FamilyTreeDNA - reduced prices on testing kits until 7 January

I've just had word through from FamilyTreeDNA that they are continuing to hold their prices at the "Christmas Special" level until January 7th 2012.
This is US$119 for the 37 marker test (usually US$149), and US$ 199 for the 67 marker test (usually US$238)

As project co-ordinator, I have ordered some 37 marker tests at this price to have on standby. So if you, or a Fitzhenry/Fitz-Henry male relative decides to take the test in the future (out of the price reduction period), contact me first before ordering as I may still have a reduced price kit left.

Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send us an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

DNA testing - End of year offer from FamilyTreeDNA

Long term subscribers to the Blog will know that here at the Fitz(-)henry Surname project, we are using modern DNA analysis techniques to find links between the Fitzhenry / Fitz-Henry families, as well as using the traditional documentary and oral history resources.

We use the FamilyTreeDNA laboratories to host our project, and every so often they have a "special offer" price. Here is the text of the message which I was sent yesterday as the Surname Study Co-ordinator.

Seasons Greetings!

It's time once again for Family Tree DNA's annual end-of-year promotion.

Starting tonight, and until December 31st, we will reduce the price of our YDNA37, YDNA67, mtDNAPlus, and Family Finder tests.
Price for NEW KITS: Regular Price Promotional Price
YDNA37 $149 $119
YDNA67 $239 $199
mtDNAPlus $159 $129
Family Finder $289 $249
Price for UPGRADE:
Family Finder $289 $229

Orders must be in and paid for by Dec. 31, 2010, to receive this offer.

IMPORTANT: since this promotion will run through the month of December, we encourage you to spread the word starting now, as the natural tendency is for people to order at the last minute, and we will not extend it beyond 12/31/2010.

I've highlighted the prices for the 37 and 67 marker Y-chromosome DNA tests, as these are the ones that are of most use for surname study purposes.
We are looking for more Fitzhenry men to take the test (only men have the Y-chromosome) and to help break down some of our brick walls. Remember the fantastic result we had last year when we linked the numerous descendants of Enoch Fitzhenry in the USA with one of the big Australian families which showed that Enoch originally came from County Wexford?

If you want any more information, please have a look at the Fitz(-)henry study page at the FamilyTreeDNA website. Or drop us an email here at the Blog using the link below.

Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send us an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

FamilyTreeDNA reduced prices

We run our Fitz(-)henry DNA study through the FamilyTreeDNA genetic testing company.
They are having a "summer sale" on their test prices and for a limited time these are as follows:

Y-DNA37 for $119 (Regular price would be $149)
Y-DNA67 for $199 (Regular price would be $239)
Y-DNA37+mtDNA for $159 (Combined test would cost $238)

The promotion will start June 5 and will end June 25.
Kits need to be paid for by June 30, 2010.
Once the kits are paid for, you can do the test and return it at your leisure.

I've highlighted the 37 marker test as this is the standard test for surname studies.
Click here to get to our page on the FamilyTreeDNA website for more information and for ordering details.

Why are we so keen on the DNA study?
With only 5 Fitz(-)henry men tested, we have found that Enoch Fitzhenry was actually a Fitzhenry and not just a name of convenience he took when he arrived in the United States. We can link his descendants to the descendants of a family from Oulartwick, Wexford who emigrated to Australia.
We also know that so far, we have identified 3 different Fitz(-)henry DNA patterns which indicates that there is no male common ancestor to all Fitzhenry branches within the time frame of fixed familial surnames (about 700 years).
We are awaiting the results of our fifth participant.
We also have a man with the surname Henry who has joined the project: Dropping the Fitz was not uncommon and - who knows - the next person who gets tested might give us a link to his family.
For more information about the project results so far, follow this link

Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send us an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

Fourth result in the Fitz(-)henry DNA study

Yes, the fourth result is in, and he's not a match to any of the previous three testees.

So with two of the previously tested men being genetically from the same family and two having different patterns, it's starting to look like there are distinct "fingerprints" for the different branches.

Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send us an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

The new Y- DNA testing prices for Christmas!

In October we were very excited when due to the marvels of Y-DNA testing, we found that Ann's Fitzhenry family in the USA (the descendants of the legendary Enoch) was related to Wendy's Fitzhenry family (originally from Oulartwick, Wexford and now in New Zealand and Australia).

