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Participants with surname Dewees, Deweese, Deweess, Dewese, Duese will test 37 STRⁱ markers on the Y chromosomes to determine their common ancestry.

The principal goal of the Dewees Surname Project, initiated on June 7, 2010, is to use Y chromosome variations in Dewees(e) males to test the hypothesis that virtually all Dewees families in America are descended from a single ancestral male, most likely Garrett Hendricks de Wees, who immigrated from The Netherlands to New Amsterdam (NYC) in about 1663.

 A secondary goal is to determine if Dewees families sort out into sub groups, specifically into three lineages from  the purported sons of Garrett Hendricks deWees- William, Cornelius, and Lewis (exact parentage of Lewis Dewees has yet to be proved through standard genealogical records).

A final goal: the Y chromosome test by Family Tree DNA provides information to verify a possible deep ancestral point of origin and migration history across the globe for the Dewees paternal line.

Recommendations for Participants:
For the Dewees Surname Project we are recommending participants use the Y-DNA37 test kit from www.familytreedna.com. It includes a balanced panel of 37 genetic markers on the Y chromosome and is the recommended test to trace the paternal ancestry of males for genealogical purposes.

Funding Available:
Limited funds from the Dewees group General Fund are available to help defray costs for new participants based on need. Project Administrators will review prospective participants’ need on a case by case basis. Please contact Project Administrator.