Travel by Ancestry -- to a Genetic Genealogy Presentation to the Washington, D.C. Society of Mayflower Descendants

On the 24th of September, 2017, I was honored to deliver a presentation about genetic genealogy to the Washington, D.C. Society of Mayflower Descendants.  Normally I am engaged with audiences who share my interest in descendants of Acadians, as this is the ancestry I have traced, primarily, through DNA testing.  In this case, the Governor of the Society, Glennon Harrison, reached out to me to present to his group, as he was interested in my research of Acadian ancestries using traditional genealogy research, history, and DNA tests and believed it would be fascinating to have a speaker who could speak knowledgeably about using DNA results as a major part of genealogical analysis. Glennon also mentioned that the society had started a Mayflower DNA project and was beginning to use DNA test results as part of the membership qualification process (the Mayflower society has particularly stringent rules for genealogical line verification). His invitation offered a perfect opportunity to present all the ways that Y chromosome DNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and autosomal DNA (including the X chromosome) could be used to help with genealogies  -- referencing about 10 years of case studies!  

During every presentation I've delivered, I've always made special connections with my audiences and although I do not have records of my own family's Mayflower ancestry at this time, I was happy to meet the members and share insights -- and reunite, unexpectedly, with one of my favorite former clients from my professional consulting life at the Department of Energy who showed up with his wife (who was also a member), who decided to attend the presentation when he saw my name, and the topic of genetic genealogy, on the program.  I also connected with another member who who came up to me following the presentation and asked me, "Was I Asselia Lichliter's granddaughter?" (how long had it been since I had heard that question?).  Asselia Lichliter was a matrilinial descendant of Anne Marie (?) Amerindian / First Nations / Metis / Mi'kmaq / Metis / Metisse of Port Royal Acadia b. ca 1625 - 1631-- as was her daughter, Nancy (my late mother) and as am I!
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My grandmother, Asselia S. Lichliter, was an editor on Capitol Hill during her career there, and in her "second life" (we don't retire in our family -- we take on "second lives"), an avid genealogist who combined history and genealogy in the same way that I now combine history, genealogy and DNA to research, document and publish family histories. My middle name, "Asselia," mentioned in reference to my grandmother Asselia's extensive research of her Beville lineage in the United States, England and France, was the tip-off and the Mayflower society member recalled my grandmother right away and remarked that she had known my late grandmother when she was an active member of the National Genealogical Society (based in Arlington, Virginia). Click here to read a bulletin that includes an article, "Thank you, Asselia Lichliter," about my grandmother and her work as a long-time volunteer and benefactor of the NGS.

​Anne Marie's DNA is instrumental in reuniting her descendants throughout the US and Canada --  and now her DNA is also reconnecting me, although indirectly, with former clients and people who knew my grandmother (also Anne Marie's direct descendant).  We are all related!