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DNA Match Ratings DNA Group C DNA Test Results DNA Discussion
Morrison Mismatches Morrison Family Research


DNA Introduction


The Clan Morrison DNA Project of North America administered by Edwin Holdcumbe in the past was transferred to Family Tree DNA for privacy purposes and continuing administration. All the following DNA information on this website was taken in 2007 and is contiunally updated at the link below.
See Morrison Family Tree DNA Project Website


Around 2003 Clan Morrison Society of North America (CMSNA) began sponsoring a DNA project to allow interested parties to use Y-chromosome DNA testing as a tool in their family history research.

Surnames commonly associated with Morrison include Gilmore, Judge and Brieve, however spelled.

Since Y-chromosomes are only passed from father to son, the donor of the DNA for testing must be a male of Morrison descent in the paternal line. This means that the donor’s father, his father’s father, etc., as far as the line can be traced were named Morrison (or other associated surname). Females and males of Morrison descent through maternal lines may participate in the project by having a male relative of Morrison descent in the strictly paternal line supply the DNA sample for testing.

The host of this site, James Morrison, was the 13th participant in the project and hence was given the identification of M013. This formed the basis of Group C which is Robert Morrison who came to Bridgewater, MA in 1740.

Further information on DNA testing can be found at Family Tree DNA

To participate in this project, please follow the link: “How to Participate” located on this website.

Additional information on the Clan Morrison Society of North America can be found at www.clanmorrison.net

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DNA Match Ratings

The following table describes the ability of the DNA test to predict a "Most Recent Common Ancestor" or "MRCA". The basic DNA tests match markers of 12 points, 25 points and 37 points. Based on the number of matches in a DNA test, a prediction of the probability of having an ancestor within a certain number of generations is made. Since there are 8 generations from the original immigrant Robert Morrison to the generation represented by James Morrison (M013), we have given an "A" rating to matches that give a 90% chance of being related within the last 10 generations. A "B" rating is given to those matches that have a 90% probability of being related back through 16 generations.

Test Results Markers 90% Probability 50% Probablity Match Rating
37 matches out of 37 5 generations 3 generations A rating
36 matches out of 37 8 generations 4 generations A rating
25 matches out of 25 10 generations 3 generations A rating
35 matches out of 37 12 generations 6 generations B rating
24 matches out of 25 16 generations 7 generations B rating
23 matches out of 25 22 generations 12 generations C rating
34 matches out of 37 22 generations 12 generations C rating


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DNA Group C Matches


Group C

Londonderry and Ballymoney Parish, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland; Massachusetts and Pennsylvania

C1

Anc

Morrison of Londonderry and near Ballymoney, N. Ireland

M009

26746

James Harry Morrison (b. 1830) Westmoreland Co., PA, to Mecklenburg Co., NC, to Hannibal, Missouri, with brothers Charles Henry and George

M013

27142

Robert Morrison (b. ca. 1700) Londonderry, N. Ireland, to Boston, MA, ca. 1730. Sons to Maine, MA, OH, and CT. (Strawbridge Morrison line)

M041

34467

John Morrison (b. ca. 1710) Londonderry, N. Ireland, to Chester County, PA, by 1748 then to Washington County, PA, with wife Janet.

M103

14BJU9

Samuel Morrison (b. ca. 1808) of Ballymoney Parish, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. Son Adam Morrison md. Annie Patterson. Family to Hamilton, Ont., Can.

M122

55200

Hamilton Ray Morrison (b. 1842) Pennsylvania; md. Nancy Jane Turbott. Children: Margaret, Maude, Iona, Charles, John Ray, James Anderson.

Additional matches have been added since 2005 and are listed below and on the Clan website:

M278 99784 John Downie (b. 1775) Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

M334 200103 Willam Morrison md. Sarah Montgomery. Son Robert b. 1751, Bridgewater, MA; md. Dorcas Staples

M338 194162 Samuel Morrison (b. c1756) Ireland; to America 1785; m. Mary Ann Gabby 1787 and lived in Westmoreland County, PA.

M375 269763 Benjamin Morrison b. Maryland, m. Rosetta Redford; son Henry R. Morrison (b. 1852) Hickory Grove, IL.

M423 404167 Robert Morrison (b. ca. 1700) Londonderry, N. Ireland, to Boston, MA, ca. 1730. Sons to Maine, MA, OH, and CT. (Strawbridge Morrison line)

M423 is a 90% probability match. Not surprising since it is from the Strowbridge Morrison line.

M504 is from Hugh Morrison who in 2020 was living in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland.

The Morrison family of Robert Morrison of Bridgewater is represented by M013. This was submitted by James Morrison. Contact Jim Morrison M013

A Rating Matches with Robert Morrison M013

C1 represents the base match against which all new participants are compared to see if they should be placed in Group C. If this person existed, it would be given an "A" rating, given its close match to Robert of Bridgewater.

