Whipple DNA Summary and Overview

Y-DNA testing can help identify your Whipple ancestry and verify your Whipple lineage. If you are a male with surname Whipple (or have a brother, uncle, father, or male cousin with surname Whipple), a Y Chromosome DNA test can help you connect to your ancestors.

A "12-marker" test ought to be sufficient to connect you to the Rhode Island or the Ipswich/Bocking Whipples--or to confirm that you are from some other line, or perhaps from an adopted line? (Family Tree DNA currently offers a 12-marker test for $49.00. You might be able to find a "better deal" somewhere else.) More expensive tests such as 37- and 67-marker tests are probably overkill--at least initially--in identifying Whipple ancestry. (You can generally upgrade the 12-marker test later if you want more markers for your personal research goals.) After you receive your results, the Webmaster of the Whipple Website (webmaster@whipple.org) is interested in your results--especially if they point to haplogroups other than R1b, or R1b1b2. (We'll be careful not to identify any submitter by name on this site!)

Sorting Out the American Whipple Families

1. Rhode Island Whipples (R1b, R1b1b2, ...). Captain John Whipple (http://whipple.org/366), born between 1615 and 1617 somewhere in England, migrated to New England as a teenager in 1632. He settled first in Dorchester, Massachusetts, then moved to Providence, Rhode Island in 1658 when just over 40 years of age. He died 16 May 1685 in Providence. We know virtually nothing of his ancestry.  Tests so far point the R1b, R1b1b2, and similar haplogroups (for John and his male patrilineal descendants.
2. Bishop's Stortford/Bocking/Ipswich Whipples (T, T1, I2b1, ...). Thomas Whipple (http://whipple.org106442) of Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England, was born about 1475. His son Thomas (http://whipple.org/47862) and grandson Matthew (http://whipple.org/5929) moved east, settling in Bocking, Essex, England. A small number of tests seem to point to haplogroup T for this Whipple branch. Thomas' two great grandsons migrated from Bocking, England to Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1638:
• Matthew Whipple (d. 28 Sep 1647 in Ipswich, MA) http://whipple.org/5946. His descendants have reported haplogroups T, T1, and I2b1. (T seems to be "winning"?)
• John Whipple (d. 30 Jun 1669 in Ipswich, MA) http://whipple.org/5890. (We have no test results from descendants of this John Whipple. Logic would indicate a haplogroup of T or T1?)
3. Other families. If you're a male patrilineal descendant of the Baden-Baden/Louisiana Whipples, (see  http://whipple.org/56069), we're interested in your haplogroup. We're similarly interested in the Y-DNA test results of British Whipples and other Whipple subgroups. (Perhaps some British Whipples could offer clues to ancestry of the Rhode Island Whipples?)

Disconnected Whipples

Male patrilineal descendants of disconnected Whipples (see the Disconnected Whipples page) can be tested to see how their haplotrees compare with the haplotrees identified above. If you're stuck in identifying an ancestral connection, a Y-DNA test can help you choose between a Rhode Island and an Ipswich ancestor.

Definitions

(The following are definitions I've encountered while reading Trace Your Roots with DNA: Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak and Ann Turner [Rodale, 2004; ISBN 1-59486-006-8]. These appear in blog posts--often without further explanation. Let me know if you need more definitions.)

Allele

"One of the alternative versions of a gene or genetic marker that can exist in a particular location on a chromosome." -- Trace Your Roots with DNA, p. 249.

Haplotype

An individual collection of "short tandem repeat" (STR) mutations within a DNA segment. Individuals with matching (or nearly matching) haplotypes belong to the same haplogroup. They likely share the same MRCA.

Marker

"A distinctive landmark that occurs in an otherwise featureless stretch of DNA; a DNA sequence with known genetic characteristics that can be tested for purposes of comparison." -- Trace Your Roots with DNA, p. 253.

MRCA

Most Recent Common Ancestor. The nearest common (male--in the case of a Y chromosome test) ancestor shared by two related individuals (cousins/siblings/etc.).

Patrilineal ancestry

A person's ancestral line consisting exclusively of fathers: me, my father, his father, his father, ... etc. (patri = "father's"; lineal = "line")

Y-DNA

Y Chromosome DNA test. A popular genealogical DNA test for matches (or near matches) of "markers" that appear on the Y chromosome. Because only males have a Y chromosome, the test determines if two living males--generally with the same surname--share the same MRCA (i.e. whether they have common patrilineal ancestry).

Dewey A. Whipple Family Reunion, July 13, 2013

I received notice of this year's annual Dewey A. Whipple Family Reunion.

Date: Saturday, July 13, 2013
Address:
Canyon Rim East Pavilion
3100 Grace Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84109

Proposed schedule:

Saturday

8:30AM	Arrival and set up--committee
9:00	Juice, fruit, donuts, served--available throughout morning Nametags Family group photos
9:30ish	Family Games Horseshoe tournament Raffle ticket sales
12PM	Family Meeting: business, Dewey A. Whipple video, raffle
1:00	Taco salad lunch; pot luck dessert
2:00	Co-ed softball game--depending on interest

Sunday

9:15	"Music and the Spoken Word" broadcast
10:50	Sacrament service, JSMB, 15 East S. Temple
12:30	Lunch?

More information will appear on Shutterfly.

View Larger Map

(If you would like your Whipple reunion to appear here, send information to webmaster@whipple.org.)

Reunions prior to 2008 are listed on the main Whipple Website.

What Kind of Cousin Are You?

6th cousin, 3x removed? ... or whatever? Here's how to figure it out:

1. Identify common ancestor
2. Start counting generations from common ancestor until either one runs out of generations
• 1 generation: Brother/sister
• 2 generations: 1st cousin
• 3 generations: 2nd cousin
• 4 generations: 3rd cousin
• ...
3. If both of you are the same number of generations from the common ancestor, you're done--and zero times removed
4. If one of you still has more generations to count, start counting those generations:
• 1 generation: once removed
• 2 generations: twice removed
• 3 generations: thrice (3 times) removed
• 4 generations: 4 times removed
• ...
5. You're done

Chef Lance Whipple on Creating Award-Winning Cake at Home

When baking a cake, the first and most important aspect of its success is the ingredients.

That is what Chef Lance Whipple says to Sonoran Living on ABC-15 in Phoenix, Arizona.

If you've always wanted to make an award-winning cake, be sure to check out the the video and article of the interview. (The occasion of the interview at KNVX-TV is the upcoming 35th Annual Scottsdale Culinary Festival that starts Tuesday, April 9, and continues for six days.)

Click here to read and watch the full report at the abc15.com web site. (Chocolate lovers are sure to like his Midnight Chocolate Cake recipe.)

Lance is Executive Pastry Chef at Four Seasons. He will be a judge at the "Take the Cake" competition. (Is that the same as the Culinary Festival, I wonder?)

(Thanks to Blaine Whipple for submitting this story!)

A.B.C. Whipple, 1918-2013

Addison Beecher Colvin "Cal" Whipple, war correspondent who became a Washington reporter for Life magazine in 1943, died on St. Patrick's Day. His obituary appears in the Greenwich (CT) Post, and in new services around the world. Cal was responsible for publishing a controversial "Picture of the Week" in Life in 1943, next to an editorial about the reality of World War II. "War Bond sales skyrocketed; and the [government's] censorship rule was abolished."

