Md Tn Ala Tx DNA Mystery - Part 1

I am becoming a Willis family focal point for analyses of Ancestry DNA results (atDNA) to uncover sub-branches of our family history.  It all started when I requested access to the DNA results of Vern and Mark, who have Y-DNA tested into THE MARYLAND group at the Willis Y-DNA Project at Family tree DNA. My father has also done a Y-test, and is a member of this MARYLAND GROUP.  As a group,  we know we share the same Willis heritage,  a path that eventually takes all our trees back to our original Willis ancestor who arrived in the colonies,  John Willis 1660-1712.  

My theory then,  in requesting access to their atDNA results,  was that I could use their results to identify others who share our Willis heritage,  but likely dead-end their Willis branches on a female. Or, dead end their trees at a place where they simply can't trace further back on their Willis branch.  These folks don't have the luxury of Y-test results,  putting them in our Willis group,  helping them understand that their Willis is of John Willis in 1600s Dorchester County,  Maryland.  But, if they are atDNA related to members of our Y-group, with Willis in their trees, its possible that their Willis share our heritage.  We just need to find these folks and help them clarify their paths to our group.  And the way to do that is to scan atDNA match lists of the members of THE MARYLAND Y-group,  on the surname Willis,  looking for common Ancestry users across these multiple scans.

The first match I found to both Mark and Vern is turning out to be a very interesting challenge.  Trish is high up on both Mark and Vern's match lists. 

We are uncovering tons of puzzle pieces,  but having difficulty putting the pieces together.  After working on it for two days,  without resolution,  I thought it might be helpful to step back and put on paper everything we know,  so far. 

1. From Trish to Vern - Shared DNA, 56 cM, across 6 DNA segments.  Surname overlaps on Willis, Johnson.
2. From Trish to Mark - Shared DNA, 28.5 cM, across 1 DNA segment.  Surname overlaps on Willis, Johnson, White, Wilson, Ward.
3. Given the large number of segment matches to Vern,  if Trish is related to Vern and Mark through Willis,  I felt it more likely that I would find the nature of the match by focusing on the trees of Trish and Vern.
4. Trish's Willis branch dead-ends on a George Washington Willis 1865-1941. George is married to Sarah Jane White. According to Trish,  George was born in either Alabama or Georgia,  and died in Monroe, Ouachita, Louisiana.
5. Trish has located George in the census data of 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930.
6. When we pick up George in the 1900 census,  he is 34 years of age. The 1890 census records do not exist.  So, we would have to find George as a 14 year old in his family's household in the 1880 census.  We've not been able to do that.
7. George is in Louisiana in all these years,  with the exception of 1910,  when he resides in Henderson County,  Texas.
8. In examining the underlying documents of the 1910 Henderson Co, Tx census,  I discovered that George is living right next door to Vern's ancestor,  Charley Willis. 
9. Vern's Charley Willis 1860-1929,  is indicated to have been born in Chattahoochee Co, Ga and died in Henderson Co, Tx.
10. Vern has located Charley in the census data of 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920.
11. In other DNA analyses of individuals who match the kits of members of my family,  I found a Sarah Willis 1862-1938,  married to Thomas J Pierce. In working with tree owner, Pat, I discovered that Sarah and Thomas are also in the 1910 Census of Henderson Co, Texas. Sarah was born,  and died there. Sarah was a dead-end in Pat's tree.
12. Pat has located Sarah in the census data of 1870, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930.
13. And,  in yet other DNA analyses of individuals who match the kits of members of my family,  I found a Joseph Windle Willis 1864-1940 who was also in the census of Henderson County, Tx.  Joseph's heritage dead ends on a William Stephen Willis 1832-1879, born in Tennessee.  The owner of this tree is Jeff.
14. Jeff has located a chain of census records for Joseph back through William Stephen Willis in the years of 1860, 1870, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940.
15. In examining the 1870 census records I noticed that Jeff's Joseph is a brother to Pat's Sarah.  So,  Pat is related to Jeff through the father of both Joseph and Sarah, William Stephen Willis 1832-1879.  Both Pat and Jeff appear on the atDNA match lists of various of my family members.   Vern and I both Y-DNA test into the same Maryland Group at the Willis Y-DNA Project at Family tree DNA.  Vern's Charley and Trish's George live next door to each other in 1910 Henderson County, Tx.  We're all tied together,  somehow.  And all roads lead up to early 1900s Henderson County, Tx.
16. Vern's tree is here.  Trish's tree is private.  Pat's tree is here.  Jeff's tree is here. 

Somehow,  these 4 Willis families are related, George of Trish, Charley of Vern, Sarah of Pat and Joseph of Jeff.  It can't be coincidence. The inter-twined DNA would indicate so.

I stopped here,  Thursday,  March 24th.

Part 2 of this article.