Steve's Genealogy Blog

My father received the results of the analysis of his mitochondrial DNA, representing his matrilineal heritage.

The results classify his mtDNA in haplogroup H11, a branch of haplogroup H represented by “Helena” in The Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes.

Approximately 40% of European mtDNA are members of haplogroup H. Haplogroup H11 is an uncommon branch of haplogroup H and is one of the oldest branches of H. H11 can be found in the Near East as well as Europe.

Some recent journal articles discussing haplogroup H include:

Achilli A., Rengo C., Magri C., Battaglia V., Olivieri A., Scozzari R., Cruciani F., Zeviani M., Briem E., Carelli V., Moral P., Dugoujon J., Roostalu U., Loogví¤li E., Kivisild T., Bandelt H., Richards M., Villems R., Santachiara-Benerecetti A., Semino O., Torroni A .  The molecular dissection of mtDNA haplogroup H confirms that the Franco-Cantabrian glacial refuge was a major source for the European gene pool.  Am J Hum Gen 2004 75:910-918.

Pereira L., Richards M., Goios A., Alonso A., Albarrí¡n C., Garcia O., Behar D., Gölge M., Hatina J., Al-Gazali L.,  Bradley D., Macaulay V., Amorim A .  High-resolution mtDNA evidence for the late-glacial resettlement of Europe from an Iberian refugium .  Genome Res. 2005 15:19-24.

Roostalu U, Kutuev I, Loogví¤li EL, Metspalu E, Tambets K, Reidla M, Khusnutdinova EK, Usanga E, Kivisild T, Villems R. Origin and expansion of haplogroup H, the dominant human mitochondrial DNA lineage in West Eurasia: the Near Eastern and Caucasian perspective . Â Mol Biol Evol. 2007 24:436-48.

With these results, I now have the mitochondrial DNA haplogroups for both of my grandmothers and the Y-DNA haplogroups for both of my grandfathers:

• Paternal grandfather’s Y-DNA: Haplogroup R1b1b2a1a (tracks with the Dańko surname)
• Maternal grandfather’s Y-DNA: Haplogroup R1a1 (tracks with the Niedziałkowski surname)
• Paternal grandmother’s mtDNA: Haplogroup H11 (Bryan Sykes’ “Helena”)
• Maternal grandmother’s mtDNA: Haplogroup W1 (a sister of Bryan Sykes’ “Xenia”)

The sources of the DNA for these results were not my grandparents, all of whom passed on long ago. I supplied the DNA sample that represents my paternal grandfather’s Y-DNA and my maternal grandmother’s mtDNA. My Niedzialkowski cousins supplied the samples that represents my maternal grandfather’s Y-DNA, and my father supplied the sample that represents my paternal grandmother’s mtDNA.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 03 Nov 1705, Genevií¨ve Gamache, daughter of Nicolas Gamache and Marie Dion, was born . She was baptized in Notre Dame de Bonsecours de l’Islet, L’Islet sur Mer, Québec, New France on 03 Nov 1705.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Genevií¨ve Gamache – 1705

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. Notre Dame de Bonsecours de l’Islet, L’Islet sur Mer, Québec, New France, 1705. Birth and Baptismal Record of Genevií¨ve Gamache, folio 22 recto.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Genevií¨ve Gamache – 1705. Translated from the French the record reads:

Bap[tism of] Genevií¨ve Gamache

On the third of November in the year one-thousand seven-hundred five was baptized by me, the undersigned missionary priest of the seminary of Québec, performing the functions of the pastor of the parish of Notre Dame, Genevií¨ve, born [on this same day?], daughter of Nicolas Gamache and Marie Dion his wife, residing in this parish. The Godfather and Godmother were Franí§ois Dion, grandfather of the infant, and Marie LeBlanc, who have stated that they do not know how to write or sign as required by law.
     Phil[ippe] Rageot, missionary priest

This entry is badly faded and is barely legible. I was able to transcribe the record with the aid of other records written by the same priest in the same year. One section of the record is still questionable: the day on which Genevií¨ve was born. I have transcribed the day as “d aujour d huy” or “the same day”. I could be wrong about this because the record is so faded at this point.