His name appeared as A.B.C. Whipple on many Time-Life Books, where he served as executive editor. Some of his titles (listed in Wikipedia) include:

• Yankee Whalers in the South Seas (1954)
• Pirate: Rascals of the Spanish Main (1957)
• Tall Ships and Great Captains; a Narrative of Famous Sailing Ships Through the Ages and the Courageous Men Who Sailed, Fought, or Raced Them Across the Seas (1960)
• Hero of Trafalgar: The Story of Lord Nelson (1963)
• The Fatal Gift of Beauty; the Final Years of Byron and Shelley (1964)
• All About Nelson (1966)
• The Mysterious Voyage of Captain Kidd (1970)
• Fighting Sail (The Seafarers Series - Time Life Books)(1978)
• Vintage Nantucket (1978)
• The Whalers (The Seafarers Series - Time Life Books) (1978)
• The Whalers (1979)
• The Racing Yachts (The Seafarers Series - Time Life Books) (1980)
• The Clipper Ships (1980)
• The Mediterranean (1981)
• Storm (Planet Earth Series - Time Life Books) (1982)
• World War II in the Mediterranean - (Time Life Books) (1982)
• Restless Ocean (Planet Earth Series - Time Life Books) (1983)
• The Challenge (1987)
• To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines (1991)
• Critters: Adventures in Wildest Suburbia (1994)
• Storm (1982)

Thanks for your contributions in journalism, history, and a variety of publications! May you rest in peace. We'll miss you!

A.B.C. Whipple is in the Whipple Genweb at http://whipple.org/45501. 

Nova Scotia Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online

It's been over a month since Blaine Whipple informed me that Nova Scotia has put their birth, marriage and death (BMD) records online. Many Whipples migrated to the Maritime Provinces during America's colonial period. If your relatives lived in Nova Scotia, check out Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics (https://novascotiagenealogy.com/).

As of July 2012, the following are available online:

• Births (270,982 records): 
• 1864-1877, 1908-1911 
• (delayed registrations 1830-1911)
• Marriages (227,272 records): 
• Bonds 1763-1864
• Registrations 1864-1936
• Deaths (435,143 records)
• 1865-1877, 1908-1961
• City of Halifax, 1890-1908

More recent records than the above (births 1912-present, marriages 1937-present, deaths 1962-present) must be requested directly from Vital Statistics, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple's Role in the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War

On Thursday, February 21, 2013, The Venerable Canon Benjamin Scott will talk about Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple's role in the 1862 Dakota uprising. Sponsored by the Northfield Historical Society, it will take place in Northfield, Minnesota. Read the announcement at Northfield.org.

Bishop Whipple was the first Episcopal Bishop of Minnesota. He is featured on the Whipple Website. You can read more about him here.

(Special thanks to Blaine Whipple for this notification!)

Update

I realized this past week that it's been nearly six months since the last Whipple Blog post. (My, how time flies!). Please accept my apologies!

It isn't that nothing has happened during the past six months. The problem is that all the posts have been to the Whipple Website Facebook group (facebook.whipple.org), with periodic @WhippleWebsite tweets on Twitter.

Going forth, I promise to be less neglectful of the Whipple Blog. Don't give up on us. (Most of my future tweets and Facebook posts will include a post to the Whipple Blog.)

Thanks for your interest!

W. Whipple

(P.S. The Whipple Genweb continues to grow. It now has more than 143,000 Whipple relatives!)

92nd Whipple Reunion, Sunday August 26, 2012, Midway State Park, NY

Kenneth L. Vogt recently sent a mailing announcing the 92nd Chautauqua (NY) Whipple Reunion to be held at Midway State Park on Chautauqua Lake. Here are excerpts:

Jerry and Pam Stearns have reserved Midway Park Shelter #5 that will be available to the "Whipple Reunion" from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. So please feel free to come early and stay late. Officially our reunion will start at 12 noon.

View Larger Map 

[The above map shows Midway State Park. You will probably want to click the "View Larger Map" link in the lower left-hand corner of the map. You can zoom in and out, pan in your choice of directions, and even print travel directions.] 

Please bring a lawn chair to ensure you will have a seat. 

Food: The Whipple Reunion will provide coffee and lemonade and we request that you bring a dish to pass along with table service, plates, cutlery, etc. For those coming long distances, we suggest a stop at the supermarket for convenience food, possibly a salad, potato salad, cake, chips, etc. 

We shall have a blessing and start the meal at 1:00 p.m. sharp. 

Expenses: We will have a free will offering at the food serving table and don't forget the elephant raffle. Bring your knickknacks and fascinating items for the auction. There are expenses for our hosts and we should reimburse them ...

Send comments or questions to Kenneth L. Vogt (kvvogt@earthlink.net).

In honor of the people

Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple's collections are the subject of a new web site, In honor of the People: Exploring American Indian culture in the Bishop Whipple collections.

Major sections of the site include

• People
• Places
• Voices
• Material culture

Bishop Whipple (1822-1901), the first Episcopal Bishop of Minnesota, was an ardent friend and supporter of American Indians.

Pages about the Bishop's second wife, Evangeline (Marrs) Whipple (1862-1930), are particularly noteworthy.

We hope you enjoy your visits to the site!

A section of the Whipple Website focuses on Bishop Whipple.

Locating Captain John and Sarah's gravestones in Providence's North Burial Ground

Two or three weeks ago my brother phoned me from the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island. He was visiting family members nearby and wanted to visit the gravestones of our 8th great grandparents, Captain John and Sarah Whipple. I was driving when he phoned, so I pulled over and tried to help him.

The office couldn't recall where the Dahlia Path sign was located (see its photo on the Whipple Website.) The map below show how they eventually located the gravestones:

Drive northward on Eastern Ave., passing Front Ave. Continue on Eastern Ave, passing Pine and Summit Avenues on your left. As you approach Sedge Avenue on the right, you will see the Dahlia Path sign on your left. The asterisk (*)  marks the spot of the gravestones of John and Sarah.

Walk west past 3-4 (or 7 or 8?) rows of headstones. Look back towards the east until you see a scene something like the above.

The Dahlia Path pole is about 1/3 of the way from the left in this photo. The Captain's and Sarah's gravestones are labeled in this photo.

I'll verify these instructions next time I visit Providence. If you have better instructions, please comment!

Who are "Judge Whipple and Wife"?

I received the above photos recently from a Whipple Website submitter, asking,

Can anyone identify this couple?  These were sent to me and they were called "Judge Whipple and wife.  They were said to live in the NE United States.

If you know more about them, please let us know!

Gertrude May (Kimball) Whipple, the Whipple Flag's "Betsy Ross"

Yesterday Dave Martucci of the North American Vexillological Association sent the above newspaper clipping of Mrs. Wayne Whipple, who apparently sewed Wayne Whipple's flag of 1912. Dave gave permission to post the clipping.

Wayne Whipple's flag appears on the first page of the Whipple Blog (at the present time, at least). Blaine Whipple's article on The Whipple Flag appears on the Whipple Website. It will probably tell you things you didn't know before. More information appears in this blog on Flag Day 2008.

Whipple Family Reunion, July 20-22, 2012, DC Area

Just received a message on Facebook about a Whipple Family Reunion to be held in the Washington DC area July 20-22, 2012. (See http://www.facebook.com/messages/?action=read&tid=id.266680126746292 ... you might need to logon to read it?. Let me know if you can't find it.)

The reunion has its own Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whipple-Family-Reunion/138301806212240

Visit their wall on Facebook! It's interesting!

Raffle Info for the Dewey Whipple Reunion

Janele Whipple sent additional information about the June 9th Dewey Whipple Family Reunion (mentioned in a previous blog post). Specifically, she encourages attendees to participate in the raffle:

I was reminded that I overlooked telling all of you about our raffle for this year.  We must raise $300 for next year's reunion and a raffle is a fun way to do it, share our talents and have fun getting handmade items made by those we love.

We have a quilt coming in from Linda Drake (Dick's daughter) and some paintings and pottery coming from Karen Suisse (Dick's daughter).   I am still using the hand made cards I got a few years back at a Whipple Reunion.  Thank you to whoever brought those, I love them!  I encourage all of you to bring something for our raffle at the Whipple Family Reunion, June 9, 2012.

John Adams Whipple, Photographic Pioneer

Blaine Whipple recently submitted a link to a biography of John Adams Whipple (1822-1891), the first manufacturer of chemicals required for daguerreotype--the first commercially successful photographic process. His photographic studio became the most successful in Boston.

Read Historic Camera's biography of John Adams Whipple.

John has a page in the Whipple Genweb.