So far we've got three men from three separate family groups tested - but we need more men! And up to the end of the Christmas holiday period our testing company FamilyTreeDNA are offering the following reduced prices for Y-DNA tests done within a one-name study.
To qualify, the test has to be paid for in full by 31st December 2009, but this isn't the deadline for doing the test and returning it, just in case anyone was thinking of surprising their nearest and dearest with a cheek swab on Christmas morning!

For the purposes of our study we only need a 37 marker test, but there are more detailed tests available and the purposes of these are described below each test name on the FamilyTreeDNA website.

Here's the prices in American dollars:

• Y-DNA37 – promotional price $119 (reg. price $149)
• Y-DNA67 – promotional price $209 (reg. price $239)
• mtDNAPlus – promotional price $139 (reg. price $149)
• SuperDNA – promotional price $488 (reg. price $665)

And here's the link to the Fitzhenry/Fitz-Henry surname study to get the special discount prices.

Due to some research I've been doing recently, any man with the surname Fitzsenry is also welcome to join our study.

To participate, you have to be male (only men have the Y-chromosome which is tested) and have the surname Fitzhenry or Fitz-Henry or Fitzsenry which you inherited from your father.

If you're going to participate, or thinking about it, drop us a line. We're more than happy to answer any questions about the testing process that you can't find on the FamilyTreeDNA website.


Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send us an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

The result of the third DNA test in the Fitz(-)henry surname study

It's what you've all been waiting for.

Last year, my Dad was the first Fitz-Henry male (from family group 1)* to be tested in the Fitz(-)henry surname study.
You can't tell anything from a single test though.

So Ann persuaded her husband to take the test. Ann's husband is descended from the legendary Enoch Fitzhenry (Family group 2) who reputedly came to America from Armagh in Ireland sometime in the 1760s, but his past has always been shrouded in mystery.

The results were very disappointing - they were so unlike each other they could have been the results of two random blokes walking in off the street.

And then..... Drum roll... we were very pleased to be approached by a Fitzhenry family in Australia - in fact a branch of Wendy Rutter's family tree descended from Albert Fitzhenry, the fourth child of William Fitzhenry and Louisa Coward (Family group 20)
One of their chaps took the test and we were gobsmacked when it came back as a match on 36 out of 37 markers to Ann's husband. This is as good at it gets for a match when we know there hasn't been a common ancestor since at least the 1750's, and we were all very surprised and very delighted by it.

We know that family group 20 can reliably trace their ancestry back to John Fitzhenry and Elizabeth Atkin of Oulartwick, County Wexford. So it's likely that Enoch's family also originally hailed from that area and gives us another line of enquiry.

So we have family groups 2 and 20 linked genetically, and family group 1 is so far unmatched.
We also know that family groups 2 and 20 were historically Protestants, and family group 1 were Catholic.

So what's next? This is very exciting but until more Fitz(-)henry men join in the DNA study we just have an interesting trio of results. With more results on the database, I'm sure we can join up previously unlinked family groups and show whether there is a distinct Catholic / Protestant genetic grouping.

Anybody who is interested in finding out more about DNA testing for family history research, please drop us a line.

* The family group numbering system is in order that I put them together or they were sent to me. Over time some of the smaller groups have merged as we found a common ancestor. We have 53 family groups from all around the world on the database at present.

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The biggest news so far this year - the result of our third DNA test

We're buzzing here at Fitz(-)henry Towers - the result of our third Y-DNA test in the Fitz(-)henry surname study has come through.
While we're letting the amazing result sink in, you have 2 more installments of Edgar Fitz-Henry's exploits in Chile.
All will be revealed on Wednesday.


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Extension to the DNA test offer

From FamilyTreeDNA, the company that does our Fitz(-)henry DNA project tests:

In the last few days we have received several e-mails from group administrators asking us to extend our "Unparalleled 50% Promotional Discount" Y-DNA37+mtDNA for $119 (the regular project price is $248 – a reduction of more than 50%!!), as many people are only now becoming aware of the promotion.

