We now have DNA test results from two men, one with the Fies Surname and one with the Feese surname. These test results match close enough that we know that the two men have a Recent Common Ancestor, even though the paper trails do not lead that far back.

The man surnamed Fies descends from Tobias Fies who died in Berks Co, PA, in 1808. The results of this test which is part of the Phy Surname Project can be viewed at http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Phy/default.aspx?section...

The man surnamed Feese descends from Samuel Fees who died in Lebanon Co, PA in 1840.

There are probably four (maybe more) branches of the Fies/Fees/Feese family from this area of Pennsylvania. These two test results prove that two of these branches share a Recent Common Ancestor. We need men descended from the other two branches to be tested to prove their connection.

The third branch would be descendants of John Fees, born in Pennsylvania in 1790, died in Adams Co, IA, in 1865. I have a photo of his gravestone on my website http://users.hal-pc.org/~wmewrght/cem.html

The fourth branch is the Adair Co, KY, branch that descends from Jacob Fees (born in Pennsylvania, 1778; died in Appanoose Co, IA, 1856).

I encourage any Fies/Fees/Feese descendant to be DNA tested. Please send me your questions. If you are concerned about cost, I may be able to find a donor to help with the testing fee.

DNA testing is the only way we will be able to prove that all four of these branches have a common ancestor. The paper trails have been examined in depth and are inconclusive.

Bill Wright,
grandson of Inez Iola Fees.