Ipswich Whipple Y-DNA ... So Far

This past weekend I received a report from yet another patrilineal descendant of Matthew Whipple (b. 1590). He reported his haplogroup as T1. Previous Ipswich Whipples had reported haplogroups T (without the 1) and I2b1. One disconnected Whipple also reported a haplogroup of T.

At this point I'm guessing that T and T1 are close matches. (Slight mutations can occur as generations pass. Might T1 be a mutation of T, I wonder?)

Here is what we have so far. (Each indention level represents one generation):

• Matthew (b. abt 1590 Bocking, Eng.; d. 28 Sep 1647 Ipswich, MA)
• John (b. 6 Sep 1632 Bocking; d. 22 Nov 1695 Ipswich).  One of John's descendants belongs to haplogroup T.
• Joseph (b. abt 1640 Ipswich; d. abt 1709 Ipswich)
• Jonathan (b. 16 Apr 1679 Ipswich; d. 2 Apr 1757 Westborough, MA)
• Francis (b. 1705 Ipswich; d. 2 Jul 1787 New Braintree, MA)
• Benjamin (b. 23 Apr 1727 Ipswich; d. 30 Apr 1806 Whipple Hollow, VT).
• Nehemiah (b. 25 Mar 1750 Hardwick, MA; d. 22 Jan 1809 Whipple Hollow). One of Nehemiah's descendants belongs to haplogroup I2b1.
• Benjamin (b. 16 Sep 1755 Hardwick, d. 8 Mar 1813, Sennet, NY). One of Benjamin's descendants belongs to haplogroup T1.

Last week we reported that a descendant of Joseph Marks Whipple (b. 24 Aug 1752 Greenwich, MA, d. 10 Jun 1843 Johnston, OH) is in haplogroup T. (We don't know Joseph's connection yet. We're guessing he is a descendant of Matthew (b. 1590) or Matthew's brother John (b. 1596 Bocking, Eng., d. 30 Jun 1669 in Ipswich, MA).

A significant number of the descendants of (another) John Whipple (b. abt 1617 somewhere in England; d. 16 May 1685 Providence, RI) are members of haplogroup R1b1b2.

To summarize: Of the small sampling of Y DNA from Ipswich Whipple descendants, most of them seem to be of haplogroup T (or a related haplogroup).

If you are a male named Whipple and are a direct patrilineal descendant of either of the two Ipswich Whipples (Matthew or his brother John), please consider having a Y DNA test and submitting your haplogroup to the Whipple Website.

Feel free to correct or comment on any assumptions made in this post!

Dewey Whipple Reunion June 9, 2012

Janele Whipple just announced the date of the annual Dewey A. Whipple reunion. (See the flyer below.)

Help Janele with the slide show by sending her your favorite photos by Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Send the photos to the email address shown at the bottom of the flyer, with the subject line "Whipple Reunion Slideshow Photos".

Correction: The address is 963 W. Folsom Avenue (not Flosom).

Mark your calendars now! It's going to be fun!

HUGE DNA News!

During the past 2-3 years (or more?), patrilineal descendants of the Rhode Island and Ipswich MA Whipples have been submitting DNA for testing. During that time, known Rhode Island descendants (descendants of Captain John Whipple at http://whipple.org/366) have belonged to haplogroup:

• R1b1b2

During that same time, two descendants of Matthew of Ipswich (http://whipple.org/5946) have submitted DNA tests, with TWO different results:

• T
• I2b1

The Ipswich tests have been inconclusive ...

... UNTIL NOW!

This evening I received an email from a male patrilineal descendant of "disconnected" Jonathan Whipple (http://whipple.org/38969), who married Anne (maiden name unknown) and had a son named Joseph Marks Whipple (http://whipple.org/32580). (Jonathan and Anne apparently died when Joseph was two years old. That was when he was adopted by John Marks (http://whipple.org/140204) and his wife Mary.)

The result:

Haplogroup T

We can now fairly confidently conclude that Jonathan Whipple (http://whipple.org/38969) is a direct descendant of Matthew Whipple (http://whipple.org/5946) or his brother John (http://whipple.org/5890).

As we search for parents of Jonathan Whipple (http://whipple.org/38969), we can now eliminate Whipples that are descendants of Captain John Whipple (http://whipple.org/366) of Rhode Island!

(Note: Don't be confused by the similar names of John of Ipswich and John of Providence. See Two Immigrants Named John. Also visit the two John's pages at http://whipple.org/5890 and http://whipple.org/366. Scroll to the bottom of their pages and read the notes ...)

Marriage Date and Place Added to Search Page

This morning I added fields for marriage year and place to the Whipple Genweb search form (http://genweb.whipple.org/search.html). I'm not entirely sure why I omitted those fields more than 10 years ago, when I first created that search page.

When entering dates and places I try to be consistent in the way I enter U.S. place names. However, I'm much less consistent when it comes to place names in other countries.

Last week (when I was out of town for a few days), I received an email that noted that I sometimes use Hertfordshire for the county north of London (the one that has Bishop's Stortford); other times I use Hertford (without the "shire"). My first inclination was to ignore the note. Then I started searching Personal Ancestral File (the free software I use to maintain the database). When I searched for places containing "Hertford", I noticed that Urias Whipple was married in Bishops Stortford; Urias was on the Disconnected Whipples page.

I decided that it might be useful to be able to search by marriage place. This evening, as I completed the implementation, I noticed another Urias Whipple, married in Bishops Stortford at http://whipple.org/106467. Both had the same marriage date and were married to the same person. The "connected" Urias is a descendant of Thomas Whipple of Bishops Stortford and a first cousin of Matthew Whipple of Bocking (http://whipple.org/5929). I merged the disconnected Urias with the connected Urias at http://whipple.org/106467.

... So the new field helped identify a disconnected Whipple who turned out to be a duplicate of a connected Whipple already in the database. I hope you find the new search field helpful in your research.

One feature of the search page is that only ONE search field is necessary. You can, for example, enter "Bishops Stortford" as the marriage place (leaving all other fields blank), and find all marriages that took place in Bishops Stortford. To find all individuals with ANY event that took place in Bishops Stortford, enter "Bishops Stortford" in the "All places (combined)" field (and leave all other fields blank).

Try experimenting by putting information in other single fields in the search form. Some will display nonsensical results--more results than you can handle. Other times, however, it will help you find something you would have missed otherwise.

Happy searching!

Michelle Whipple: Miss Guatemala 2012

Blaine Whipple just sent a link to a YouTube video of Michelle Whipple, Miss Guatemala 2012. Congratulations, Michelle! (It isn't clear if she is one of many contestants, or the winner ... Congratulations anyway!!)

DNA Test Results ... So Far

The very small sample of Y Chromosome DNA test results submitted so far seems to indicate that the Ipswich (Massachusetts) Whipples and the Providence (Rhode Island) Whipples don't share a "recent" common ancestor.

Rhode Island (Samuel, Eleazer), 3+ test results:

Haplogroup R1b1b2 (R-M269)

Ipswich (Matthew), 2 different test results:

Haplogroup T (T-M70)

Haplogroup I2b1

If you are a patrilineal male descendant Matthew or John of Ipswich, or of John of Providence, we welcome results of your yDNA tests.

The Whipple DNA Blog Is Joining the Whipple Blog

Lately I've felt stretched a bit too far, maintaining two Whipple blogs in my spare time. In an effort to save my time (and make DNA-related posts more accessible to followers) I have copied all the posts from the former Whipple DNA Blog to this blog and tagged the posts with the DNA tag. (Click on the tag to see all the DNA Blog posts.)

Last year I became a "convert" to genealogical DNA research (after years of disinterest). I wanted to know for sure if the Rhode Island Whipples and the Ipswich Whipples are related. Judging from Y DNA test results of the past year, I'm satisfied that the two families aren't related biologically.

While the majority of patrilineal descendants of Captain John Whipple of Providence share common Y chromosome DNA, I have yet to find two patrilineal descendants of Matthew Whipple of Bocking that belong to the same Y DNA haplogroup!

Why don't Bocking/Ipswich Whipple descendants belong to the same haplogroup? Can we be sure that Captain John of Providence isn't related to the Bocking Whipples?

