View source for Ruth, wife of Helkiah Tinkham (mtDNA)

==Status summary==
===Completed as of March 3, 2023: ===
* Recruiting matrilineal (all female-line) descendants of Ruth, wife of Helkiah Tinkham for full mtDNA testing  - anyone interested in submitting their DNA for testing should contact MayflowerDNA1620@gmail.com

==Biography==
For further information see Wakefield, Robert S., F.A.S.G. ''Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Vol. 7 (Peter Brown)'' General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA 2002.
===First Generation===
The given name of the wife of Helkiah Tinkham was Ruth. [[Cooke (Y-DNA) |Jacob Cooke]] and [[Elizabeth Fisher (mtDNA)#Second Generation |Damaris Hopkins]] had a daughter named Ruth who apparently was of an age to ''possibly'' be Helkiah's wife. However, there currently is no contemporary document or source which directly or indirectly links Jacob & Damaris' daughter Ruth was the wife of Helkiah Tinkham. Targeted mtDNA testing of matrilineal descendants of Ruth, wife of Helkiah Tinkham and matrilineal descendants of Elizabeth Fisher (maternal grandmother of Ruth Cooke) would at least indirectly address this issue. A mismatch in mtDNA haplogroups would almost certainly indicate Ruth was '''not''' daughter of Jacob and Damaris, but matching haplogroups would not, by itself, '''prove''' a relationship.

Ruth died aft 2 Apr 1737 (deed). She married abt 1684 Helkiah Tinkham and they had nine children (Plymouth): Helkiah (1685), Mary (1687), John (1689), Jacob (1691), Caleb (1693), Sarah (1696-1714/5 unm.), Ebenezer (1698), Ruth (1701) and Peter (1706).

===Second Generation===
Mary Tinkham was born Plymouth 13 Aug 1687 and died there 17 Mar 1717/8 in 31st yr. She married Plymouth 19 Jan 1709/10 Ebenezer Curtis and they had four children (Plymouth): Jacob (1710), Caleb (1712-1729), Mary (1714) and Sarah (1717).

Ruth Tinkham was born Plymouth 13 Feb 1701 and died Middleborough 7 Oct 1726 in 25th yr. She married (int. Plymouth 28 Jul 1722) Ebenezer Cobb and they had two children: Ebenezer (1723/4) and Ruth (1726 likely d.y.)<ref>Ebenezer Cobb (by his second wife) named a daughter Ruth.

===Third Generation===
Mary Curtis was born Plymouth 21 Dec 1714 and died there abt 1735. She married (int. Plymouth 2 Jan 1733) Nathaniel Churchill and they had one child (Plymouth): Experience (?daughter, 1735).

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==mtDNA results  '''''TBD'''''==
To date, no known matrilineal descendants of Ruth, wife of  Helkiah Tinkham have taken a full mtDNA test and published their results. This may help determine whether Ruth was daughter of [[Cooke (Y-DNA) |Jacob Cooke]] and [[Elizabeth Fisher (mtDNA)#Second Generation |Damaris Hopkins]].<ref>If the mtDNA does ''not'' match the mtDNA of Elizabeth Fisher matrilineal descendants, it would document where Ruth was almost certainly ''not'' the daughter of Jacob & Damaris. However, a matching mtDNA result wouldn't ''automatically'' mean Ruth ''has'' to be their daughter.</ref> Matrilineal descendants are encouraged to contact MayflowerDNA1620@gmail.com

==References & External Links==
* Wakefield, Robert S., F.A.S.G. ''Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Vol. 7 (Peter Brown)'' General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA 2002.