Samson (Y-DNA)

From Mayflower DNA
Revision as of 17:42, 6 November 2020 by Wing genealogist (Talk | contribs) (Second Generation)

Jump to: navigation, search

Status summary

As of January 11, 2016:

  • Recruiting Samson for Y Elite test

Paper trail

English Ancestry

TAG 56:141-43 proposes where John Sampson was the paternal grandfather of Pilgrim Henry Samson. John is said to have had eight children baptized in Campton, Bedfordshire, England, but the names of the father were only included for the last three children.

James Sampson was the second Sampson son (and second child) found in the Campton parish register. James was baptized 20 Jun 1574 and was buried at Henlow, Bedfordshire on 2 Feb 1638/9. James married at Henlow 20 Mar 1599/1600 to Martha Cooper.[1] James and Martha had eleven children with their second child being Henry.

First Generation

Henry Samson was baptized at Henlow, Bedfordshire, England 15 Jan 1603/4, son of James Sampson and Martha Cooper.[2] He died at Duxbury 24 Dec 1684.[3] Henry married at Plymouth 6 Feb 1635/6 Ann Plummer.[4] Henry and Ann had nine children: Stephen, John, Elizabeth, James, Hannah, ______,[5] Mary, Dorcas & Caleb

Second Generation

Stephen Samson was born about 1638 and married by 1686[6] Elizabeth _______. They had Benjamin, John, Cornelius (never married), Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth, Dorcas & Abigail

John Samson was born about 1640 and died between 1702-1718, unmarried.

James Samson was born about 1644 and married by 1679 Hanna (_____) Wait, widow of Samuel Wait. Surviving children (from his will): Henry (executor and likely eldest son), James, Joseph, Anna (married, but no children), Penelope, Susanna & Priscilla.

Caleb Samson was born about 1664. He married twice, first about 1686 Mercy Standish (granddaughter of Pilgrim Miles Standish). Caleb married second, Duxbury 30 Jan 1728/9 Rebecca (BARTLETT) Bradford Stanford. They had David, Lora, Priscilla, Caleb, Joshua, Rachel, Ruth, Jerusha & Sarah.


  1. TAG 52:198-209 which includes her ancestry.
  2. TAG 52:206-07
  3. Duxbury published VRs:410
  4. Plymouth Colony Records 1:36
  5. called Sarah in wikipedia article of her father
  6. eldest child died 19 Apr 1758 in 72nd year.

DNA Results I-BY526

Previous Y-DNA testing

Previous Y-STR testing through the Mayflower Society[1] and the Pilgrim Henry Samson Kindred society[2] has identified a Y-STR haplotype for the Mayflower Samson lineage, which likely belongs to the I-M223 Y-DNA haplogroup. Nevgen.org further refines this prediction to fall under I2a2a M223>Z161>L801> CTS1977>> BY526 Y Elite test results will be able to confirm this and place the Samson lineage more precisely within the broader I-M223 clade.

NGS/WGS testing

NGS/WGS testing of a Y-DNA descendant of Henry Samson would likely confirm the above prediction as well as further refine the family haplogroup.


  1. https://www.familytreedna.com/public/mayflowersociety/default.aspx?section=ycolorized
  2. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~henrysamsonkindred/genealogy_dna_project.shtml

References and External links

  • Sherman, Robert Moody and Ruth Wilder Sherman, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: vol. 20 Samson General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth MA. part 1 (first four generations) 2000, part 2 (also with Jane Fletcher Fiske as compiler) 2005, part 3 (also with Jane Fletcher Fiske) 2006
  • Roser, Susan E., Mayflower Passenger References (from contemporary records & scholarly journals) [www.stewartbooks.com Stewart Publishing & Printing], Canada. Second Edition, 2015
  • The American Genealogist 52:198-209 "English Ancestry of Seven Mayflower Passengers: Tilley, Sampson and Cooper" by Robert Leigh Ward
  • The American Genealogist 56:141-43 "Henry Sampson's Paternal Grandfather" by Robert Leigh Ward
  • Pilgrim Henry Samson Kindred
  • Find A Grave memorial for Henry Samson NOTE: Henry (and wife Ann) were NOT buried at Coles Hill in Plymouth. This hill is believed to have been used only during the winter of 1620/1 (and possibly a bit later). Henry and his wife died at Duxbury and almost certainly buried there.