It is my opinion that Captain John likely came from the vicinity of Essex County, England in 1632. (That might include Hertfordshire to the west, London to the south, or one of the neighboring counties. Many of the passengers aboard the Lyon in 1632 were from Essex and neighboring counties. John was an indentured servant of a man from the Essex area.) That's about as much as I can surmise about young John.

I'm still puzzled that so far there are no matches among patrilineal descendants of the Bocking/Ipswich Whipples. I encourage patrilineal descendants of John and Matthew of Ipswich to have a Y DNA test--even a basic 12-Marker test!

In the meantime, the former Whipple DNA blog is merging back into the Whipple Blog.

Hopefully I can find sufficient time to focus on a single blog! Thanks for your interest and encouragement!

Another Match!

Four days ago I received another email with the subject: "Family Tree DNA Y-DNA12 Test Match 12 for 12," indicating that yet another Whipple is a descendant of Captain John Whipple of Providence, Rhode Island. Because Family Tree DNA has a strict privacy policy, I'm not certain who that person is. (I do see, however, that there are five Whipples listed whose Y-DNA 12 Test matches mine.)

If you also received notification about four days ago--and you just recently had your DNA tested, feel free to email the webmaster-- especially if you are uncertain of your Rhode Island connection!

--W

Frank Whipple: Modern British Hero

Frank Whipple, East [London] End legend, passed away on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, at the age of 103. He died at the Royal London hospital. He was known in East London as a "campaigner, football fanatic and devoted family man." He was admired as the the U.K.'s oldest carer [caregiver] because of his dedication in taking care of his daughter Peggy, "born with severe special needs." Read the entire article in the East London Advertiser.

Frank was born in southern Ireland in about 1908, then moved with his family to east London in 1916. He is listed on the Whipple Website's "Disconnected Whipples" page. His son Harry is 72 years old. If any of you know how to contact him, it would be genealogically interesting to ask him to participate in a Y-Chromosome DNA test (in the unlikely event that he belongs to the haplogroup as any of the American Whipples. See the Whipple DNA blog). I wonder if he is related to Robert Eugene Whipple, in the Whipple Genweb at http://whipple.org/13445.

We offer our condolences to Frank's children Harry and Peggy.

Frank is in the Whipple Genweb at http://whipple.org/137583.

Where is the Whipple Website Facebook Page?

Tired of trying to remember the URL of the Whipple Website Facebook page? Now it's easy:

facebook.whipple.org will redirect you there, as of this evening.

Good luck!

(Let the Webmaster know if you ever notice the redirection break ...)

Photos from the July 10, 2011, Reunion at Jekyll Island, Georgia

Judging from the photos received from Bennett Whipple, it looks like the Georgia Whipples had a fun time at last month's reunion! (It was announced in this blog here and here.) Thank you, Bennett, for sharing! ( ... and for making us all wish that we could have been there ...)

Friday arrivals greet each other on the piazza at the Hampton Inn's pool: (l-r) Field Whipple, Milledgeville; Steve Whipple, Atlanta; Jean Michel and Laura (Whipple) Troussé, Canton, Ga.; Elli Frost and her grandmother, Jennifer (Whipple) Whiddon, Dublin, Ga.; Nona and Bennett Whipple, Big Canoe, Ga., and in the far background, Anne (Whipple) Alderman Murphey of Macon, the reunion organizer.

The photogenic Whipple girls from Milledgeville, daughters of Rhonda and Miles Dillard Whipple of Milledgeville, (l-r) Kellie, 8th grade, and Kaitlin, 12th grade, Georgia Military College Prep School, and Kristen, in her senior year at the University of Georgia.

The pool's the place to be for these Whipple cousins: (l-r) Nicholas Troussé, Mary Lynn Whipple, Madeleine Troussé, Penelope Abellera and Eli Abellera, having a camera-shy moment.

Saturday on the Beach (l-r) Cheryl Whipple, Katie Whipple, Nona Whipple, Fielding Alderman and Jean-Michel Troussé.

 The "Whipple Five" entertained Saturday night in the Hampton Lounge, with Guy Ingram on the trash can bongo, Steve Whipple, Colton Alderman, and Field Whipple on guitars, and Fielding Alderman on the Harmonica, one of twelve in his collection.

 Faithfully wearing his Bulldog cap, Ken Whidden, UGA defensive lineman on the 1966 Cotton Bowl team, with his wife Jennifer and their grandson Levi Scott Whiddon.

 Harriett Whipple visits with her daughter, Ann (Whipple) Taylor, and grandchildren, Josie (5) and Jackson (8) of Gray, Ga.

 The historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel, scene of the Sunday luncheon.

 Laura (Ingram) Lashley and Mark Lashley of Atlanta ran the registration table for the luncheon, assisting Jonathan Alderman, Macon, who helped with the arrangements.

The family gathered in the hotel's ballroom for the Sunday luncheon to celebrate Fielding's 89th birthday. From the left, Harriet and Fielding Whipple, Mel Gates Whipple of Vidalia, Ga., who celebrates her 100th birthday in September; Anne (Whipple) Murphey, Macon; and Nona and Bennett Whipple, Big Canoe, Ga.

The honoree, Fielding Dillard Whipple, Sr. stands with his son, Field, and wife Harriett seated at the table.

After the luncheon, most of the crowd squeezed onto the hotel's portico steps for the family's keepsake reunion picture. (Photo by Katie Whipple)

91st Whipple Reunion, Sunday, August 21, 2011, Forestville, NY

I just received the annual mailing from Kenneth L. Vogt about the 91st Reunion of the Chautauqua Whipples. (I really need to crash that party sometime--maybe in years, when they have the 100th reunion!) The following is excerpted from the mailing:

This year James and Joan Lisa are hosting the reunion at their home at 2361 Straight Road, Forestville, New York. The reunion starts at noon on August 21.

Directions
From exit 59 of the New York State Thru-way:

1. Left on Bennett Road (Route 60)
2. Left on Route 20
3. Right on County Road 81/South Roberts Road (for 3 miles)
4. Right on Whitaker Road (is 0.4 miles past Epolito Road)
5. Right on County Road 79/Center Road
6. Take 1st left onto Straight Road
7. Look for a sign in front of the residence.

Please bring a lawn chair.

Food

"The Whipple Reunion will provide coffee and lemonade and we request that everyone bring a dish to pass along with table service, plates, cutlery, etc. For those coming long distances, and do not have access to kitchen facilities, we suggest a stop at the supermarket for convenience food, maybe a salad, cake, pie, chips."

We shall have a blessing and the start of the meal at 1:00 p.m. sharp.

Expenses
"We will have a free will donation basket at the food serving table. Also don't forget the white elephant raffle. Bring in those knick knacks, plants, or most anything you would care to donate for the white elephant auction. There are expenses for our hosts and we should reimburse them."

Send comments or questions to Kenneth L. Vogt (kvvogt@earthlink.net).

Dewey Whipple Reunion Photos

I received the following photos from the Dewey Whipple Reunion held June 3-4, 2011, Camp Atoka, Utah. The first photo shows four of Dewey's children (L-R): Dexter, Dewey Jr., Albert and Illa.

Next is a group photo of all in attendance. (Hmmm ... I wonder if the photographer is missing ...?)

On the Death of Priam Parker Whipple

(Originally submitted by Susan Newell to the Whipple Website, May 30, 2011: "Transcribed from a fragile document, beautifully handwritten in fine, small, perfect script with quill pen and now faded ink, probably dating to the mid to late 1800s." At the time, Susan thought Priam might be a child of Eugene Whipple? On July 10, 2011, Susan submitted a correction, suggesting that Priam might more likely be a brother of Eugene. Within the next few days, Priam will appear in the Whipple Genweb as Eugene's brother.)

