WOLCOTT/WALCOTT   DNA  PROJECT

Updated June 2010

This information is intended for genealogical research purposes only and may not be used without permission, except that single copies may be printed for private use.  Questions and additions or corrections to this page may be sent to John Wolcott (johnwolcott at mail.com)

The Wolcott/Walcott/Walcutt/Wilcott/Woollacott DNA project was begun in November 2004. The purpose is to establish DNA base data for these families, to attempt to identify common ancestors, to ascertain how their DNA mutated, and to help Wolcotts, Walcotts, Wilcotts, Woollacotts, etc. find or verify their descent. We also hope to prove or disprove some relationships that have previously been conjectural. Participants are asked to use a commercial 37 marker Y chromosome test at the participant's expense. Some participants have extended their tests to 67 markers, and a few participants have extended their tests to include SNP markers. The SNP markers show us that Wolcotts descended from Henry of Windsor, John of Watertown, and Samuel of Shrewsbury, who all share similar markers, are of Anglo-Saxon descent, as are the Maryland Wolcots and Walcutts and the genetically similar Massachusetts Wilcutts, who do not share a common ancestor with the Connecticut and Massachusetts Wolcotts. DNA of the Shropshire Walcot and Devonshire Woollacott members of our project shows a Celtic descent, but their markers are sufficiently different that two different original ancestors are indicated. All our Walcott participants have tested as being of Nordic descent, probably from two different original ancestors. Thus it appears likely that there may be as many as seven different original ancestors of participants in our project.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS:

Twelve participants have now exended their tests to 67 markers. Those tests of descendants of John and Henry are identical except for the 8th from last markers which are different in John and Henry's descendant, possibly another differentiation between these two branches.

Test results for a descendant of Reuben Wilcott/Wolcott of Delaware, said to be son of Joseph Wilcott/Wolcott of Delaware, indicate that this family, too, is descended from the Wolcotts of Brookfield, Massachusetts. Descendants of Thomas Wilcutts of North Carolina show similar DNA. We suspect that Joseph may have been a brother of John Wolcott of Bald Eagle, Pennsylvania, and Thomas, his son. This is based totally on the DNA evidence, with no historical evidence to support it. We are, therefore, moving them to the John of Watertown group.

CURRENT RESULTS:

Most of our participants, Wolcotts, Wilcotts, Willcutts, Walcuts, and Woollacotts, fall into a classification of Group R1b,Western European (Celtic or Anglo-Saxon).   Many are close enough together to have a single common ancestor. That common ancestor appears to have been Ralph Wolcott of Devonshire, born c.1330, probable ancestor of a participant whose extended testing shows a Group R1b1b2a1a4 (Anglo-Saxon) origin.  Our one sample from a descendant of the Walcots living in Shropshire in the 14th century also has had extended testing which shows a Group R1b1b2a1b5 (Celtic) descent, indicating a another ancestral source.   The Maryland Wolcotts are also of Group R1b1b2a1b5 (Celtic) descent, but of sufficient difference to show descent from an unknown third original ancestor. Most of our participants with the Walcott surname are in a different classification, Group I1 (Nordic), and descend from one of more additional early ancestors, probably from Eastern England where many Danes settled shortly before the Norman Conquest.

We are using the most common DNA markers of most Wolcott participants as our Wolcott "norm".  For privacy, exact numbers of the norm are shown here as "X", broken into groups of 10 Xs for legibility.  Participant's variations from the Wolcott norm are shown as + or - numbers, with the total variations being shown following. Most participans are descendants of either Henry Wolcott or his 3rd cousin John Wolcott. The 35th marker for these two families generally has a 2 point difference between descendants of Henry and John. We have used Henry's 35th marker for our norm, although it does skew the number of variations in John's descendants.

1. Many participants are descendants of Henry Wolcott (1579-1655), who immigrated from Somerset to America in 1630, and settled at Windsor CT.. These participants show a close DNA relationship. Most share the variation in the 3rd from last marker that differentiates them from descendants of John of Watertown MA. Henry's descendants make up about 70% of all American Wolcotts.
 
