First results are back from Y-DNA testing a descendant of Joseph RASEY I (husband of Mary HOLLON), of Cheshire Co., NH:

http://dgmweb.net/genealogy/DNA/Rasey/RaseyDNA-results.shtml

These results indicate he is Haplogroup I1c (a.k.a., I1b2a), which alone debunks the myth of his descent from a MACLEOD of the Isle of Raasay, Scotland, because the MACLEODs are Haplogroup R1b. Being in different haplogroups means they cannot have shared a common ancestor for thousands of years.

Our next question to be answered is whether this Joseph RASEY I is related to Joseph RAZEE I, of Rhode Island. We are currently awaiting test results of a descendant of the latter, so we will soon have an answer to that question, as well.

The haplotype of our Joseph RASEY I descendant most resembles other individuals with an English origin, which supports the genealogical evidence of RASEY origins (i.e., geographical occurrence of early records) in England, particularly in Wiltshire and Norfolk.

I strongly urge any male RASEY (or variation) to please join the project to further our knowledge of RASEY origins and connections.

Diana