Here drooping by his lifeless side
        Pensive retired with grief oer' borne
Lovely in Death my darling pride
        He my long weeping Heart will Mourn.
Farewell then Dearest of my Heart,
        Whom neither tears nor prayer could save,
Tis Deaths redoubled pain to part,
        And leave such Beauty in the Grave.
Ah! He that once such Beauty graced.
        His winning smiles -- His angel form,
Corruptions greedy train shall waste.
        The Mouldering Dust -- the feasting Worm:
His tongue whose gentle prattlings blest,
        His hands whose tender touch could charm,
No more with Kisses shall be prest,
        No more his Mothers bosom warm.
Where His loved sight could once rejoice,
        Now forced his absence to sustain.
Mine ears wait listening for His Voice,
        I turn and seek His glimpses in vain.
By Night my Eyes the search repeat,
        Sad to the Glittering Skies they roll,
"Tell Me" I say The Happy Seat,
        Say where reside His blissful Soul:
Yet with bright hopes in distant View
        My faith instructed by the Sod,
Bids the false joys of Earth Adieu,
        And Bows before the Sovreign God.
Happy for Him so soon -- so well,
        To escape the woes which life annoy,
To part with few sad tales to tell,
        With me black grief to damp His joy:
Till the last hour of general Doom,
        Kind Angels guard his precious trust:
Lock the cold Chambers of the Tomb,
        Then wake my Priam's slumbering Dust.
That day shall bring Him to my Sight,
        His presence shall my joys restore,
Tell me thou thought with vast delight,
        When Death shall never part us more.

Thank You, William Whipple!

This is the weekend the United States celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Associated Press writer Kathy McCormack just posted an article entitled Never too late: Declaration signers being honored. It begins by mentioning William Whipple and cites Whipple genealogist Blaine Whipple.

As Americans celebrate Independence Day this year, we honor William Whipple and others who gave so much that the United States of America could be born and thrive for 235 years.

God bless America!

Georgia Whipple Reunion Reminder

Anne Murphey sends a reminder regarding the July 10th Whipple Reunion at Jekyll Island, Georgia (announced earlier on the Whipple Blog):

We're pleased over the interest shown by all you Whipples (by whatever name) in attending Fielding's July 10 birthday party at Jekyll Island and, yes, it's also a time for family reunion.

It's not too late for you to be there, too. There are a few rooms left at the Hampton Inn, so call Mimi by June 8 for the $159 group rate at (912) 635-3733 and make your reservation. Many of us are spending Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

To make reservations for Sunday's birthday buffet luncheon at the Jekyll Island Club, mail your check by June 28 payable to "Anne Murphey" to Jonathan Alderman, PO Box 6497, Macon, GA 31208-6497. (For Adults - $20 and $10 for children ages 3 - 11.)

No gifts, of course, but you may send a birthday greeting to Amy Alderman at jonamya@gmail.com for his birthday scrapbook.

We're looking forward to seeing all of you at Jekyll.

Josephine G. Whipple

I realized today that I haven't posted here for over a month. It occurred to me that I might want to post (selected?) photos that are submitted to the Whipple Website. This is a photo of Miss Josephine G. Whipple (in the Whipple Genweb at http://whipple.org/120030). The photo will appear at the top of her page within the next week.

The 1900 census gives her birth in September 1836 in Massachusetts. She was living in Boston at the time of the 1920 census.

Dewey Whipple Reunion 2nd Reminder, Camp Atoka, Utah, June 3-4, 2011

I just received a second reminder about the Whipple Reunion at Camp Atoka, east of Ogden, Utah, on Friday and Saturday, June 3rd and 4th, 2011. Here is the PDF file I received.

Piggeries, Henneries, and J. R. Whipple's Boston Hotels

Seven or more years ago, Joanne Lahr-Kreischer introduced me to J. Reed Whipple (full name: Joseph Reed Whipple) when she submitted "J. Reed Whipple and Boston Hotels" to the Whipple Website. Born in New Boston, New Hampshire, Reed remained connected with his roots, even after becoming a noted Boston hotelier.  

The New Boston Historical Society's web site tells about Whipple's New Boston farm that supplied food to his Boston hotels. Worth noting:

• J.R. (Reed) Whipple supplied food to the Parker House, Young's Hotel and Hotel Touraine from his 2500-acre Valley View Farm in New Boston, NH
• In 1893 he build a railroad line between New Boston and Boston's Parker Station to facilitate food shipments.
• The farm's "piggery," "hennery," and creamery employed 90 workers. Food was shipped to Boston daily. Leftover food was sent back to New Boston to feed the pigs and chickens.

To read more about Valley View Farm, visit the New Boston Historical Society's web site, then click "Town History," then "New Boston's Farms."

(Note: The New Boston Historical Society is located in the former Whipple Free Library, which recently moved into its new building.)

12-Marker Y-DNA Test for $99.00!

This week Christopher Congdon reported a way to purchase a 12-marker Y Chromosome DNA test from FamilyTree DNA: Visit https://www.familytreedna.com/order-form.aspx?ty=58&Group=Whipple&code= -- it takes you directly to the page for the 12-marker test.

As I mentioned in an earlier post: the 12-marker Y-DNA test should be sufficient for the objectives of the Whipple Website's tests -- to see it the Ipswich MA and Providence RI Whipples have a "recent" common ancestor.

Before you run out and plunk down your $99.00: Make sure you are a male patrilineal Whipple descendant! (That means that your Whipple ancestry goes back through fathers' lines as far as you know; it probably means that your surname is Whipple.)

I hope to see more test results from descendants of Ipswich Whipples, Matthew (http://whipple.org/5946) and John (http://whipple.org/5890). We're still looking for common haplogroup trends among their descendants.

(Last time I checked, I THINK I saw about 49 tests of Rhode Island Whipple patrilineal descendants, all with a common haplogroup. All "Rhode Island Whipple descendants) trace their ancestry to the John Whipple at http://whipple.org/366.)

Charles T. Whipple: Helping Japan's Tsunami Victims

As I've watched in disbelief the videos of the recent tsunami in Japan, I have wondered what I can do to help. Cars, boats, homes--all the worldly possessions of thousands of residents of the Tohoku region--seemed like toys in a bathtub or wading pool ... except that they were real.

Charles T. Whipple (a resident of Japan) contacted me this morning, offering to contribute the proceeds of his book A Matter of Tea to the tsunami victims. Please visit his blog and participate if you are able.

We extend our hopes and best wishes to the tsunami victims, and pray for their quick recovery.

Whipple Family Reunion at Camp Atoka, UT, June 3-4, 2011

I received the following from Susan Freeze:

Whipple Family Reunion

June 3rd and 4th, 2011

Friday and Saturday

Camp Atoka

Just 4.3 miles East of Huntsville, UT

on the

South Fork of the Ogden River

Get ready for the Old Style Reunion. There will be camping, fishing, games, geocaching, letterboxing, visiting and an old fashioned campfire with campfire stories and songs. Also the drawing for the Famous Reunion Quilt that Deborah, Susan and Mom (Illa) have been working on since last year's reunion.

Planned Events

• Friday start at 1:00 p.m. available for camp setup
• Friday 5 pm gather at bowery
• Friday 6 pm dinner (drink furnished)
• Saturday 8am to 9 am breakfast for the overnight campers (furnished)
• General camp activities
• Geocaching (www.geocaching.com)
• Letterboxing (www.letterboxing.com)
• Fishing
• Games
• Cleanup and depart by noon

What to Bring

• Craft to donate for the raffle
• Friday night dinner
• Camp chairs
• Camp gear (if camping)
• Fishing gear (if fishing)
• Camping games
• Warm clothing (gets cool at night)
• GPS (if you are going to Geocache)
• Money for the raffle and dues ($5.00 per family)
• Family photos
• Camera

Important Information

• What: Whipple Family Reunion
• Where: Camp Atoka (a church campground located 4.3 miles east of Huntsville, UT. Less than an hour's drive from downtown Salt Lake City)
• When: June 3rd and 4th 2011
• Why: Help you know who you are, and where you came from so you can determine where you would like to go.
• How: OK, too many questions. Just pack up and head to the reunion

Contact Information

• Susan Freeze (reallycold11@gmail.com) phone: 801-467-4446
• Bob Harvey (kabob97@aol.com) phone: 801-628-7211
• Deborah Goates (sevengoates@yahoo.com) phone: 702-283-6095
• Steve Harvey (harvsters7@msn.com phone) 801-825-1770

Which Y-DNA Test?

