Reuben Kirkland DNA Analysis

I had been looking for a known descendent of Reuben Kirkland Sr., so we could compare DNA matches and hopefully clarify the confusion of the three Reuben Kirklands of Barnwell District, SC.  And luckily one found me.   Charlie Black is a known descendant of Reuben Kirkland) and Amy Branch.   And myself through Reuben Kirkland and Delilah Hitson/Eidson.  Although DNA should only be used as one source and verified with other sources and records, it is a very valuable research tool.

Charlie and I were both tested through ancestry.com and so are able to see our shared matches using their website.   Using the DNA Circles created by Ancestry, we are able to see information for other individuals who have matching DNA and matching information in their posted online family trees.  After doing some analysis of our matching DNA Circles, here’s the conclusions:

Charlie Black and 23 other test takers “his cousins” appear in DNA Circles for Reuben Kirkland Sr. and/or his wife Mary Clarke.

Five descending from their son George Kirkland

Five descending from their daughter Martha Lydia Kirkland

Four descending from their son Reuben Kirkland Jr (married to Amy Branch)

One descending from Robert Cornelius Kirkland

Three descending from Sarah Clarke  Kirkland

Five descending from William Clarke Kirkland

I (Tamara Stevenson) and about 60 other test takers “my cousins” appear in the DNA Circles for Reuben Kirkland and/or his wife Delilah Hitson/Eidson and/or their son Bird Jackson Kirtland.  

One descending through their son Reuben E Kirkland

Four descending through their son Seaborn Bonaparte Kirkland

Three descending through their son George Henry Kirkland

Six descending through their daughter Harriet E Kirkland

Forty six descending through their son Bird Jackson Kirkland

Of all of these tests results, only one individual appears in Charlie's DNA Circles and in my DNA Circles.  Based on this individual's family tree, he/she descends through George Henry Kirkland (son of Reuben Kirkland and Delilah Hitson) as well as through William Clarke Kirkland (son of Reuben Kirkland Sr. and Mary Clarke).  Interestingly, the individual does not appear in Charlie's DNA Circle for Reuben Kirkland Sr., which suggests that the DNA information linking him/her to the Mary Clarke Kirkland is distant.  Readers should also understand that this individual could share DNA with Charlie and me through someone other than George Henry Kirkland and William Clark Kirkland and only appear in our DNA Circles because of errors in his/her family tree. 

This individual matches to only three other individuals within the Mary Clarke DNA Circle.  A closer review of their online family trees shows that all four claim to be descended from Nathan C. Grimes and Ester/Esther Kirkland of Barnwell District.  Ancestry trees also show Ester/Esther Kirkland as a granddaughter of Benjamin and Alce Kirkland of Barnwell District.  Contrary to what some Ancestry trees presume, there is no evidence that establishes a relationship between Reuben Kirkland Sr. and Benjamin Kirkland.  

Another possible anomaly test taker does exist.  The “cousin” shows a tree through Martha Lydia Kirkland (daughter of Reuben Kirkland Sr. and Mary Sarah Clarke) who matches DNA with Tamara and her mother… but does not match with other known Kirkland cousins on Tamara’s side.  This test taker is not showing in any DNA circles on either side.  However the test taker doesn’t have Reuben Kirkland Sr. in their tree, Martha Lydia Kirkland is the last generation.   Might appear in that DNA Circle if Reuben Kirkland Sr. was added to their tree.    Based on this analysis, it is probable of her matching through another ancestor with Tamara and her mother.

As Ancestry doesn’t have a chromosome browser option, it is not possible to know if all of the test takers share in the exact same segment or segments of DNA. This could only be achieved with all of the tests were uploaded to another website for further analysis.   Based on the number of tests, it’s unlikely that will happen any time soon, if at all in the future.  

Offering this analysis as further verification that Reuben Kirkland married to Delilah Hitson/Eidson is not the son of Reuben Kirkland Sr. and Mary Sarah Clarke.  Their son, based on this DNA analysis would be Reuben Kirkland married to Amy Branch.

I welcome any comments, questions, clarifications, etc.   Please contact me via the messaging system on Family Search or Ancestry or directly at familyhistmom@gmail.com

Thanks to Charlie Black for assisting in compiling this information and editing of final analysis.