As membership grew, the goals of the Horton Surname Project evolved.Today, they span three broad areas. First, to coordinate and support efforts to determine connections among various Horton lines globally. Micro-goals, such as proving or disproving a relationship between two specific men, vary over time and reflect the research focus of active participants. In other words, micro-goals aren’t set from the top down but a remember-driven, bubbling from the bottom up.

Second, to increase the percentage of participants who submit family trees, as well as their accuracy. Occasionally, YDNA test results surprise participants by revealing non-paternal events. We empathize with the shock or disbelief this kind of discovery has on a family when its long-held and beloved lineage is blown apart by science.

Third, to link immigrant Horton ancestor(s) to an English ancestral home—the genealogist’s Holy Grail. Undeniably, this is the most difficult goal to achieve, not only requiring extensive research and careful examination of evidence, but considerable luck and patience. Inquiries from Horton descendants living in the U.K., Ireland, or Australia, are assessed by submitted family trees. If there is documentation going back to the mid-18^th-century funding might be possible to help offset the expense of testing. Please contact Administrator, Jeff Horton, directly at Jjeffrey.horton0@gmail.com.

Currently, a project member is actively recruiting and willing to fund YDNA tests for direct male descendants of thefollowing 17^th-century men:

1) Tobias Horton of Lancaster County, Virginia;

2) William, Tobias, or Robert Horton of theWestwood/Trowbridge/North Bradley region of Wiltshire England; and

3) William Horton of Woolverton, SomersetCounty, England.