G. F. W., descendant of Henry/Henry/Samuel/Samuel/Samuel Wolcott:
XXXXXXXX-1X  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXX 1 var.
M. F. W., descendant of Henry/Henry/Samuel/Samuel/Samuel Wolcott:
XXXXXXXX-1X  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXX 1 var.
R. G. W., descendant of Henry/Henry/Samuel/Samuel/Samuel Wolcott:
XXXXXXXX-1X  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXX 1 var.
J. W. Wolcott, descendant of Henry/Henry/Samuel/Samuel/Elisha Wolcott:
XXXXXXXX-1X  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXX-1XXXXX  XXXXXXX 2 var.
R. J. W., descendant of Henry/George/George/George Wolcott
XXXXXXXXXX  XX+1XXXXXXX  XXXXX+1XXXX  XXXXXXX 2 var.
R. L. W., descendant of Henry/George/George/Joshua
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXX 0 var.
D. L. W., descendant of Henry/George/John/Noah Wolcott
XXXXXXXXXX  XX+1XXXXXXX  XXXXXXXX-2-1  XXXX+1XX 5 var.
E. S. W., descendant of Henry/George/John/Noah Wolcott
XXXXXXXXXX XX+1XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX-1  XXXX+1XX 3 var.
T. B. W. , descendant of Henry/George/John/Noah Wolcott
XXXXXXXXXX XX+1XXXXXXX XXX-1XXXXX-1  XXXX+1XX 4 var.
M. L. W., descendant of Henry/Simon/Henry/Henry/Henry Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXX-1  XXX+1XXX 2 var.
G. M. W., descendant of Henry/Simon/Henry/Thomas/Thomas Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXX-1X 1 var.
Jo. B. W., descendant of Henry/Simon/Henry/Thomas/Thomas Wolcott:
XXXXXXXX-1X  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXX+1  XXXXXXX 2 var.
T. P. W., descendant of Henry/Simon/Henry/Thomas/Thomas Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXX-1XXXXX  XXXXX-1X 1 var.
K. E. W., descendant of Henry/Simon/Henry/Thomas/Thomas Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXX-1XXXXX  XXXXX-1X 1 var.
R.M.W., descendant of Henry/Simon/Roger/Roger/ Epaphras
XXXXXXXXX+1 X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXX_ ________XX 2 var,
Ja. B. W. descendant of Henry/Simon/Roger/Alexander Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX +1XXXXXXXXX X+1X+1XX 3 var.
E. A. W. descendant of Henry/Simon/Roger/Alexander Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXX+1+1XX 2 var.

2. Descendants of Samuel Wolcott (1630-1687), who immigrated from Devonshire to New Jersey in 1660, have very similar DNA results to the descendants of the Henry Wolcott, with the same variation in the 3rd to last marker, but the exact relationship is still unknown.

E. F. W., descendant of Samuel/Peter/Benjamin/Benjamin/Peter Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXX-1  XXXXXXX 1 var.
J. M. W., descendant of Samuel/Peter/Benjamin/Benjamin/Benjamin Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XX-1XXXX 1 var.
M. R. Wolcott descendant of Samuel/Peter/Benjamin/Benjamin/Amos Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX XXX__XXX_X XXXXXXXXX_ ______X 0 var.

3. Descendants of John Wolcott of Newbury (c.1635-1690), son of John Wolcott of Watertown, (1599-1638), third cousin of Henry Wolcott, the immigrant, show the Wolcott norm with a third from last marker that is 2 steps above the CT/NJ Wolcotts markers. This group includes the Pennsylvania Wolcotts, believed connected as described in the article, "The Illusive Wilcotts", found on the "Descendants of John Wolcott of Watertown" page at this web site, and the Delaware and North Carolina Wilcotts.

