute to my research. A second cousin from the Taylor.Howell or Covey family  that matches with me would be very helpful in our family research.

More information about the Taylor  genetic genealogy project is located at  the Taylor Genetic Genealogy Project page.

Owen Cottrell Family  Research and  Genetic Genealogy Free Test Offer

Conversations with my birth mother, similar appearance between our families and low level matches of DNA with several  distant Cottrell  family cousins all indicate some sort of genetic connection with the ancestors of Owen Cottrell of Cement City Michigan.  There are several  possibilities for the source of this genetic connection.  One source  of Cottrell genetic  cousins is a  possible genetic connection  through my birth mother  with the descendants of Hiram Cottrell who settled in Greene County Ohio that was created  sometime in the 1700′s.   The similar appearance between myself and my son and various Cottrell Family members  presents the question could such a similarity really come from a common distant maternal ancestor back 5 or 6 generations  or did we inherit that similar appearance  through some sort of  more recent  connection with Owen Cottrell.

One of our project goals is to determine exactly what my biological connection to Owen Cottrell or his ancestors may have been.  Adding to the mystery is the  five genetic matches with the descendants of ancestors of Owen Cottrells grandmother  Eva Myrtle Gibson.  These matches would seem to indicate a more recent common ancestor than Hiram Cottrell. The unique circumstances surrounding the night of my conception and the mixed genetic genealogy  DNA results  require  further genetic testing and research.

It  is becoming more important to our research  then ever  that more immediate members of Owen Cottrell’s Family join our genetic genealogy project. Free Family Tree DNA Family Finder tests  continue to be  available to descendants of Owen Cottrell from Cement City Michigan as  whatever the  results they will help in our  search  for historically accurate  facts about my heritage. I have also added a Free AncestryDNA test offer to  certain descendants of  Isaac Gibson  and  George Leon  Toman  of Darke County Ohio and I hope potential Gibson and Toman cousins from these families will contact me to discuss participating in this exciting genetic genealogy study. Imagine the goodwill to be gained by  contributing to reconstructing  a family history once thought lost forever.  In addition to helping me the results will be yours to keep for your own family research.

Contact me at mark@capeflier.com for information about how to participate.   I am extremely grateful for the five Cottrell cousins who volunteered to participate in our genetic genealogy studies to help me unravel the twisted genetics of my past.

Sproul Genetic Genealogy  Project – My maternal genetic  genealogy is through the Sproul family and I am happy to work with my matches to find genetic connections there as well. Aside from the fact that its just plain fun to find new cousins the current goals of the Sproul genetic genealogy project include connecting the Sprouls of early 1800s Cornwall Canada to the Sproul family that dates back to Walter Spreull 1245 in Scotland.  I especially encourage descendants of the Paisley Scotland Sprouls to contribute to our research.

Other Genetic Genealogy Kits I manage:

If you have found your way here because of matches with Condon, Buchanan or  Howe at  Family Tree DNA  please email me directly at mark@capeflier.com  for information about those family trees. These are projects I manage for others and do not have recent genetic connections with me.  Please be sure to include which kit you match as well as any information that might help us identify your common ancestor. .

A word about passwords

To protect family privacy a  password is required for certain sections of our site . The genealogy, pictures file and document archives each have their own distinct password as they are of interest to different people.  Please email me with your connection to the family or the genetic match information you are researching  and the section(s)  you would like  the password for. Passwords are freely available to anyone with a connection to the family so feel free to email me.

No need to fear genetic genealogy.

People often hear DNA and get all nervous , please understand that we use genetic genealogy  test results for genealogical  family research purposes only,  the medical history  I seek is only what is voluntarily disclosed by the families and public records.IE  Grandpa died of a heart attack.  I wish to be very clear we are not using the DNA results for any purpose other than verifying common ancestry.   By way of example a public database showing Billy Bop Kit number x6666  has a 4th cousin  named Sally Bop kit F7765 gives very little information away about either Billy or Sally except they are distant cousins. People have been publishing family trees forever genetic genealogy is simply a tool to help firm up our knowledge of our genetic heritage. Thank you for participating in bringing our history alive.