Now that I've had time to look at the results of different relatives' Y-DNA tests, I have formulated a new opinion about which Y-chromosome DNA tests are best. The tests with the fewest "markers" (which are also the cheapest) are probably sufficient--for starters, at least.

A 12-marker test ought to be sufficient to for a male Whipple to determine whether he is a biological patrilineal descendant of the earliest Rhode Island ancestor, Captain John Whipple (See http://whipple.org/366) Unfortunately, FamilyTree DNA doesn't seem to offer a 12- or 25-marker test. The "starter test" advertised on their web site (http://www.familytreedna.com) is the 37-marker test. (They also offer a 67-marker test--considerably more expensive.)

If you are a male Whipple and suspect that you descend from the Ipswich (Massachusetts) brothers John and Matthew, we urge you to have your Y-DNA tested and submit your results! (Thus far, we know of only two tests of Ipswich Whipple--and both are different. Even a 12-marker would help identify a trend!)

We also welcome test results from other Whipple tree descendants. Here are a few possibilities:

• The Houma, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana (male) descendants of George Whipple of Baden-Baden, in the present-day state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. (George's son, Charles Frederick Whipple, immigrated to the U.S. in 1844. He was living in Houma in the 1900 Census.)
• Male descendants of the purported Robert Eugene Whipple of county Cork, Ireland, who died in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas. His three grandsons, Joseph, John William, and James, were born in Virginia in the 1820's and 1830's.
• Male descendants of anyone listed on the Disconnected Whipples page--including Whipples from the United Kingdom. (It would be interesting to see if/how they share ancestry with U.S. Whipples!)

We (the rest of us Whipples) look forward to learning about the Y-DNA results of any other male Whipples interested in participating!

If you know of a Y-DNA testing service that offers the 12-marker test, please contact the Webmaster (webmaster@whipple.org).

(If you purchase a 37-marker test from FamilyTree DNA, they offer an upgrade to the "full-blown" 67-marker test--if you're interested.)

Whipple Reunion at Jekyll Island, Georgia, July 10, 2011

I received the following notice this week from Bennett Whipple of Georgia. He asked me to post it on the Whipple Blog. It also indicated that Whipples that aren't "immediately related" are also welcome to attend. Bennett's sister Anne drafted the invitation:

Our brother Fielding Dillard Whipple turns 89 on July 10, 2011.  Nona and Bennett, Anne, and Harriett plan to celebrate with Fielding at Jekyll Island that weekend. The actual birthday party will be Sunday, July 10, at eleven a.m. at the old Jekyll Island Hotel.  We want all of you there. We hope this will be a Whipple reunion.  Some of us plan to spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at the Hampton Inn, on the site of the demolished Holiday Inn.  MAKE YOUR OWN RESERVATION.  They have given us a group rate.

The Hampton Inn
200 South Beachview Drive
Jekyll Island, GA  31527
Phone 912-635-3733
Fax 912-635-3738
www.jekyllislandhamptoninn.com
Mimi is contact person.
Group rate:

1. Standard: 2 Q beds, 159.00 + 12% tax

1. Suite:  2 Q or 1 K bed, 179.00 + 12% tax (with 1 Q sofa bed and balcony) 

No additional per person charge. All rooms have microwave, fridge and coffee service. Hotel has complimentary hot breakfast (6 a.m. to 10 a.m.) and coffee service 24-7, and shuttle service available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at no charge to anyplace  on island.

Birthday Lunch:

The Jekyll Island Club
Birthday Luncheon
Sunday, July 10, 2011 gather at 11 a.m.
Bring photographs, scrapbooks, genealogy notes, and musical instruments.
Adult buffet - $20.00
Child age 3-11 - $10.00
Reservation by check by July 1 made to Anne Murphey and sent to Jonathan Alderman:
                  PO Box 6497
                  Macon, GA  31208-6497

View Larger Map

Benjamin Whipple and His Role in the Dakota Conflict of 1862

Blaine Whipple recently noted a set of web pages that include one page devoted to Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple--first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Minnesota.  The Bishop's page is part of the Famous Trials web site by Douglas O. Linder (2011), University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law.

A biographical page devoted to Bishop Whipple is entitled (simply) Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple.

It is one of a set of Biographies of Key Participants in the Dakota Conflict Trials, which is part of a larger site of Famous American Trials: The Dakota Conflict Trials, 1862. Those trials resulted in the execution of thirty-eight Sioux--the largest mass execution in American history. "Only the unpopular intervention of President Lincoln saved 265 other Dakota" from a similar execution. Bishop Whipple was instrumental in petitioning President Lincoln to stop the killings.

The Dakota Conflict Trials of 1862 are part of a much larger Famous Trials web site.

Bishop Whipple is featured on the Whipple Website. You can find his genealogy is at http://whipple.org/8170. He is definitely one of the "shining stars" among Whipple relatives!

The Snake Den by Chuck Tyrell

I just received a note from Whipple cousin Charles T. Whipple (who writes under the pen name Chuck Tyrell) about his latest book, The Snake Den, just released in eBook formats by Solstice Publishing. (It will appear as a print edition later this year.)

Charles also notes that his earlier book, Vulture Gold, is out of print in both small and large print editions. It is, however, "now available from most eBook retailers, especially Smashwords and Western Trail Blazers."

You can find Chuck on the web at:

• http://www.chucktyrell.com
• http://chucktyrell-outlawjournal.blogspot.com
• http://tokyowest.typepad.com/charlies_blog/
• http://www.solsticepublishing.com
• http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/39423

The Snake Den is on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sE3YhPs_bY

Ipswich Whipple Y DNA: More Uncertainty

A few days ago I posted preliminary results of an Ipswich Whipple Y Chromosome DNA test. That test indicated no close relationship between the Rhode Island Whipples and that descendant of Matthew Whipple (brother of John) of Ipswich.

Two days ago I received another Y DNA report from another descendant of the same Matthew. (Matthew is the nearest common ancestor of both individuals.) Those DNA results were also different from the Rhode Island Whipple DNA results. Unfortunately, the two Ipswich Whipples DNA tests don't match each other: both Ipswich Whipples have different Y DNA results.

We can't really conclude anything at the moment, except for the following:

• If you are a male named Whipple and a Y DNA test shows that you belong to haplogroup R1b1b2 (R-M269), you are likely a descendant of Captain John Whipple of Rhode Island.
• If you are a male named Whipple and a Y DNA test shows that you belong to either haplogroup T or I2b1, you are likely an Ipswich Whipple. (Well, at least you probably aren't a Rhode Island Whipple.)

Feel free to submit your Y DNA test results to the Whipple DNA web site--especially if you don't think you are a Rhode Island Whipple.

More later ...

Weldon Whipple

Accessing Your yDNA Test Results on FamilyTree DNA

A fellow Whipple reported that he received an email in the past few days from FamilyTree DNA, informing him that some of his Y chromosome DNA test results were available. He indicated that he didn't know how to access the results. I recalled that when I first received my test results, it took me several weeks to "discover" where the results were on the web site. With that in mind, I've decided to share how I accessed my test results.

Step 1. Follow the link to your myFTDNA account

The email has a section that says something like:

Follow the link below to access your myFTDNA account.
Your Kit Number is xxxxxx
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com
"History Unearthed Daily"

Jot down your Kit Number and visit http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com.

Step 2. Log into FTDNA

On the left section of the page,

• enter your Kit Number in the first field, then
• enter your password. (The email you received when you ordered the test should have your password. If you can't remember it, click on the "Forgot Your Password?" link.)

Step 3. View your Y-DNA Results

The next page should say "Welcome to your Family Tree DNA personal page!"