We have decided, therefore, to extend it until June 30th, 2009. Kits must be paid by July 7, 2009. Use this link to place your order and link your results to our Fitz(-)henry study:

www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=Fitz-Henry&Code=S67778

What else can I say, except "Go for it chaps!"

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DNA Project testing prices reduced for June '09!

Our Fitzhenry/Fitz-Henry DNA Project is just over a year old.

We have 2 results in so far, which show 2 completely different male lineages for 2 different Fitzhenry family groups.

If you're a male Fitzhenry and are thinking about joining the study*, or a female Fitzhenry and want to badger a male Fitzhenry relative into joining the study*, then now is the time as the prices have just been reduced again for the month of June.

As study co-ordinator for the Fitz(-)henry DNA Project, I received an email from FamilyTreeDNA (our testing company) today:

Offer summary:
• Y-DNA37+mtDNA for $119. (The regular project price is $248 – a reduction of more than 50%!!)
• The promotion will begin on June 9, 2009 and will end on June 24, 2009
• Kits ordered in this sale must be paid for by June 30, 2009

So click on this link to get to our study page and read about how to join up:
www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=Fitz-Henry

or if you want more information about the whole testing process click on this link:
www.familytreedna.com/

And when you've joined the Great Fitz(-)henry DNA Project, why not let us know by leaving a comment attached to this post?
We have a sister website dedicated to the Fitz(-)henry DNA Project at:
www.fitzhenrydna.com

* sorry, it's only the chaps who can actually take part in the testing as they have the male chromosome which is tested.

Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send us an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

End of 2008 "State of the Nation" address

So here we are at the end of another year, and I just wanted to highlight how far this Fitz(-)henry one name study has come over the past 12 months.

At the end of 2007, this blog was just me prattling on, on a fairly irregular basis to an unknown audience.

Then some brilliant things happened.
Ann contacted me for the first time, and Lesley rekindled an old friendship.
Over the next few months they started providing me with such good stuff that they became co-authors of the blog - and I couldn't have done it without them!

And I also discovered Feedburner which meant we could offer people with an interest in the Fitz(-)henry name the chance to keep up with our findings by subscription, and gave us the information about how many people potentially were out there reading our blog. As of today, there's 13 of you, so you're still a small select band but growing!

This year we also kicked off the Fitz(-)henry DNA study. It only has two participants so far, so if you are wondering what to give the Fitzhenry man who has everything for Christmas this year, why not consider his very own DNA profile - linked to our study of course!

In April, the Guild of One-Name Studies (GOONS) gave us accredited One-Name study status and we are now the official registrants of the Fitz(-)henry name at the Guild.

And we've made contacts with Fitz(-)henrys from all over the world this year.
I'd like to name check all the people who emailed us or left comments on the blog - big thanks to you all all.
Keep reading the blog and sending us more stuff.
Tell your Fitz(-)henry relatives and friends about us!
Bev Kronk (Australia) - prolific supplier of facts. Thanks again, Bev.
Rodrigo Palacios Fitz-Henry (Chile) - thanks for your information about our only known South American branch, and will you please email me again through the blog, as I don't think my emails are getting through to you. I would really love to publish the info you've sent me and just need your permission.
Canon Patrick Comerford (Ireland)
Garry and Laurie Fitz-Henry and their family, Brian Dulcombe Fitz-Henry and Annabella Fitz-Henry (all from Canada and descendants of William Fitz-Henry and Martha Eagles).
Tom Fitzhenry (Dublin, Ireland)
Mrs Betty Volante and Mr Michael Volante (England)
Terri Tiffany (USA)
Sarah Murphy (England) a descendant of John Fitzhenry of Oswestry (died in WW1)
Kerry Robinson nee Fitzhenry and Christine Fitzhenry (Australia) who are both descended from Peter Fitzhenry of the AIF (died in WW1)
Sandra Fuller (Australia)
Norma Temperton (England)
Glen Porteous and Lynda Moseley (USA) for their research about William Fortune
Darren Fitzhenry (USA)
Shilo Fitzhenry (USA)
Kim Tregellas (USA)
Geraldine Cheyne and Paul Davies (Australia) researching the (Fitz)Henry connection in the Vitzdamm family.

There.... I think that's all of you - apologies to any I may have missed!

