www.itowler.com - Ian's Home on the web

Big news on the Toler / Towler / Toller surname front.  About 6 months ago I took a DNA test to help add some clues to the info that I have already uncovered.  Using DNA for genealogy is still kind of a new thing; with lots of people still not sure what it can do or tell you.  Working with DNA on a day to day basis and having done a Masters Thesis on DNA evolution, I have a pretty good grasp on the power that this new tool for genealogy offers.  I am hoping that the DNA results will provide solid evidence for a time period that records are scarce.

It's been a little while, but now some results are starting to shed some light.  DNA results indicate that my ancestors are not related to the Toler/Towler clan that is found in North Carolina.  In addition I have a 12 for 12 match on DNA to the Toler clan of West Virginia, with the patriarch of David Toler.  And lastly, I have a 25 for 25 match to another Toler line, which comes out of Virginia.  So what does this all mean?

•  The Toler / Towler lines out of Virginia are NOT related to the Toler / Towler's of North Carolina
•  Most (if not all) Toler / Towler's that can trace their ancestry back to Virginia are related.

To date there are 3 major patriarchs from Virginia that have had descendants take DNA tests.  These 3 all match each other, indicating that we are related.  We are working on getting everyone to upgrade the tests so that we will have the most information possible.  The 3 major patriarchs are:

• David Toler (Wife: Susanna)
• William J. Toler (Wife: Frances Dixon, Son Joseph "Big Daddy")
• William Toler (Wife: Hannah Jennings Brockman)

If you take these DNA results, they seem to confirm the thesis put forth in Ray Toler's book.  If we take this a step further, it appears that these 3 lines may connect back at a James Toler (born about 1640).  Further DNA testing by the other 2 lines will help confirm this, but it is looking pretty good. 

This is a good example of the power that DNA genealogy has, it may be providing a solid actionable clue for a time period that written records are hard to come by.