Cousin Jack Reily’s y- DNA test indicated relatedness to a family named Burton, with exact matches for the 37 markers that were examined. Those are reasonably convincing results. Matching 37 of 37 markers yields a 95% probability that individuals have a common ancestor within the previous 7 generations, and 90 % probability within 5 generations. The y- DNA markers are passed down, intact, through the male line as are surnames in our patrilineal culture. Tracing the Burton and the Reily pedigrees back through time, one would eventually locate a single male ancestor, common to the two lineages. That common ancestor could have lived before surnames came into use, but surnames were practically universal in Britain by the 15thcentury. Over such a long time mutations in the DNA would likely cause divergence of the y- DNA signatures, and the matches between Burton and Reily y- DNA would not be so close.
My own line traces back to Robert Wesley Reily, son of Samuel Reily and Cousin Jack traces to John Young Reily, also son of Samuel Reily. As we share the same surname, with the same spelling, and our research has documented evidence for these lineages, I interpret this as confirming our pedigrees back to Samuel Reily, 5 generations, in my case. Samuel was apparently the son of Robert Reily, and in 1784 filed for administration of Robert’s estate, as nearest of kin. I have been unable to document Robert’s immigration to America or his marriage to Ann. Robert applied for and received a land grant in 1764- 65. Also, Robert Reily applied for a land grant in 1750, in the Welch Tract, where he had already begun clearing. That was located in the Pee Dee watershed, I believe. I am uncertain whether this was our Robert; our Robert’s later grants and home were on the Black River, in St. Mark’s Parish.
The Burtons who match DNA with us seem to be from Tennessee and West Virginia, with ancestral lineages that go far back, through early Virginia and to England. The DNA matches are from multiple Burton lines just as we are comparing two parallel Reily lineages. Timeline constraints make it unlikely that the surnames Burton and Reily could diverge from a single family after Samuel’s death in 1822, as both families were already well established and were branching out by that time.
If the DNA matches truly indicate a common ancestry, there were several possible scenarios. Samuel Reily or Robert or their ancestor could have been a Burton who changed his name, or was adopted into the Reily clan. It may or may not be significant that “Reily” is an English spelling of the name, although tradition holds that Robert was from County Cavan, Ireland. The Burton family was, apparently, of English extraction.
The alternative name change could have happened, as well: a Reily, related to Robert, could have become a Burton for any number of reasons. Another possibility is that Samuel or Robert sired a son who was adopted into the Burton family. Research to trace back the Burton lines from the DNA matches may be able to rule out these possibilities on the basis of time or proximity. However, this could not rule out involvement of Robert or his ancestors. Also, there were several other Reily families in South Carolina contemporary with Robert, and there were many Reily families in Pennsylvania at the time. We have not established that they were related to Robert but that certainly seems possible with the same name and same timeframe. Any of them could have had a child adopted by the Burtons.
The next research need seems to be a study of the Burton family in America and their interaction with the Reily family. That may not go back in time far enough, but it is a good starting point. In particular, tracing back from those DNA matches to a common Burton ancestor would be helpful. If those specific Burton lines converged before Samuel Reily was of reproductive age, he could be eliminated as ancestor of Burtons. Samuel would still need investigation as possible child of a Burton.
My own line traces back to Robert Wesley Reily, son of Samuel Reily and Cousin Jack traces to John Young Reily, also son of Samuel Reily. As we share the same surname, with the same spelling, and our research has documented evidence for these lineages, I interpret this as confirming our pedigrees back to Samuel Reily, 5 generations, in my case. Samuel was apparently the son of Robert Reily, and in 1784 filed for administration of Robert’s estate, as nearest of kin. I have been unable to document Robert’s immigration to America or his marriage to Ann. Robert applied for and received a land grant in 1764- 65. Also, Robert Reily applied for a land grant in 1750, in the Welch Tract, where he had already begun clearing. That was located in the Pee Dee watershed, I believe. I am uncertain whether this was our Robert; our Robert’s later grants and home were on the Black River, in St. Mark’s Parish.
The Burtons who match DNA with us seem to be from Tennessee and West Virginia, with ancestral lineages that go far back, through early Virginia and to England. The DNA matches are from multiple Burton lines just as we are comparing two parallel Reily lineages. Timeline constraints make it unlikely that the surnames Burton and Reily could diverge from a single family after Samuel’s death in 1822, as both families were already well established and were branching out by that time.
If the DNA matches truly indicate a common ancestry, there were several possible scenarios. Samuel Reily or Robert or their ancestor could have been a Burton who changed his name, or was adopted into the Reily clan. It may or may not be significant that “Reily” is an English spelling of the name, although tradition holds that Robert was from County Cavan, Ireland. The Burton family was, apparently, of English extraction.
The alternative name change could have happened, as well: a Reily, related to Robert, could have become a Burton for any number of reasons. Another possibility is that Samuel or Robert sired a son who was adopted into the Burton family. Research to trace back the Burton lines from the DNA matches may be able to rule out these possibilities on the basis of time or proximity. However, this could not rule out involvement of Robert or his ancestors. Also, there were several other Reily families in South Carolina contemporary with Robert, and there were many Reily families in Pennsylvania at the time. We have not established that they were related to Robert but that certainly seems possible with the same name and same timeframe. Any of them could have had a child adopted by the Burtons.
The next research need seems to be a study of the Burton family in America and their interaction with the Reily family. That may not go back in time far enough, but it is a good starting point. In particular, tracing back from those DNA matches to a common Burton ancestor would be helpful. If those specific Burton lines converged before Samuel Reily was of reproductive age, he could be eliminated as ancestor of Burtons. Samuel would still need investigation as possible child of a Burton.
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