This project grew out of a general frustration arising from the paucity of records prior to the early 1800s which support the establishment of relationships between families bearing the surname Baughan and its spelling variants, especially in Virginia and for those descendents that can trace their ancestors back to a Virginia Baughan family. In addition, there is an old Baughan family story that four Boughan brothers came to Virginia through Wales to escape persecution from Cromwell because they had been supporters of King Charles, who had granted them the land in Virginia. Three of the four brothers adopted the Bowen spelling in hopes of making themselves less likely targets of discovery by Cromwell's people. Will Boughan/Bowen family DNA support that story?