Ferguson DNA project

In effort to finally track down those Ferguson roots, we are doing an additional (less comprehensive) test through Family Tree DNA to join the Ferguson DNA project.  The test is a 37 marker DNA test that is a male specific test. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the paternal line. It includes a balanced panel of thirty-seven Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat, STR, markers. This is the recommended test to trace the paternal ancestry of males for genealogy purposes. The additional markers refine the predicted time period in which two individuals are related and eliminate unrelated matches. A perfect match at thirty-seven markers indicates the two individuals share common ancestry in recent times. A haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of thirty-seven marker matches.

The Ferguson DNA project  sounds like it will be a good resource.  I have joined their mailing list to share our Ferguson "legends" and the details of our search.  There are 215 members of the projects who have DNA results, I would think that at least a few of them would potentially have a common direct ancestor.  If not, we would at least eliminate those lines apart of the project.  Based on some preliminary information and guesswork, we may have found a line whose ancestry we do share!  Next entry I will share the history of our search with Ferguson and the potential matches we may have found.