D. J. W., descendant of John/John/John/John/John/Timothy Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXX+2XX 2 var.
J. W. W., descendant of John/John/John/John/John/Solomon Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXX+1  X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXX-1XXXXX  XXXX+2XX  4 var.
C. R. W., descendant of John, John, John, Nathaniel, John Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXX-1X+2XX  3 var.
C. W. Wo., descendant of John, John, John, Nathaniel, John Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXX+1XX  XX-1XXXXXXX  XX+1X+2XX  5 var.
J. E.W., descendant of John, John, John, Nathaniel, John Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXX+2XX  2 var.
J. R. D. W., descendant of John, John, John, John, John2, Abner Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXX+1  X+1XXXXXXXX  +1XXX-1XXXXX  XXXX+2XX  6 var.
C. R. W descendant of John, John, John, John, John2, Abner Wolcott:
XXXXXX+1XX+1  X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX XXXX+2XX  4 var.
P. W. W., descendant of John, John, John, John, John2, Silas Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXX+1  X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX XXXX+3XX  5 var.
S. W. W., descendant of John, John, John, John, John2, Silas Wolcott:
XXXXXXXXX+1  X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  X+1XX+2XX 5 var.
R. M. W., probable descendant of John, John, John, John, John2, John Wolcott
XXXXXXXXX+1  X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX _____XX  2 var.
D. R. W., descendant of John, John, John, John, John2, Barnabus Wolcott
XXXXXXXXX+1  X+1XXXXXXXX  X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXX+2XX  5 var.
C. W. Wi., descendant of John, John, John, John, ?, Elijah Wi.
XXX+1XX+1XX+1  X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX XXXX+2XX  6 var.
G. D. W., descendant of John, John, John, John, Joseph?, Thomas Willcutts of NC (1758-1825):
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXX+2XX  2 var.
J. F. W., descendant of John, John, John, John, Joseph?, Thomas Willcutts of NC (1758-1825):
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXX+2XX  2 var.
W. R. W., descendant of John, John, John, John, Joseph?, Reuben Wilcott of DE (1761-1854)
XXXXXXXXXX  XX+1XXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXX+2XX 3 var.

4. Three other participants, descendants of Samuel Wolcott of Charleston MA (c.1700-1773), appear to be related to the above groups, but the relationship is unknown. Extended tests indicate they are probably descendants of Henry Wolcott of Windsor CT.

G. B. W., descendant of Samuel, Samuel, Jesse, CalvinWolcott :
XXXXXXXX+1X  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXX-2  X+2XX+3XX 8 var.
Je. B. W., descendant of Samuel, Samuel, Jesse Wolcott
XXXXXXXX+1X  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXX+1XXX _____XX  2 var.
J. C. Wolcott, descendant of Samuel, Samuel, Jesse Wolcott
XXXXXXXX+1X  XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX  1 var.

5. Four participants are quite different from those above and almost identical to each other. They probably share a common ancestor, John Woolcott (c.1630-c.1669) who immigrated to Maryland in 1649. The extended test of one participant shows them to be of Celtic ancestry and not related to the above families.

J. R. W. descendant of John Woolcott of MD (c.1630-1669):
X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXX+2XX  XXX-1-2X+2XX-1  X+1-1XXXX 10 var.
L. E. W, descendant of John Woolcott of MD (c.1630-1669):
X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXX+2XX  XXX-1-2X+2XX-1  X+1-1XXXX 10 var.
W. D. W., descendant of Philip Willcutt of MA (1690-1771):
X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXX+2XX  XXX-1-2X+2XX-1  X+1-1X+1XX 10 var.
J. M. W., descendant of Philip Willcutt of MA (1690-1771):
X+1XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXX+2XX  XX-1-1-2X+2XX-1  X+1-1XXXX 10 var.

6. DNA results from two descendant of the Woollacotts of Devonshire show some similarity to the descendants of John of MD above, including a Celtic origen.
A. W., descendant of JohnWoollacott of High Bickington (1695-1737)
X+1+1XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX +5X-1X-2X+1XX-2 +1+3-2+2XXX 21 var.
C. J. W., descendant of Henry Woollacott of London (1905-1945)
X+1X+1+1XXXXXX XX+1X-1XX+1XX +1X-1X-2-1+1XX-2 X+3X+1XXX 17 var.

