Cardwell DNA Project
Updated: August 2009 - Welcome to the Cardwell DNA Project page. Since the project was launched we’ve learned a lot about the Cardwell family, solved a few mysteries, confirmed a few assumptions for earlier researchers, and identifed several distinct genetic branches of the family. NOTE: The former website location at worldfamilies.net crashed and their programmers have been unable to get the site up and running. I decided to move the “meat: of that site to the Cardwell family research website. It will also be easier to maintain.
This project requires men with the surname of Cardwell to take a DNA test. The Y-Chromosome is tested for certain “markers” that will point to genetic lines in the Cardwell family. Right now, the method being used is for men only. So, if you a female Cardwell, then you will need to get a brother, father, etc. to take the test. The results will be posted here as this matures. Check out the RECENT FINDINGS below!
We are seeking CARDWELL men for this project!
CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR TEST KIT This is at a reduced rate than testing as an individual. You’ll save between $50 and $80 by taking part in the Cardwell DNA Project.
There are four different Y-DNA test available. We recommend that you take either the 25 or 37 marker test. These will give us a much clearer picture of our genetic relationships and will greatly assist this project.
The Patriarch Page is a breakdown of the lines that have been tested. There are several branches that have not tested, which are marked as such. Our hope is that a living descendant from each of the lines will eventually take part in the project. Here is a link to the Project Patriarch Page. Click Here
Another way to help is to donate to the Cardwell DNA Project Fund. This fund was established to provide a means in which individuals that do not have the financial ability to purchases a test kit can still take part in the study.
Contact me for more information and check here often for updates.
Thanks,
Rand Cardwell
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Cardwell DNA Project - Patriarch Page - Click here
Cardwell DNA Project - Results Page - Click here
PENDING RESULTS - We are waiting on the results of a living descendant of Albert Sidney Johnson Cardwell. He was the son of Matilida Cardwell and an Unknown father. After the Civil War, Matilda resumed using her maiden name and all of her children carried it as well. So far, we have results from two of her male children, Richard Ivan(son) Cardwell and William Henderson Cardwell, and testing confirms that they had different fathers and are do not share the characteristics of Cardwell Line I, which they should if they were genetically related. NOTE: Y-DNA is passed down only from father to son. This line only assumed the surname of Cardwell. Much of this has long been a matter of contention among researchers, but DNA testing has shed solid proof on the subject. July 2009
Also, another exciting result is expected in the next couple of months. Thomas Cardwell, b. 1806 in VA, who moved to Marshall County, AL from GA. We have a new participant that is a direct descendant. Why is this exciting? Well, because out of all the potential sons of Simon Cardwell of Georgia, Thomas is the only one that stated his state of birth was Virginia. All the rest claimed Georgia. This has always raised some doubt that Thomas was a son of Simon. He might be from Line I or III since many of those descendants moved out of Virginia during the same time period. Watch for the results under the code of C-10.
The Cardwell DNA Project is off to a great start! As of November 2006, we have a total of seven men taking part in the study. All of them share the surname of Cardwell, but the results from the DNA testing is proving that they consist of several different lines.
We have results from 25 living descendants as of July 2009. A much clearer picture of the family is developing and will only grow as more take part in the project. Additional findings can be found at the bottom of the RESULTS page.
Cardwell Line I - This line is by far the most extensively tested genetic branch of the Cardwell family. We now have results from several known descendants of Thomas Cardwell and Martha Perrin, but several of the lines have not been tested. NEW - We have recently had the first results from a descendant of Richard Cardwell, son of Thomas Cardwell and Martha Perrin, and uncle to John of Claiborne and Perrin of Knox. Those results indicate some slight changes in the DNA of that particular line, which might point to solving the mystery of the parents of William Cardwell (b. 1773 in VA that moved to KY and IN). Traditional research had indicated that Richard’s son Daniel had a son named William, but Virginia records yeilded little more than a name. He just seemed to disappear from pre-1800 Virginia. From the initial results of another of Daniel’s sons (Asa P. Cardwell of Wilkes Co, NC) it appears that they match the DNA of WIlliam (1773 of KY/IN). We need to find at least two other descendants from the Richard Cardwell line that will take part in the project to be more certain. From initial results it appears that each son of Thomas Cardwell and Martha Perrin has distinct genetic signatures. More testing is needed on descendants of John and Richard, but son George’s line has ten test results that show only limited mutations. This is nothing unusual and is expected.
Cardwell Line II - This line is taking some shape and also has two individuals with exact matches so far. Both of the individuals tested can trace back to Robert Cardwell of Campbell County, VA. Robert’s line has been another victim of poor research in the past, but the DNA testing is now providing solid proof of this line. The two test results only have one marker that is different and it is one of the fast mutating markers, which help us account for more recent genetic distance. We now have a solid DNA sequence for men that stem from this branch of the Cardwell family. Watch for an upcoming aticle on this line of the family. A third result from this line (from the line of Robert’s son, Anthony) has added to a pretty solid genetic signature for this line. We are still hoping for some descendants of the three other sons of Robert of Campbell to take part in the study. NEW - We just got the results back from the first descendant of the Simon Cardwell of Georgia line. They indicate a close genetic relationship with the line of Robert Cardwell of Campbell County, VA. Many researchers had attributed Robert as Simon’s father, but these results provide definitive data. Though, it is not 100% sure that Simon was a son of Robert, the close genetic signature points to Cardwell Line II.
Cardwell Line III - This line has only one individual tested so far, but it points to a completely different line that the others that have been tested. This individual is from the Cardwell/Thweatt line of Halifax County, VA. This line has been the point of much research and a fair amount of conjecture. This is the line that the late Dr. Pendergraft researched for numerous years. The results are pointing to this particular line being a completey different branch of the Virginia Cardwell families than previously thought. More results are needed. Additionally, we have a couple of articles concerning this branch. Click here for the article on the Halifax County Cardwells. Click here for a Timeline for that county, Results on the line of Thomas Cardwell of Granville County, North Carolina indicate that this line is connected to the Thomas Cardwell of Hailfax County, VA lineage. A descendant of Daniel J. Cardwell, son of William N. Cardwell and grandson of Thomas Cardwell of Granville County, NC has recently been tested. The results show a strong connection to Cardwell Line III. This result was not expected as many researchers have linked Thomas Cardwell of Granville County, NC to the line of Thomas Cardwell and Martha Perrin of Henrico County, VA. Click here for an article on Thomas Cardwell of Granville County, NC. NEW test results from the line of Thomas Cardwell’s sons. Caleb and Nelson Cardwell, confirm the findings and help provide a more solid genetic picture for this line. Also, another line from a Thomas Cardwell (b.1835 in England who moved to Delaware) has tested positive for Line III.
Cardwell Line IV - This line is perfect example of what DNA testing can do to help those “hard cases”. Noah Cardwell, born in 1794 in NC, is reported to be the son of Anne Cardwell. Anne was the daughter of Richard Perrin Cardwell and Rebecca LNU... some claim Dalton. That would make him being born out-of-wedlock and it would be very difficult to find any information on his father. The individual tested got an interesting result!! His DNA appears to match that of the Dalton family of NC. Further research is needed, but this is the best information to date on helping to establish the father of Noah Cardwell. Click here for information on the Richard Cardwell book. It contains a great deal of information on this line.
Cardwell Line V - This line is another NPE that was predicted prior to DNA testing. The testing confirmed the traditional research. Gabriel Cardwell was the son of Susannah Cardwell and an unknown father. The DNA testing suggests a strong connection to the Sharp family of the same geographic area (Rockingham County, NC).
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