Project Background

Has your Pierce genealogy research hit a brick wall?  Has the paper trail found in courthouse basements lead to a dead end?  If so, you may wish to take advantage of today's cutting edge DNA technology to jump start your research.

Participants must be male Pierces because the genetic characteristic measured (the Y chromosome) is passed along the male line from father to son.  If you are a Pierce, but are female, you may wish to recruit a male Pierce relative-- perhaps a cousin, father, brother, or uncle to participate.  The project is limited to Pierces with ancestors from northern U.S. states or those with ancestors in the U.K. who are also welcome to join. All variant spellings of the surname including Pearce, Peirce, Pearse, Pierse, and Percy may join.

To participate in the Pierce Family DNA project, please use the "Join" link on the left and complete a "Pierce Project Join Request."

After the request is received, participants will be sent a form to join the group and can order either the YDNA-12 marker test ($99), the YDNA-25 marker test ($124), the YDNA-37 marker test ($149), or the YDNA-67 marker test ($248). Participants are encouraged to select at least the YDNA-25 marker test ($124) because the results are more helpful in identifying matches with other participants.  We are currently offering to pay for a 37 marker test in full for any new U.K. participants. 

Do not hesitate to email the group administrator with any questions by clicking the email link on the left.  Also, please read the FAQs link on the left which will answer
most questions.  The test is done by a company in Houston.   Family Tree DNA's website has a wealth of information about the use of dna analysis in genealogy.  Their site is linked at the bottom of this page.


Results
Pedigrees of Participants
          Pierce Dna Project
    Northern U.S. and the U.K.
Brad Pierce
Links

1. Family Tree DNA--the Houston based company that
    does the dna testing:  http://www.familytreedna.com
 
2. Pierce Dna Southern U.S. sister site:
     http://www.piercedna.com 


3. Family Tree DNA tutorial on dna:
     http://www.familytreedna.com/tutorial_A.html
   
 
   


Email
Haplogroups in green have been confirmed by SNP testing. Haplogroups in red have been predicted by Family Tree DNA based on unambiguous results in the individual's personal page. If a "-" is in the Haplogroup field then the comparative results are not clear and unambiguous and if the kit holder wants to know their SNP with 100% confidence they may consider ordering a SNP confirmation test.
DYS 19 is also known as DYS 394. Some markers change or mutate at a faster rate than others. While that actual 'faster rate' has not yet been definitively calculated, not all markers should be treated the same for evaluation purposes.The markers in red have shown a faster mutation rate then the average, and therefore these markers are very helpful at splitting lineages into sub sets, or branches, within your family tree.Explained another way, if you match exactly on all of the markers except for one or a few of the markers that are determined to mutate more quickly, then despite the mutation this mismatch only slightly decreases the probability of two people in your surname group who match 11/12 or even 23/25 of not sharing a recent common ancestor.

*Sorenson database is an anonymous database that can be found
at http://www.smgf.org
News
Jan. 17, 2010.  A new Pierce family in group W in the unusual G haplogroup.

Aug. 22, 2009: A new Pearce family in group A.

Aug. 4, 2009:  Some group K participants (those related to Abraham Pierce of
Mass) have been moved to a new Group V.  A new match in this new group V.

July 26, 2009:  N29808 in group C has found evidence in the records
linking his family to Capt. Michael Pierce as was suggested by his dna match
with group C.

April 16, 2009: A new match in group N.

March 28, 2009:  New matches in groups H and K.

Feb. 14, 2009:  Another match in our growing group C.  This family is a descendant of Capt. Michael Pierce's son Ephraim.

Feb. 7, 2009:  We have a nice success story in group C.  The Foster family in that group knew that an unknown Pierce had given up his children for adoption
in the early 1900s in Minnesota (one of the children was adopted by a Foster family).  They matched our group C.  After further research, they were able to find the connection with group C.  They are in one of Capt. Michael Pierce's lines, thru his son Ephraim. 

Jan. 10, 2009:  Another new Percy family in new group U.

Dec. 14, 2008: A new Percy family group T added.

Nov. 22, 2008: A new match in family group N.

Oct. 31, 2008:  A new Pearse family group S added. 

Sept. 12, 2008: A new match in group K.

July 27, 2008:  New family group R added.  Our first participant with Australian
ties.  Origins from England.

July 8, 2008: A new match in Group J.  One participant currently in testing.

June 25, 2008:  A new match in Group C.  This participant's ancestor was the son of an unknown Pierce, and was born in Minnesota and adopted into a Foster family.  The point of connection with other Pierces in Group C is unknown at this time.

May 1, 2008:  Group A participant is matching those in group K after upgrading
to 37 markers.  He has been moved to group K.

April 26, 2008:  A new match in Group N.

March 10, 2008:  A new match in Group D.  This matches our first Pearse
family in the project with a Pearce family.  Both have lines in England. 
Also a new match in Group K.

Dec. 23, 2007: A new match for Group H from the Sorenson Database.

Oct. 18, 2007:  New family group P added.

Oct. 10, 2007:  Two new Percy families added.  One matching group
C and one group M. 

Sept. 2, 2007:  Another match in our large Group C.  Descendants of Capt. Michael Pierce.

April 24, 2007:  Another match in Group C.  This line descends from Capt.
Michael Pierce/Peirse

April 12, 2007:  A very interesting match.  A Percy family is matching those
in our largest group C. 