B Rating Matches with Robert Morrison M013

M103 matches 22 of 23 markers with M013 and earns a "B" rating. This points to a connection in Ballymoney in Northern Ireland. Samuel Morrison (1808-1884) was born in Ballymoney. His children included James (1836-1915), Adam (1838-1924), Hugh (1839), and William (1867) among others. Adam had a son Samuel who was the first of this family to emigrate to Canada in 1925.

M122 matches 24 of 25 markers. Hamilton Ray Morrison was born in PA in 1842. He married Nancy Jane Turbott of Ohio in 1850. They moved to Iowa around 1870. Children were Margaret (1875), Maude (1876), Iona (1878), twins Charles and John Ray (1880), James Andersen (1883).

C Rating Matches with Robert Morrison M013

M009 represents James Harry Morrison, born in PA in 1830. The match results are 34 of 37 yielding a "C" rating. He married Mary Deakin. Had brothers Charles Henry and George. Moved to Hannibal, MO and was there in 1850. Had a son Charley. We cannot trace back James Harry any further than 1830. The census of 1850 shows a Charles and James H Morrison in Philadelphia boarding with another family, but there is no confirmation of a connection.

M041 represents John Morrison (1709-1790) who was born in Londonderry, Ireland. He died in Washington County, PA. His descendant is Dudley Butler Morrison. This is a "C" rated match as 23 of 25 markers matched with M013.


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DNA TestResults


Group C

Londonderry and Ballymoney Parish, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland; Massachusetts and Pennsylvania

C1

Anc

R1b1

13

23

14

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

16

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

15

17

 

11

11

19

22

16

14

17

17

37

 

12

12

M009

26746

R1b1

13

23

14

10

11

14

12

12

11

13

13

29

16

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

15

17

 

11

11

19

22

16

14

17

17

37

37

12

12

M013

27142

R1b1

13

23

14

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

16

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

15

16

 

11

11

19

22

16

14

17

17

37

38

12

12

M041

34467

R1b1

13

23

14

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

16

9

10

11

11

24

15

19

30

15

15

15

17

 

 

M103

14BJU9

(R1b1)

13

23

14

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

16

9

10

 

 

25

15

19

30

15

15

15

17

 

 

M122

55200

R1b1

13

23

14

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

16

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

15

17

 

 




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DNA Discussion Reprint from Website


Colleen Morrison Robinson is represented in Group C by M103, her nephew. in 2018, Colleen authored a substantial book entitled "The Morrisons of Lislagan and Polintamny Townlands, Ballymony, County Antrim, Northern Ireland -- the People They Married and Their Descendants 1700s--1900s". In this 1000 page book, she discusses the Clan Morrison DNA project and each of the participants in Group C. It is with her permission that I present the following pages.

11 Jun 2015 Added the following members with results: M419, Subgroup N1; M423, Group C;

20 Jan 2014 New marker results have been added for M009 in Group C.

5 Nov 2005 — Group C — Morrisons of Ballymoney and Finvoy Parishes, County Antrim, N. Ireland — M103, a Morrison whose family recently came from the vicinity of Ballymoney was of a family that shared certain uncommon given names with some of the Morrisons of Group F below, which has also been documented to the vicinity of Ballymoney. Consequently, it was expected that the results would be a DNA match between M103 and Group F. However, when the DNA results became available we found that M103 is a match with Group C. This is great news for members of Group C because it documents a specific location for the family in Ulster. It is also good news for M103 because information can be shared with other members of Group C to assist in researching the deeper ancestry of the family in Ulster and Scotland.

14 May 2005 — Group C — Morrisons of Co. Londonderry, N. Ireland — M041 is a 23 of 25 match with this group. The most likely scenario is that the three families were related connected in County Londonderry, Ulster. This gives these families an area to focus in for further research.

12 Mar 2005 — Group C — 37-marker results confirm a 90+% probability of a common paternal Morrison ancestor between M009 and M013 based on a match of 34 of 37 markers. Both of these families may have Scots-Irish origins. M020, whose family is from Banffshire, Scotland, matched M013 on 11 of 12 markers, indicating about a 70% probability of recent relationship, and was included as a possible member of this group. 25-marker results did not confirm relationship, but did leave open the possibility. 37-marker upgrades were ordered for both M013 and M020. The 37-marker results for M020 did not confirm the relationship. We can observe at this point that in every case so far where the 25-marker test indicated a relationship, 37-marker tests give the same result. In this case where the relationship was not confirmed at 25 markers, it is still not confirmed at 37 markers. The possibility of relationship still exists, but it is not likely.

A hypothetical modal DNA signature can be developed based on the most common marker at each location for these three participants. M009 and M013 are both with 2 markers of matching this modal signature. However, M020 mismatches the modal signature on 6 of 37 markers. No more than 4 of 37 markers should mismatch for a relationship to be confirmed.

