Let’s open this discussion on our family DNA problem. First I will give you some background on my family’s research. My father and his sisters started researching our history as early as 1948. Two of his sisters even went to Germany on a research trip, which was fruitless. I have copies of letters from Dr. Fisher to Dad and his sisters that acknowledged we were descendents of Johann Pieter Straub. Dad’s research continued until his death in 1979, at that time my sister took over the research and later learned the wonders of the Internet. She discovered all the wonderful chat boards and a lady named Ethel Belle Stroupe who convinced her that we descended from the immigrant Matthias Stroope who was a wealthy Dutch Ironmaster. So in 2006 my sister turned over all of Dads research to me. I could see there was a difference of opinion as to which immigrant we descended from, and then I ran across the DNA project, which I immediately applied for. When the results returned we as well as Diana were shocked. It proved Dad and his sisters had it correct all the time. I matched Johann Pieter Straub’s DNA 66/67 markers. Our line is Johann Pieter Straub to Jacob Straub/Stroup I to Daniel Stroup. We are more than willing to share any and all of the documents we possess, by sharing with each other we may clear this all up.

It appears we have a problem in Adam Stroup’s line. It appears we MIGHT lose some of our relatives however some of you might not know there was a possible NPE in the Missouri Belew family and their first 12 markers matched Johann Pieter Straub, so this is another Stroup web that needs to be untangled. It appears we may pick up some more distant relatives to replace the ones we lose.

Below are some things that puzzle me and are unclear.
1. Why was Jacob II (1771) still signing his name in German script after his family was supposed to be in this country for 3 generations? He did so on his marriage bond in 1790 to Betsy Dellinger. Now if he descended from Matthias he would have been 5th generation, which makes even less sense.

2. In the book “The History of Coal and Iron in Alabama” written by Ethel Armes in 1910, she talks about Jacob II (1771) father being named David. Did she know something we are unaware of? There is also this same reference in the book “The Iron Man of Georgia” but I think this was taken from Ethel Armes book.

3. In one of Ethel Belle Stroupe’s last post before she passed away she mentioned a complete different line from a David Stroup. Maybe one day we will discover what Ethel found.

In closing I can only say we need to approach these DNA problems with a open mind and work together to figure this maze. It is very difficult for me to argue with DNA results. I find those results more creditable than Internet posts that are made on assumptions and family tales and without foundation. As I previously stated, I am willing to share all information I have except information that has been requested to be kept private.

Mike Stroupe