Where did this all begin?

I began researching my fathers Y-DNA around 2015 as I had been at a brick wall for years with my genealogical study. Also at that time I was teaching a Year 11 and 12 Biology class and we were exploring the evolution of humans and DNA. While teaching this class I came across the National Geographic Genographic Project. My class participated in this project and this was my entrance into genetic genealogy.

After having my father take the initial National Geographic Y-DNA test and I started exploring the world of genetic genealogy and what sites were out there to help further my genetic study and help find relatives, I came across FTDNA and haven't looked back.

Once my father's DNA was on FTDNA in 2016 we made a connection with 3 Riddell men and this small group of 4 was the beginning of this FTDNA project. After my father undertook all the available Y-DNA tests more men that potentially connected to him came up and a couple of years down the track there was my father, the 3 Riddell men, 2 other Rutherford men and Preston, Shettle and Lawson men that fitted together under ZP78.

A little further down the track more Rutherford men came up and it got to the stage where I thought there were more than enough men that specifically fitted under ZP78 that I wanted to start a project just for them and so I created this one.

The Future???

Since creating the 'Scottish-English Marches' Project more men have tested and the potential number of men that fit into this project (as of May 2020) has grown to around 40 men. Unfortunately not all of these men have joined the project yet.

With most of the men, that are in the project, having undertaken the BigY 700 test we are now at a point where these results can be used to suggest possible timing for the SNP mutations in our project. Also with some of the men (and small sub-groups) in the project having proven (by actual documents) genealogy research we can use this research to help sure up the dating, which will then help other lines sure up their dating.