This record can be found as image 27/312 in the Québec Vital Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com as part of the records for L’Islet-sur-mer 1679-1779. The record appears on folio 22 recto (the front of folio 22).

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 22 Nov 1712, Jean Gamache, son of Jean Baptiste Gamache and Agathe Richard, was born. He was baptized in St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Québec, New France on 23 Nov 1712.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Jean Gamache – 1712

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Québec, New France, 1712. Birth and Baptismal Record of Jean Gamache, folio 36 verso.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Jean Gamache – 1712. Translated from the French the record reads:

Bap[tism] of Jean Gamache

In the year one-thousand seven-hundred twelve on the twenty-third day of the month of November was baptized by me, the undersigned Recollect missionary priest of Cap St. Ignace, Jean, born on the previous day to Jean Gamache and Agathe Richard his wif wife. The Godfather was Pierre Richard and the Godmother was Angélique Minville, who have stated that they do not know how to sign as required according to law.
Thus signed, Brother Yves Godard, missionary

This record can be found as image 39/948 in the Québec Vital Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com as part of the records for Cap-St-Ignace 1679-1808. The record appears on folio 36 verso (the back of folio 36).

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 05 Dec 1718, Ignace Felix Gamache, son of Louis Gamache and Angelique Minville, was born. He was baptized in St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Québec, New France on 07 Dec 1718.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Ignace Felix Gamache – 1718

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Québec, New France, 1718. Birth and Baptismal Record of Ignace Felix Gamache, page 4.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Ignace Felix Gamache – 1718. Translated from the French the record reads:

Bap[tism of] Ignace Felix Gamache

In the year one-thousand seven-hundred eighteen on the [one word] seventh of December was baptized by me, the undersigned priest, Ignace Felix, two days old, son of Mister Louis Gamache and Angélique Minville his wife. The Godfather was Mister LeClerc parish priest of this parish, and the Godmother was Louise Caron, widow of Augustin Gamache. q     Thus signed,
     Louise Caron     LeClair, priest

This record can be found as image 61/948 in the Québec Vital Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com as part of the records for Cap-St-Ignace 1679-1808. The record appears on page 4.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 10 Mar 1715, Augustin Gamache, son of Louis Gamache and Angelique Minville, was born. He was baptized in St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Québec, New France on 11 Mar 1715.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Augustin Gamache – 1715

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Québec, New France, 1715. Birth and Baptismal Record of Augustin Gamache, page 31.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Augustin Gamache – 1715. Translated from the French the record reads:

B[aptism of] Augustin Gamache

In the year one-thousand fifteen on the eleventh of March was baptized by me, the undersigned priest, Augustin, one day old, son of Louis Gamache and Angélique Minville his wife. The Godfather was Jean Baptiste Richard and the Godmother was Genevií¨ve Richard, who have stated that they do not know how to sign
as required by law. Thus signed
     LeClair, priest

This record can be found as image 58/948 in the Québec Vital Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com as part of the records for Cap-St-Ignace 1679-1808. The record appears on page 31.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 28 Jan 1714, Marie Madeleine Gamache, daughter of Louis Gamache and Angelique Minville, was born. She was baptized in St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Québec, New France on 30 Jan 1714.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Marie Madeleine Gamache – 1714

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. St. Ignace du Cap St. Ignace, Cap St. Ignace, Québec, New France, 1714. Birth and Baptismal Record of Marie Madeleine Gamache, page 24.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Marie Madeleine Gamache – 1714. Translated from the French the record reads:

     B[aptism of] M[arie] Madeleine Gamache
In the year one-thousand seven-hundred fourteen on the 28th of January was born Marie Magdeleine Gamache and was baptized on the 30th of this same month by me, the undersigned. [She was] the daughter of Louis Gamache and Angélique Minville, the father and mother. The Godfather was Franí§ois Fortin and the Godmother was Marie Madeleine Richard.
     B[rother] Ives, Recollect Missionary of Cap St. Ignace

This record can be found as image 55/948 in the Québec Vital Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com as part of the records for Cap-St-Ignace 1679-1808. The record appears on page 24.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On October 30 I wrote a post entitled “When it Rains…” where I described some new information Adam Pszczolkowski sent me about my Chodkowski ancestors.

