The New England Phelps Project is a regional DNA project that focuses on Phelps families who originated in New England - (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont). Between the years 1630 to about 1850, these Phelps ancestors migrated from New England to New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Delaware, and southeastern Canada.  Today, these Phelps families' descendants are scattered all over in USA, Canada, and even Australia.  

Phelps yDNA serves as the basis for building out our Phelps family trees.  A paper trail is the backbone of genealogical research, but yDNA confirms with solid proof.  In some instances, yDNA testing is necessary to bridge gaps and put lingering questions to rest.  The yDNA test has been instrumental in proving or disproving genetic connections to our immigrant Phelps ancestors.  

The other two DNA tests, mtDNA and atDNA tests, provide other ways to help validate our familial connections.  Anyone with Phelps ancestry from New England who has taken or plans to take any of these DNA tests through FTDNA, or transfers their DNA data from other eligible testing platforms, are invited to join this New England Phelps DNA Project through FTDNA.  

In addition, everyone is invited to join us on Facebook Descendants of New England Phelps to share and discuss genealogy with each other and to find new cousins. 

Membership requirements: 

This project accepts DNA testees who are descendants of Phelps progenitors who first immigrated and settled in New England:  

• male Phelps testees (or their proxies) who took the y37 DNA test or higher.  The paternal line must be unbroken starting with the progenitor (all males, no females, in the direct line).  Pedigrees are necessary to help serve as the basis for our Phelps trees. If you tested at y12, y25, y37, and y67, please consider upgrading to a higher yDNA test and also adding the FamilyFinder test. 
  
• males or females who took the mtDNA test and are a direct descendant from a female Phelps ancestor from one of the New England Phelps lines.  Their maternal line must be unbroken (no males in the line).  Pedigrees are a must to build up our Phelps trees because women changed their names through marriages.
• anyone  who took an autosomal DNA test (does not have to be born Phelps but is a direct descendants of a Phelps ancestor) using the FamilyFinder test through FTDNA, or who transfers atDNA data from AncestryDNA or MyHeritage to FTDNA.  We require pedigrees to help with this research project. The Phelps pedigrees tied to autosomal matches can provide important clues toward solving lineage "brick walls".   
  

Which DNA tests to order?  

yDNA – males who were born Phelps or are from a known Phelps line (such as adoption or guardianship), please join the main Phelps yDNA project first (this is a yDNA ONLY project).  After the test results have been processed, you'll be matched with other current Phelps testees.  It is recommended that you start with the y111 DNA test or higher.  For those with monetary restraints or are not sure if yours is indeed a male Phelps ancestry, y37 markers is the absolute minimum. The y67 test is no longer being offered; the y111 is a much better test.  You can always upgrade later (watch for sales).  After you are matched with one of the New England Phelps lines, you can then join the Phelps-New England DNA Project. The yDNA test is the ONLY way to verify your Phelps line.  

mtDNA - descendants with a matrilineal line (i.e., solid female ancestral line with no males in between) leading to a female Phelps ancestor, the mtDNA Full Sequence test is offered.  (If you have taken the mtDNA Plus in the past, you can upgrade to Full Sequence).  

atDNA - anyone can take the FamilyFinder test through FTDNA.  It is highly recommended that each person takes a FamilyFinder test and then also transfers the DNA data to MyHeritage. FTDNA also accepts autosomal DNA data transfers from Ancestry, MyHeritage, LivingDNA, and some older versions of 23andMe to increase your potential for finding Matches.  Anyone with Phelps ancestors is also encouraged to upload their autosomal DNA results to GEDmatch and to join us on the Facebook Descendants of New England Phelps group and go from there.

We strongly encourage members to provide their pedigrees because without them any kind of match is almost meaningless. Even small pedigree trees can help as long as there is enough information for another person to engage in research. Pedigrees assist all project members in collaborating with each other and clarifying the Phelps families who originated in New England.

NOTE:  If you have an elderly Phelps male relative that you'd like to test, it is advised that you do at least one full yDNA test right from the start (y-111 or Big Y). You can add a Family Finder or mtDNA Full Sequence test later, or do all at the same time. Ask for extra vials (4 would be great, for future testing).  This is because yDNA and mtDNA use up a lot of the sample.  One very early member started with her father's y12-marker test and then upgraded the yDNA test each time a new one became available, from 12 to 25, and then to 37 markers as genetic science progressed.  Then she ordered the FamilyFinder test.  A little later, she decided to order an upgrade to 67 markers and an mtDNA test but unfortunately there wasn't enough genetic material left and her father is now deceased.  We now advise not to upgrade so many times, and to combine two tests in one order whenever possible.  It is wise to ask for extra vials for elderly relatives when you order the test kit the first time.  If your relative is still living and has a FTDNA account, by all means, do ask for extra vials to be sent out as soon as possible so you can ensure enough sample for possible future tests.  Please do contact the project administrator if you need advice regarding DNA testing before ordering the tests.