The Hatteras_mtDNA (aka Hatteras-Mothers) project was established to help reconstruct early families on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands by using mitochondrial DNA. For example, many families have oral histories of their female ancestors being Native American and this reconstruction project may be able to confirm or refute these stories. Hatteras-Mothers is for people who have tested their mitochondrial DNA, and whose maternal line (the one through whom they inherited their mitochondrial DNA descends) extend to women that lived or may be presumed to have lived on Hatteras, Ocracoke, or nearby islands prior to 1800. People whose furthest known female ancestor, on this particular maternal line, who lived elsewhere in the Outer Banks or the nearby coastal margins may also be accepted, if the surname of this ancestor matches that of people known to have lived in the area prior to 1800. Anyone eligible to join Hatteras-Mothers, automatically can join Hatteras-Families; however, the FamilyFinder test is recommended for participants. If you are male, and have had your Y-DNA tested, another group you may be eligible to join is Hatteras-Fathers. Check these projects for more information.