7. DNA from a descendant of the Shropshire Walcots shows considerable variation from the Wolcott norm, and a Celtic origin, as would be expected by their history of a Welch descent. Their test indicates a seperate historical ancestor fromany of the above Wolcotts. It was once thought that the Wolcotts had descended from the Walcots, but the DNA evidence is to the contrary.
J. H. W., descendant of the Shropshire Walcots:
X+2XX+2X-1XXX  XXXXXXX+1XX  +2-1-1-1-3 X+1XX-1X+3+1+2XXX   22 var.

8. Ten participants fall within a separate genetic group, Group I1, which in England indicates early Danish or Norman origins. The family probably originated in eastern England where these invaders settled.

The first seven are descendants of William Walcott who immigrated to Salem MA in 1636. We here use a norm based on the most common results for descendants of William of Salem.

M. C. W., descendant of William, Jonathan, John, Jonathan:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXX-1  XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX 1 var.
T.B.W., descendant of William, Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonathan
XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX no var.
J. E. W., descendant of William, Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonathan:
XXXXXXXXXX   XXXX+1XXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX 1 var.
M. S. W., descendant of William, Jonathan, Jonathan, Joseph:
XXXXXXXXXX   XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XX+1X+1XX 1 var.
W. A. W., descendant of William, Jonathan, Jonathan, Stephen:
XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX no var.
M. E. W., descendant of William, Jonathan, William, Benjamin:
XXXXXXXXXX   XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX XXX+1XXX 1 var.
W. S. W., descendant of William, Jonathan, William, Benjamin:
XXXXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX+1XXX-----XX 1 var.

The other two each show 9 variations from William's descendants, but only 4 variations between each other, indicating a possible common ancestor between the two, and probably a different ancestor than for William of Salem:

R. I. W., descendant of Eyare Walcott of Barbados (1615-1671):
X+1XX+1+1XXXX   XXXXX-1XXXX  X+1XX+1XX-1XXX   +1XXXX+1X.
D. T. W., descendant of Thomas Walcot of  Hampshire c1680-1722:
+1 +1XX+1XXXXX  XXXXX-1XXXX  X+1XX+1XX-1XXX    X-1XXX+1X

ANOMOLIES, with broken DNA lines of male descent due to adoption, illegitimacy, etc., occur in four test participants who did not carry Wolcott or Walcott DNA. Test evidence indicates that one of these had a paternal ancestor who was a members of the Blinn family which twice married female descendants of George Wolcott, son of Henry the immigrant.  We believe that the broken line was George Wolcott, 1747-1809, probably son of a Wolcott mother and Blinn father, adopted by her Wolcott parents.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROJECT:

Additional participants are needed to verify some DNA lines. We invite any male Wolcott, Walcott, Walcutt, Woollacott, Willcutt, Wilcott, etc. to participate.   Charles Wolcott, 10 Marilane St., Houston TX 77007, is in charge of the project. His email address is cwwolcott@gmail.com. If you are interested in participating in this test, please let Charles know. You should also give him your Wolcott/Walcott/Wilcott line of descent as far back as you know it. We will be happy to assist you in connecting your genealogical line with known Wolcott/Walcott/etc. family data. For this assistance please contact John Wolcott, johnwolcott@mail.com. If you participate, Charles will receive the results of your test to be used for comparison with others. Your information will be used only for the purpose of this genealogical project, and only initials for first names will be used in published results.

We are using the Family Tree DNA testing program, and are testing for the Y chromosone only. The Y chromosone is the male chromosone, and traces male descent only. For this reason, only males in a direct Wolcott/Walcott line can participate. There is a charge by the laboratory to process your DNA sample, but no other cost for participating in this all-volunteer effort run entirely by participants in the project.

You can register yourself and order a DNA kit by going to www.familytreedna.com/, then clicking on "Surname Projects", then on "W", and then on "Wolcott". At the bottom of that page is an order form that will allow you to join the Wolcott Surname Project and order a test kit from FTDNA. You may take the 25 marker YDNA test currently priced at $148, but prefer the 37 marker YDNA test at $189. The procedure is easy. You will receive a kit in the mail containg two swabs and two containers for returning them. Swab the inside of your cheek vigorously, wait 8 hours and do it again with the other swab, and return them to the test lab. You will be advised of the results. Lab processing usually takes over one month.

END OF FILE;return to Wolcott starting page.