March 9, 2007:  New family group N added.

Feb 10, 2007:  New match found for family group C--a descendant of Thomas
Pierce. 

Jan 25, 2007: New family group M added.  This is a descendant of Richard
Percy of Mass.  No match found.
 
Abraham Pierce of Plymouth colony  in group K does match the family of George Peirce of Chester Co. Pa.  The common ancestor is unknown at this time.

Jan 20, 2007:  New family group L added--a descendant of Daniel Peirce of
Newbury, Mass. 

Jan. 19, 2007:  New family group K added--a descendant of Abraham Pierce
of the Plymouth Colony.  He is a tentative match with the family of George Peirce of Chester Co. Pa.

Nov. 15, 2006:  A new participant with a line to Daniel Pierce of Ipswich/Newbury Ma has joined the project.

Nov. 1, 2006:  New family group H with ancestor of Richard Pearce b. 1615 of
Rhode Island. New family group I with ancestor William Pearce b. 1655 of Maryland.  New family group J also added with ancestor John Pearce, mason
of Rhode Island, born 1632.  Some descendants of this family moved to North Carolina.

Oct. 19, 2006:  A new participant with a line to Abraham Pierce of Plymouth
Ma. has joined with results pending.

Oct. 13, 2006:  The group continues to grow.  A new member has
matched our largest group C.  He is in the line of Thomas Pierce of Charlestown, Mass. born 1583 in England.  Thomas was the ancestor of
President Franklin Pierce, so this group matches the dna profile of the President.  A Sorensen database line of Capt. Michael Pierce, born 1615 in England also matches this group.
 
**Tested at Ancestry.com


Pedigrees

  FAQs
  

Pedigrees


Join
Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group

Kit

Name  

 

 

 

 

 

Most

Distant

Ancestor

*
H
a
p
l
o

3
9
3

3
9
0

1
9

3
9
1

3
8
5
a

3
8
5
b

4
2
6

3
8
8

4
3
9

3
8
9
|
1

3
9
2

3
8
9
|
2

4
5
8

4
5
9
a

4
5
9
b

4
5
5

4
5
4

4
4
7

4
3
7

4
4
8

4
4
9

4
6
4
a

4
6
4
b

4
6
4
c

4
6
4
d

4
6
0

G
A
T
A

H
4

Y
C
A

I
I

a

Y
C
A

I
I

b

4
5
6

6
0
7

5
7
6

5
7
0

C
D
Y

a

C
D
Y

b

4
4
2

4
3
8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    A

N59154

Pearce

William 1878 Eng.

R1b1b2

13

23

14

11

12

14

12

12

14

13

13

29

17

9

10

11

11

24

15

19

29

15

16

17

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    B

N10900

Pearce

Charles1889

  New York

R1b1b2

13

24

14

11

12

14

12

12

12

12

13

28

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

16

17

11

11

19

23

17

13

17

16

36

37

12

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    C

37767

Pierce

Eliakim,

1770, Ma

R1b1b2

13

25

15

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    C

N29808

Pierce

Michael

1615 Eng.

R1b1b2

13

24

15

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

29

15

15

15

18

11

11

19

23

15

15

18

17

38

39

12

12

    C

70547

Pierce

Thomas

1583 Eng.

R1b1b2

13

24

15

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

29

15

15

15

18

11

11

19

23

17

15

18

17

38

40

12

12

    C

*Sor 1

Pierce

Michael

1615 Eng.

 

13

24

15

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

29

 

 

 

 

11

11

19

23

16

 

 

 

 

 

12

12

    C

78848

Pierce

Thomas

1583 Eng

R1b1b2

13

24

15

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

29

15

15

15

18

11

11

19

23

16

 

 

 

 

 

12

12

    C

85006

Percy

Ephraim 1751 NY

R1b1b2

13

24

15

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

29

15

15

15

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    C

87049

Pierce

Michael 1615 Eng.

R1b1b2

13

24

15

10

11

14

12

12

11

13

13

29

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

29

15

15

15

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    C

88434

Percy

Ephraim

1743 NY

R1b1b2

13

24

15

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

15

18

11

11

19

23

16

15

18

18

38

39

12

12

    C

N50840

Pierce

Michael

1615 Eng.

R1b1b2

13

24

15

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    C

118177

Foster

Michael

1615 Eng.

R1b1b2

13

24

15

10

11

14

12

12

12

14

13

30

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

29

15

15

15

18

11

11

19

23

16

15

18

18

38

39

12

12

    C

140847

Pierce

Michael

1615 Eng.

R1b1b2

13

24

15

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

29

15

15

15

18

11

11

19

23

16

15

18

18

38

39

12

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    D

N10306

Pearce

John,1635/6

CornwallUK

R1b1b2

12

24

14

11

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

17

9 

10 

11

11

25

15 

19 

30 

15

15 

16

16

11

11

19

23

16

15

19

18

37

38

12

12 

     D

107154

Pearse

Thomas

Devon, Eng

R-L21

13

24

14

11

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

15

15

16

16

11

11

19

23

16

15

19

17

37

37

12

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    E

N15039

Pierce

Benson,

NewYork

R1b1b2

13

23

14

11

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

 

17 

9 

10 

11 

11 

25 

15 

19 

30 

15 

15 

17 

18 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    F

66776

Pierce

JamesH,

NewHamp

R1b1b2

13

24

14

11

11

14

12

12