The first time I saw the page I was scared away. There are two places on the page that will show you the test results. On the left-hand "navigation bar," scan down until you see "Y-DNA." Beneath that heading, you will see these links:

• Matches
• Haplotree
• Ancestral Origins
• DYS Values
• Print Certificate/Report/Data

(You will see the very same links a ways down on the main [right-hand side of the] page, with explanatory prose.)

The rest of this blog entry tells you how to click on the five links just mentioned. Feel free to skip the rest of these instructions, unless you need further help. (Hint: Your haplotree is on the page you view when you click the Haplo tree link.)

Step 4. Click on "Matches"

You should see the "Y-DNA Matches" page. Scroll to the bottom to see some test recipients whose tests exactly or closely match your results. (If you're lucky, you might see some other Whipples. In my case, four other Whipples are listed. There is also one exact match with a different surname.)

My page shows four sections:

1. 12 Marker - Exact Match
2. 25 Marker - Exact Match
3. 37 Marker - Genetic Distance - 2
4. 67 Marker - Genetic Distance - 3

Step 5. Click on "Haplotree"

(The "Haplotree" link should still be in the left navigation bar, under "Matches.")

After Flash finished drawing the page, look near the top, on the right part of the page. On my page, I see:

My Predicted Haplogroup: R1b1b2   Shorthand: R-M269

Those two values represent your haplogroup (and a shorthand identifier for it ...). (Compare those values to what you see on the "Results" tab of this Whipple DNA blog.

If you're interested in sharing, I'm very interested in your haplogroup and shorthand value.

I'll not mention you by name on this blog--to protect your privacy. However, I'd like to include you in the summary numbers).

On the same page, you can click "Frequency Map" and "Migration Map" to learn more about your ancestors' possible migration paths.

Step 6: Click on "Ancestral Origins"

(The "Ancestral Origins" link should be in the left navigation bar, under "Haplotree.")
Read where they think your ancestors came from. (You may be very surprised!)

Step 7: Click on "DYS Values"

(The "DYS Values" link should be in the left navigation bar, under "Ancestral Origins.")

You might want to print this page (clicking on the "Print This Page" button on the top right.")

I'm not sure what all the values mean, but they're useful if you want to search another yDNA database. I googled for some yDNA databases, and finally settled on Genetree, at www.genetree.com.
On that site, I clicked the "Sign Up" link at the top of the page (then used my signup when I return to that site).

After entering the site, I did the following:

1. Clicked on the "DNA" menu item near the top of the page, then "Y-DNA Profile" on the drop-down.
2. On the "Y-DNA Results" page, I clicked on "Markers" and then "Edit," to get a page of Markers with blanks to enter the Values. The Markers correspond to "DYS#" on the FTDNA printout; the Values correspond to "Alleles" on the FTDNA printout.
3. After I filled in as many blanks as I could (yes, I left some blank), I saved it.

On the Genetree site, it reported that I had 49 matches--many more than I did on the FamilyTree DNA site.

Step 8: Click on "Print Certificate/Report/Data

The page has two PDF certificates and one Migration Map. You can also download your Y-DNA Matches as CSV ("comma separated values") files (for importing to a spreadsheet, etc.)

Well, that's about all I have to say. Feel free to click around on other parts of the FTDNA site.

Feel free to add anything (as a comment) that you think I've missed. (I might even update this page if necessary ...)

Good luck!

Preliminary yDNA Test Results: Ipswich and R.I. Whipples Not Closely Related?

Yesterday I received an email reporting the results of Y Chromosome DNA tests of an 8th great grandson of Matthew Whipple (born about 1590, died 28 Sep 1647) of Ipswich, Massachusetts.

(Recall that Matthew and his brother John--both born in Bocking, Essex County, England--sailed from England to Ipswich, Massachusetts, in about 1638. John was born about 1596 and died 30 Jun 1669.)

The 8th great grandson mentioned above is of Haplogroup T (Shorthand T-M70).

My own Y DNA test results (received during the fall of 2010) show me to belong to Haplogroup R1b1b2 (Shorthand R-M269). I am the 8th great grandson of the other (younger) John Whipple, born somewhere in England around 1617. He landed at Dorchester (part of present-day Boston), Massachusetts in 1632 as a teenage indentured servant. He later married and moved to Rhode Island. Several other Whipples in the yDNA databases match my DNA. Those that I've been able to identify are also descendants of Rhode Island John.

So, to summarize what I've observed so far:

Ipswich Whipples: Haplogroup T (Shorthand T-M70)
Rhode Island Whipples: Haplogroup R1b1b2 (Shorthand R-M269)

If you are a male Whipple whose patrilineal line descendants directly from the Ipswich brothers Matthew and John--or from John Whipple of Rhode Island--we welcome a report of your haplogroup findings.

--Weldon Whipple, Webmster

Whipple Museum at the University of Cambridge

Whipple aficionados will want to read a recent post about the Whipple Museum of the History of Science at the University of Cambridge in the U.K., on Blaine Whipple's blog. The museum was established in 1944, when Robert Stewart Whipple presented his collection of scientific instruments and books to the university.

Mr. Whipple is in the Whipple Genweb at http://whipple.org/117682. The Whipple Website's photo gallery has a photograph of a plaque at the entrance to the museum. Here are a few other photos from the Webmaster's 2005 visit to Cambridge:

As Whipple DNA tests progress (after the DNA signatures of U.S. Whipples have been established), it might be interesting to see if any present-day Whipples in England have ancestors in common with U.S. Whipples.

Do the DNA.Whipple.org and the Whipple DNA project work together?

I just read the following question on the RootsWeb Whipple mailing list:

So do the DNA.Whipple.org and the Whipple DNA project work together or are they complete separate entities. What is the best way to do an DNA test? Would the National Geographic test work as well? I was interested in that project before I started researching my ancestry but have not done any at this time. Looking forward to seeing what develops.

Here is a response from the co-coordinator for the Whipple group (posted to the same mailing list):

For genealogy purposes the wisest choice is FTDNA or worldfamilies.com. ... FTDNA and worldfamilies cooperate closely. Worldfamilies sponsors a "surname group" for Whipple and others. Ordering your test through worldfamilies gives you an FTDNA test, and supports worldfamilies efforts in supporting surname groups and other efforts. I belong to three surname groups, two of which operate through worldfamilies, and serve as a co-coordinator for the Whipple group, a role I have only recently started and am learning.

The key issue is to to have ready facilities for sharing your results for genealogy studies. In this case there is a significant difference between "genealogy" as in the effort to find your specific relatives, and "genealogical" as in tracing the possibilities of your relationships before people had names. My opinions, of course.

Here is the Whipple Website's response:

The Whipple DNA web site (dna.whipple.org) is more of a "cheer leading" site, focused on very specific objectives, the chief of which--at the moment, at least--is determining whether--or not--the two largest Whipple families in America share a "recent" common ancestor. Whether the answer is "yes" or "no" will help focus future Whipple genealogical research.

I used FamilyTree DNA (FTDNA) for my own tests (mainly because so many others have done the same). I'm satisfied. For the present, I recommend the same test for other patrilineal male descendents who are interested in genealogical DNA. If you are a descendant of either Matthew or John of Ipswich, Massachusetts, I am particularly interested in results of your tests.

So, there you have it.

Weldon Whipple, Webmaster, Whipple Website

67 Marker Y Chromosome DNA Test Results Arrived Today

Today I received an email from FamilyTree DNA, informing me of the results from the 67 Marker DNA test ordered earlier. (This completes the tests I've ordered.)

In searching the Y DNA databases, I have found several other Whipples with 90% or greater matches to my DNA, all of them descendants of Captain John Whipple of Dorchester, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island.

Hopefully more results will be forthcoming from known descendants of the Ipswich, Massachusetts/Bocking, England Whipples. It will be nice if/when we can establish whether or not the two main families share a common ancestor.

If you are a male named Whipple and can trace your patrilineal ancestry to the Whipples of Bocking, England, having your DNA tested would help us nail down a Y-DNA haplogroup for that Whipple branch.

If you aren't sure of your male-line Whipple ancestry, feel free to contact the Webmaster: webmaster@whipple.org.

