Research Progress December 2025

This month has a few updates. Changes are coming in January for the various research questions I've been tracking since the previous progress report. It's also worth comparing against my research questions from a year ago.

Paternal side research

1 - Identifying the parents of Bridget, my Irish 3rd-great-grandmother. This one needs more time, but I am aiming for another extensive post by mid-month, once I'm back from international travel. Looking back at where I was a year ago with this question, it feels like I've made little progress, but I am narrowing the focus and having a specific location to target is helpful.

2 - O'Brien DNA matches. This research question is evolving from the earlier one targeting the generation of connection with the Pennsylvania O'Briens.

3 - Analyzing mtDNA connections in the maternal line path of Sarah Westall and Elizabeth Thornhill Jones. This one is pending a follow-up from test holder Lynn.

4 - Jones YDNA. Pending finding another Jones male to take a YDNA test.

5 - Guthrie DNA group project.

6 - Cleaning up the Thomas Jones and Nancy Tucker research. This one has had a lot of progress behind the scenes, working with Mary from the DAR and distant Tucker and Jones cousins. More to follow later in the month.

Maternal side research

1 - Identifying possible siblings of my 3rd-great-grandfather Gabriel Vasquez. Again, not much movement here, but I think with xDNA analysis (see number 8 below), there's an intriguing match in Argentina who may connect to this line.

2 - Working with DNA matches on the Amado side of the tree. Not much different from last month, but I think the Campuzano YDNA and autosomal result will help here once it arrives on FTDNA.

3 - Analyzing mtDNA matches in the maternal line path of Maria Jesus Vasquez. For this one I am building a spreadsheet to analyze my cousin Catherine's matches, and I think this will pay off a bit later in the month.

4 - Guerrero-Leyva mystery matches. There's some progress here as I have more information on how these people connect to each other. I still don't get the generation of connection, but it feels like it will be on one of the gaps in my Portillo side of the tree. I think this one may benefit from an expert consultation.

5 - Resolving descendancy from the daughters of John Carter (1715-1783). Pending a follow-up with the Carter Society.

6 - Identifying a direct maternal line ancestor of Mary Alice Cain Read to encourage to take a mtDNA test. Nothing new since last month.

7 - Campuzano YDNA. This one we're waiting on the results of the YDNA test for our Campuzano cousin, and perhaps in early 2026 we'll have some exciting updates.

8 - [New] xDNA analysis using FTDNA's tools. I've built a spreadsheet with all of the xDNA matches in common with my Mom and Catherine. More to do but I've set things up for after my international trip.

Over the holiday break, I may add some DNA research questions for Allison's side of the tree. These would be new queries to follow depending on testing and analysis with the existing kits we can access on Ancestry.