At about the same time, my newly-discovered cousin Christa sent me a wealth of information about our Milewski ancestors, and in particular she sent me the ancestry of my 3rd great grandmother, Karolina Milewska:

Karolina Milewska was the daughter of Wojciech Milewski and Anna Burska, granddaughter of Baltazar Milewski and Marianna Nalecz, great granddaughter of Gregorz Milewski and Anna Grochowska, second great granddaughter of Jan Milewski and Felicja Rembowska, third great granddaughter of Jakub Milewski and Zofia, and fourth great granddaughter of Wojciech Milewski.

Wojciech Milewski is my 9th great grandfather, born in about 1580.

Yes, when it rains, it pours!

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Twentieth century politics in Albany, New York were dominated by the Democtratic Machine created and controlled by Dan O’Connell.

Dan O’Connell was Chairman of the Albany County Democratic Committee. In most parts of the country, few voters know the name of the chairman of their local political party committee. Not so in Albany. Dan O’Connell’s name was familiar to everyone.

From 1919 when he was elected County Assessor until his death in 1977, Dan O’Connell controlled politics in Albany.

At times, there were more registered voters in Albany than there were eligible voters. At other times there were more votes cast in elections than there were registered voters.

Indeed, Mario Cuomo once told a story of how Dan O’Connell and another man were stranded on a desert island with only a single coconut between them. The two voted to decide who would get to eat the coconut and Dan O’Connell won, 110-1.

While growing up in Albany, I recall that my family had frequent interactions with our Democratic Ward Leader. When my father wanted to have the damaged sidewalk in front of our house repaired, he contacted our Ward Leader. When my mother applied for a job as a keypunch operator with the County, our Ward Leader stopped by the house to congratulate her on getting the job.

In today’s political landscape, I hear Democrats associated with such phrases as “out-of-touch with mainstream America”, “tax-and-spend”, and “radical left”. The Democrats with whom I grew up were anything but. The Democrats among whom I was raised were mainstream America: blue-collar workers struggling to make ends meet.

I have to admit, I grew up in an unusual political environment . After my tenth grade class wrote a letter to Erastus Corning II, the mayor of Albany, expressing our concern for the environment, the mayor came to our classroom to discuss the city’s commitment to the environment. Governor Hugh Carey’s children attended my high school. Representatives to the state legislature lived on the blocks surrounding the house where I grew up and, on Halloween, we would shout “Good luck in the election!” instead of “Trick or treat” when we reached their houses. And, once, I was asked to make a presentation on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America to Lieutenant Governor Malcolm Wilson (who later bacame governor of New York when Nelson Rockefeller was named vice-president of the United States).

The Albany Democratic Machine has a firm place in the memories from my youth. Even with all the faults of the machine, I think my youth was richer because of my exposure to the political process when I was young.

Written for the Carnival of Genealogy.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Today, the sun came out and I took a quick tour of the fall foliage in Washington Park, Albany, New York.

Acer palmatum Japanese Maple

SOURCE: Acer palmatum Japanese Maple (Washington Park, Albany, Albany County, New York). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 30 Oct 2008.

Acer saccharinum Silver Maple

SOURCE: Acer saccharinum Silver Maple (Washington Park, Albany, Albany County, New York). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 30 Oct 2008.

Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo

SOURCE: Gingko biloba Gingko (Washington Park, Albany, Albany County, New York). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 30 Oct 2008.

Quercus rubra Red Oak

SOURCE: Quercus rubra Red Oak (Washington Park, Albany, Albany County, New York). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 30 Oct 2008.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko