I know that those of you who have accessed this site in the past, most likely think I have abandoned this project. Not true, although I have been putting it off for some time, now. In addition, until fairly recently, there really hasn’t been much to add. I do have some family photographs to post, and I will, but it probably won’t be very soon. Now, for some updated information. I believe that I mentioned, in the Forum, that I have had my DNA tested, and the results posted. Since then, whenever there is a close match, I am notified. Up until recently, the closest ‘matches’ have been no closer than 23 of 25 elements (if you’ve done a DNA test, you’ll know what I’m talking about). However, a couple of months ago, I received notice of a match that is a match in 25 of 25! Not only that, but the gentleman who is the match, is named Healy. The closeness of the match means that Mr. Healy and I share a common ancestor, probably within not more than 5-7 generations (more or less). We have shared family trees, but have not, unfortunately, found where our two families might ‘link up’. He has traced his family back to England, so the ‘common ancestor’ must be there, somewhere.
What this means, is that the assertion in the preface to the Ela Genealogy, that the Fryeburg Elas are descended from Joseph Healey of Dunbarton, is very likely true. I have researched the Joseph Healy who lived in Dunbarton, but have been unable to find any facts to corroborate this assertion. However, given this latest development, I am planning to re-visit this area of research. So, for those of you who are descended from the Fryeburg Ela family – the name was once, “Healy”, and was changed, most likely because of Jonathan and William living in the same town, with similar last names.
You might recall that William’s wife was Lydia Ordway. I just learned – today – that there was a John Ordway – from New Hampshire – who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their historic journey. He was a sergeant in the army, and was chosen to go by Captains Clark and Lewis, and turned out to be a very trustworthy and valued member of the expedition. He kept a journal, and the contents of his journal are included in some compilations of the journals kept by Lewis and Clark. According to the information I read, he later moved to Missouri around 1809, and died sometime before 1814. He was almost surely related to Lydia’s family – possibly a brother of Lydia’s.
In other news, I was recently contacted by a gentleman who is descended from the Phillips family, and has done – and is continuing to do – extensive research on the Phillips line. If anyone who reads this, also has connections to the Phillips family, email me, and I’ll send you some very valuable links to Phillips information.
That’s it for now. I appreciate the emails I have gotten from some of you, and I try to answer each one as soon as possible. Some ask me for genealogical data on their family, but only provide me with their parents’, or sometimes, grandparents’ names. I simply have not tracked all of the Ela descendants down to recent times, so a bit more information is usually necessary. However, I will endeavor to do my best for all inquiries.