The primary Goals and Objectives for this Regional DNA Project involve the establishment of the genetic profile(s) for the progenitors of the various American Indians (and their descendants) who inhabited the Robeson County, North Carolina region in the 17th thru the 20 century.   In addition, the results of this project are intended to assist family historians trace their ancestry and identify genetic cousins among the descendants of these Indians. This is a genealogy project using DNA testing to supplement traditional genealogical research methods.

Note: To avoid any misunderstanding concerning this DNA Project, it is important for you to know that DNA testing is not accepted by any tribe for membership.  Each tribe has its own membership criteria.  Tribes do not accept DNA test results as either proof or disproof. 

At the present time, genetic genealogy testing does NOT identify a specific tribe, only that a person has Native American ancestry.  Read "Proving Your Native American Heritage", by Roberta J. Estes for a more complete understanding of using DNA testing to establish your Native American Heritage.

The 19th century U.S. censuses identified prominent Indian family surnames from this region to be Brayboy, Brooks, Carter, Chavis, Cumbo, Dial, Hammond, Kersey, Locklear, Lowry, Oxendine and Revels.  They are usually listed in the Census as "All Other Free Persons." Other surnames of interest to the this Project include: Allen, Berry, Brewington, Byrd, Cumbaa, Gallagher, Goins, Hersey, Jordan, Kelly, Middleton, Morgan, Stanley, Strickland, Webb and Woolfork.

Many surnames may have changed during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries due to adoptions, out-of-wedlock births, family disagreements, etc.  Under these circumstances, the Y-DNA for many descendants may not match other descendants with the same surname.  Therefore, this project aims to assist Indian descendant researchers for common or related families to work together to find their correct common ancestors, when that has not been possible via the examination of the traditional paperwork trail.

You are hereby cordially invited to participate in this historic project, if you believe you have American Indian ancestry from the Robeson County Region. Those requesting participation in this DNA Project are requested to supply Robert B. Noles (rbnoles@bellsouth.net) with their known or suspected genealogy.

Robert B. Noles, Project Administrator

(rbnoles@bellsouth.net)