The problem in placing M020 in Group C based on 25 markers was that he mismatched the other members on 4 of 25 markers. If we use a mutation rate of 0.004 per marker per transmission event, then 1 of 25 markers would change every 10 transmission events, which is every 5 generations when comparing two individuals. So a 4 of 25 marker mismatch represents 20 generations, more or less.

Ancestral DNA — It happens that members of Group C are in Haplogroup R1b, the most common one in western Europe. This results in many matches with other surnames at 3 markers distance and greater, raising the possibility that a 4 marker mismatch with a Morrison may be a random one and not due to genealogical relatedness.

These matches with other surnames are much rarer for mismatches of up to 2 0f 25 markers. Therefore we can draw much better conclusions from matches within 2 of 25 markers. Determining the “ancestral DNA” of each line being compared should allow us to keep the number of mismatches lower. For example, if descendants of three lines of an ancestor who immigrated to America are tested, it may be possible to deduce the DNA markers of the immigrant ancestor using a 2 out of 3 voting technique for each marker. If this ancestor was born 10 generations ago, we may have eliminated 1 mismatch when comparing this family to others. If both families find their ancestral DNA, on average we may eliminate 2 mismatches. We are then, in effect, comparing two sets of DNA markers as they were, say, 250 years ago, instead of the way they are now, with additional mutations. Then if the 250-years-ago markers are a close match with each other, we may confirm a common ancestry 500 years ago, if we find the right Morrison to compare against.

The above technique combines additional DNA tests and traditional genealogy as a method to extend the usefulness of DNA testing beyond 10 generations. It may be the only method currently available to establish relationship with distant relatives for those of us with common haplotypes and the popular surname of Morrison.



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Morrison Family Mismatches


Almost as important as a match, is the DNA result that determines that a mismatch has occurred in a family that was thought to be a possible key ancestor. This narrows the search and focuses attention on more promising leads. There are several key families with published genealogies. Robert Morrison of Bridgewater is one of them, having been documented by the Strowbridge Morrison book.

The following key Morrison families have been listed as potential or interesting connections with the family of Robert Morrison. If a family is a participant in the DNA project, the member or group number is listed. If there is a source of the family's genealogy, then that is also listed.

Key Families with DNA mismatch to Robert Morrison

Family Source DNA Number Comment
Charter Samuel Morrison Leonard Book Pages 295-388 Grp A M105 No comment
Hugh Morrison to US 1726 Leonard Book Pages 293,389 Grp A M121 Emigrated 1726
Rocky River Morrisons 1700 Morrison Family of Rocky River Grp A M005 DNA match Charter Samuel
Archibald Morrison None Grp D M079 George Washington Morrison
Hans Morrison None Grp F M004 Wife Ann Holmes
John Morrison 1628 Leonard Book Pages 75-272 Grp L M178 Sons Charter John & James
Gabriel Morrison 1715 Leonard Book Pages 402-419 Grp L M360 3 brother to PA
Hugh Morrison 1760 Grp M M358 Chester County, PA
Nathaniel Morrison 1730 Granville Price Morrison book Grp R M119 Wife Thankful
Samuel Morrison PA 1701 Leonard Book Pages 418-419 Grp U M048 Tyrone County, Ire.
John Morrison 1700 G. H. Morrison book 31 pg Grp AN M225 Belfast to NY
Robert Morrison 1728 None M019 John Wayne Family


Notes on above:

Group L is the focus of the book by Leonard. John Morrison was born in Ireland in 1628. He had sons Charter James and Charter John by his first wife Jeanette Steele. He later married Jane (Jean) Steele and had four children by her, and emigrated to Londonderry, NH in 1720. Charter John married Margaret Wallace. Charter James married Mary Wallace. Samuel married Janette Allison. Charter John began the settlement in Peterborough.

Group U Samuel Morrison born in 1701 was the son of John Morrison who was born in Scotland and lived in Tyrone County Ireland. Samuel emigrated to the US in 1740 on the ship "Sally of Coleraine". He married Mercy Mayse, and their descendants in the US lived in Bucks County, PA. Later died in Lycoming County, PA in 1801 at age 100.



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Families being researched for possible connections with Robert Morrison

Family Source DNA Number Comment
Charter Robert to NH Leonard Book Page 274-287 No DNA No comment
Samuel Jr. to NH Leonard Book Page 288-293 No DNA No comment
Robert Morrison Leonard Book Page 395 No DNA Brentwood NH
David Morrison Leonard Book Page 396 No DNA Sanbornton, NH

The family of Charter Robert were not close relatives of the other families in the Leonard book. For this reason, it is very important that we find a male descendant to join in the DNA Morrison project.

See this family tree to view possible leads to finding this Morrison descendant.

Charter Robert Family Tree View

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