More later

Amiel Weeks Whipple, Transcontinental Railroads & Route 66

While checking Facebook on my iPhone, I ran across an article published as part of Arizona's celebration of its statehood centennial this year: Arizona Centennial: The Making of a State - Whipple blazed route for transcontinental railroad. (Recall that he was mortally wounded during the U.S. Civil War while defending Washington, D.C. If you've spent much time on the Whipple Website, you will also know that Fort Myer--now in Arlington Cemetery, Virginia--was named Fort Whipple from the 1860s until 1881, in his honor.)

The purpose of Major General Whipple's expedition through Arizona to California was to find a route for a railroad to the Pacific along the 35th parallel. His expedition explored from Little Rock, Arkansas, through present-day Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona, then through the Mojave Desert to Los Angeles. The western segment of historic Route 66 followed the route he identified from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles. It might be interesting to compare Google Maps' modern-day driving directions from Little Rock to Los Angeles with the path of the original (famous) Route 66. First, Google Maps:


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Then a map of Route 66:

Finally, if you look closely at this map of U.S. Railroads in 1918, you might be able to imagine the path charted by Amiel's survey:

Apparently the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (which operated from 1867 to 1897) never actually connected with the west coast. Two segments connected Missouri to Oklahoma, and New Mexico to California. The connection was made by that railroad's successors. See the Wikipedia article on the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad.

Amiel is in the Whipple Genweb at http://whipple.org/14649.

Thoughts on the Origins of Captain John of Providence, d. 1685

Yesterday I received a CD from William Lyons in my mail box. The CD contained a PDF file of a yellowed typescript entitled Genealogical Notes of the Whipple Lineage of Stephen Bennett Whipple (1833-1915) of Cochran, Georgia, Descended from Massachusetts and Rhode Island Ancestry compiled by William Holliman Whipple of Macon, Ga. The first page of the second chapter has these familiar words:

History states that in 1630 about 1500 persons landed in Boston from England. On "Oct. 3, 1632, [John Whipple] was ordered to pay 3s. 4d. [3 shillings, 4 pence] to his master, Israel Stoughton, for wasteful expenditure of powder and shot." As he was apprenticed to Stoughton, it is only fair to suppose that he came to this country with him.

Israel Stoughton's Voyage to America

As I have many times in the past, I opened my copy of The Planters of the Commonwealth by Charles Edward Banks (Boston, 1930; reprint ed. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997). Pages 65-85 list the passengers of the Winthrop Fleet of 1630:

"Eleven vessels [that] brought 'the Great Emigration' of this year, viz:

1. Arbella the flagship
2. Ambrose
3. Talbot
4. Jewel
5. Charles
6. Mayflower
7. William and Francis
8. Hopewell
9. Whale
10. Success
11. Trial

"The first five ships sailed April 8 from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, and arrived at Salem June 13 and following days. The other half of the fleet sailed in May and arrived in July at various dates. Altogether they brought about seven hundred passengers of whom the following are presumed to have been on these ships."

Israel Stoughton appears in the Winthrop Fleet passenger list on page 82. He and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Stoughton, of Coggeshall, Essex, settled in Dorchester--part of present-day Boston. On the list, Israel and Elizabeth are followed by Thomas Stoughton and Mrs. ...... Stoughton, also of Coggeshall, Essex and bound for Dorchester. John Whipple doesn't appear on the passenger list.

John Whipple's Voyage to America

John traveled to America two years later aboard the Lyon, which sailed from London June 22, 1632, and arrived in Boston September 16. (That passenger list appears on pages 99-102 of Planters; 123 passengers were aboard.) Page 102 lists John Whipple "of Bocking, Essex," bound for Dorchester.

(Many have noted that this John Whipple couldn't have been the same person as the John Whipple who came with his brother Matthew from Bocking in 1638 to settle in nearby Ipswich, Massachusetts. Those two brothers continue to appear in Bocking records until 1638, and appear in Ipswich records thereafter--at the same time as the John who arrived in 1632 continues to appear in Dorchester records until 1658, at which time he appears in Providence records. Since Bocking records make no mention of other Johns living there during the period 1615-1632, most have concluded that Banks' indication of John's being "of Bocking, Essex" must be wrong. I can't dispute that conclusion.)

Banks indicates that John arrived two years later than Stoughton. (Only two weeks and three days separated John's arrival on Sunday, September 16, 1632, and Wednesday, October 3, when he was fined  for wasting ammunition. It sounds like something a teenager might do ...)

Where is Coggeshall, Essex?

Coggeshall is about 6.3 miles from Bocking, a present-day trip of about 14 minutes on the A120 expressway:

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Note: If you drive west from Coggeshall on the A120 for 40 minutes (about 25.1 miles), bypassing Bocking, you'll arrive in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, residence of Thomas Whipple--great grandfather of the brothers Matthew and John that settled in Ipswich in 1638:


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I still don't know where Capt. John of Rhode Island originated. ... But I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't live far from Essex County.

More Ramblings (added 12 hours later)

This still doesn't prove anything, but I'll mention it anyway:

Thomas Whipple (the great grandfather of John Whipple of Ipswich--mentioned above) had at least one other son (not a direct ancestor of the Ipswich Whipples, but a great uncle the Ipswich brothers John and Matthew) named John (1), a resident of Bishop's Stortford, born before 1505 and died before 7 Mar 1572/73. (This can't be be our John of Providence; he can't even be the father of John of Providence).

This John of Bishop's Stortford (son of Thomas) had 8 known children--two of them sons who might have passed on the Whipple name. Those two sons (grandchildren of Thomas and first cousins once removed of the Ipswich brothers John and Matthew) are:

• John (2) Whipple, born about 1535, of Bishop's Stortford
• William Whipple, born before 20 May 1561, of Bishop's Stortford, died before 1594, of St. Alphage, London, England.

The brothers John and William could have conceivably been ancestors of John of Providence. Available primary records (cited at the bottom of each of their pages in the Whipple Genweb), record only a daughter named Elizabeth, born to William. Our (pure) speculation must therefore end there.

John (2), on the other hand, had two known sons (second cousins of the Ipswich brothers Matthew and John):

• John (3) Whipple, born before 24 Nov 1579 [and apparently before Samuel, below?], died before 5 Feb 1624/25, when a resident of Bishop's Stortford.
• Samuel Whipple, born about 1565, buried 20 Feb 1605/6 at St. Katherine Coleman, London, England.

Samuel was buried about a decade before John of Providence would have been born. There is a (purely speculative) possibility that he might be the grandfather of John of Providence. (If this were the case, it would make John of Providence a second cousin twice removed of the Ipswich brothers Matthew and John.)

It is biologically possible that John (3) could (WARNING: pure speculation!!) have fathered John of Providence (making John of Providence a second cousin once removed of the Ipswich brothers Matthew and John). If John (3) were the grandfather of John of Providence, then John of Providence would be a second cousin twice removed of the Ipswich brothers Matthew and John.)

IMPORTANT WARNING AND CAUTION!!: Please don't assume that any of the speculations of the above section are true! There is absolutely no documentation for any of them!!

Further Wild Speculations

If this offends anyone, please stop reading ... but my stream-of-consciousness just won't stop!

Note that John of Providence named his oldest son John, his second son Samuel, and his fourth son William. (I know, that is likely pure coincidence. After all those are all fairly common "standard" boys' names--but they are present in the British descendants of Thomas Whipple of Bishop's Stortford ...)

One final wild speculation:

John of Providence's second daughter Mary married Epenetus Olney, who was born in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England--about 29 miles from and in the same county as Bishop's Stortford:


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This has all gotten out of hand, so I'll stop ... NOW!

I hope a sufficiently large pool of patrilineal descendants of Ipswich Whipples participate in the Whipple DNA project (see http://dna.whipple.org) to enable us to say, with reasonable certainty, either:

1. Captain John of Providence and the Ipswich brothers John and Matthew do have a common ancestor, OR
2. Captain John of Providence and the Ipswich brothers John and Matthew don't have a common ancestor.

That would put this rampant speculation to rest (or possibly fuel it ... :-)