And what's in store for next year?
We hope to get more people interested in the DNA study - pop over here to take a look at the website.
The DNA website will be expanded to hold more in the way of reference material for our One-Name study - the family trees we've put together and suchlike.
And we hope that you all keep healthy and happy in the year ahead.

Merry Christmas.
Jo Fitz-Henry


And as always .... Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send us an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

Participants flood in to the Fitz(-)henry DNA study

I'm very pleased to announce that the number of participants in the Fitz(-)henry DNA study has doubled.

Ann's husband has joined the fun, and we're waiting with baited breath to see if his Irish American Protestant line has a common lineage with my Anglo Irish Catholic line.

The results are due next month. Subscribe to the blog to be among the first to see the results.

Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send us an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

FamilyTreeDNA keep their reduced prices for another month!

If any Fitz(-)henrys are out there thinking about getting their DNA tested and joining in the Fitz(-)henry surname project, there's good news.
FamilyTreeDNA are extending their discounted prices for all tests until September 30th 2008

For example, the 37 marker test costs $119, down from $189.

For more information about our Fitz(-)henry surname project, visit our project page on the FamilyTreeDNA website.

Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send us an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

More contacts and blog stats

A big hello to Tom Fitzhenry from Dublin, Ireland who came upon us via the Fitz(-)henry DNA website and sent me an email.
And since the subscription service started in July, we have 5 people sign up.
Not bad for what even we would have to admit is a pretty specialised and minority interest blog!

Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send me an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

Fitz(-)henry DNA tests at reduced prices!

Our Fitz(-)henry DNA study has another recruit!
My United States correspondent, Ann Fitz-Henry, has enrolled her husband. Just how brilliant is that?

And any male Fitz(-)Henrys can join in (if you're a female Fitz(-)henry - badger your male Fitz(-)henry relatives!)

And until the end of August, FamilyTreeDNA have reduced their prices - in fact the 37 marker test (a nicely detailed one) is now as cheap as the 12 marker test was last month. That's US $119.
But you can only get these mate's rates if you order your test through a surname study. Enroll here at the Fitz(-)henry surname study.

Why not subscribe to this blog and get the updates sent to your inbox? Or send me an email about your Fitz(-)henry family links.

The DNA test is complete, more Australian Fitzhenrys and the gentle madness of cricket....

My Dad's DNA test is now complete - all 67 markers are now sitting on the FamilyTreeDNA site for your viewing pleasure. The tests have come in ahead of schedule which is marvelous.

Lesley has sent me some more Fitz(-)henry sightings in Australia, so it'll be a weekend alone with the database. Good thing that it's typical English summer weather forecast for tomorrow (for the overseas readers this = torrential rain) so I have a reason to sit on front of a computer all day.

And for those of you with a cricketing bent and a few hours to spare, take a look as the low level gentle madness that is the King Cricket blog

25-marker results now on the website

FAmilyTreeDNA are getting a move on, and the next batch of results have now been posted to the Fitz(-)Henry project page.
Until there are more participants in the DNA project, these results don't really mean much. But it will get really exciting when men from other family branches start to get tested...

First results back on the first DNA test

More quickly than expected, the initial results for the 12 marker test are in for my Dad's DNA sample.
They can be viewed here:
https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Fitz-Henry
FamilyTreeDNA have sent us the names of over 750 men who also are matches at this very basic level of testing. None are Fitz(-)Henrys, which just goes to show that the basic level tests give a lot of false postives.
However, there is a gentleman by the name of Mr. Paul John Mac Henry, Sr., and I will be watching this name with interest when the more detailed results come in. This may be an ancient Irish variant of the Fitz-Henry name.

New DNA project website

In an embryonic form, the Fitz(-)Henry DNA project website.
Very embryonic.
I'm working on it, honestly.... and we've got a logo.
Come and see.
www.fitzhenrydna.com

More news on my Dad's Y-DNA test

I got an email today from FamilyTreeDNA to say that the test was expected to be finished on the 13th August. Marvellous.
I'll post the results when they arrive.
Anyone else interested in taking part?

First DNA tests arrive at the lab ...

An email has arrived from FamilyTreeDNA saying that my Dad's test samples have arrived safe and sound in Texas. Jolly good.
It will be another few weeks before they have any results for me.