Although I haven't mentioned it before now, I have submitted samples for DNA testing to see if I could get over the road block which prevents me from establishing a positive link between my earliest known ancestor (Isham Thrift of NC) and his forebears, whom I suspect may have been some branch of Virginia Thrifts -- possibly of Dinwiddie County, although certainly that's not a given. These things take a while, so results are still coming in.

I am far from expert at interpreting the results so far; my fields of expertise include organic chemistry, electrical engineering, math, physics, and computer science -- which equipped me very well for a career in nuclear magnetic resonance research and MRI Imaging development, but have not prepared me for genetic research in any form. So I'm sort of feeling my way along here.

(But before you start thinking of me as crippled in some way, let me tell you that I am very, very good at Colorado trout fishing.)

There are not that many Thrifts in the Y-DNA database so far, and I don't have all my results yet, but I think I can say for sure that Isham Thrift of North Carolina and the Georgia cluster of Thrifts are not closely related. This is an important data point worth knowing about. Also, and our worthy moderator Richard Thrift might correct me on this, but I don't think my Isham was strongly connected to the family of Nathaniel Thrift of VA, either.

I think my main take on this whole thing is that we need more Thrifts in the database in order to cover the whole picture. DNA testing is going to become the most powerful genealogical tool of the future, and if you are serious about wanting to trace back your ancestors, you should get into it now. No matter who you are and who your ancestors were, sooner or later you are going to hit a brick wall that you can't find your way around. The only way to jump the gap is by DNA testing.

Get used to the idea. Either you're serious about wanting to trace your family lines, or you're a dabbler who just likes to play around. Get with the program. You might be a cousin, and I would be delighted to welcome you as one.

DNA testing can cost about as much as a new lawnmower, but way less than a Super Bowl ticket. Got any of that income tax refund laying around? Go for it!

Talk to Richard if you have questions, he knows more about this than I ever will.

Best Regards,
Robert L. Thrift
Masonville, CO