Keeley DNA project
I wanted to let everyone know about a genealogical DNA project including KEELEY and KEELY families. I'm not the one in charge of it, but wanted to spread the news because I've seen lots of success stories resulting from such DNA projects for other surnames.
A message at http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/KEELEY/2004-01/1073282030http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/KEELEY/2004-01/1073282030 explains the project, and http://www.familytreedna.com/public/coildna&fixed_columns=onhttp://www.familytreedna.com/public/coildna&fixed_columns=on shows the results obtained so far.All males with KEELEY (or similar-sounding) surnames are invited to participate.KELLY/KELLEY families have a separate project going: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kellydnaproject/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kellydnaproject/
In addition to (or instead of) participating in the Coil/Kyle/Keely FamilyTreeDNA project, FREE 43-marker genealogical dna tests are available through www.smgf.org (Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation). They are trying to build up their database so are offering what would normally be a $200 or so test, completely FREE for now. Even if a person has paid to be tested by another company they might as well request the free Sorenson kit too, to get more markers tested.
Even easier than a cheek swab; you just swish the special mouthwash around in your mouth and send it back. The only drawback with this free test is that they don't send any results directly to the participant -- however, all results go into their online database of dna-linked pedigrees, from which you can extract your own results (names of people born 1900 and later are kept private). I would be happy to help anyone extract and understand their results, if needed.
Results can also extracted and compared from www.ybase.org and www.ysearch.org and www.oxfordancestors.com databases (but no Keeleys are on there yet). The results from Sorenson take at least several months to appear in the online database, so if someone is in a hurry and is willing to spend money, it's best to go with Family Tree DNA.
My son's results should be appearing soon on www.smgf.org because he sent in his sample a few months ago.His direct paternal-line ancestor was Valentine Keeley, and my son's results should be the same or very similar to the descendant of Valentine Keely whose results are on the Coil/Kyle/Keely DNA project page, showing haplogroup R1b1b2 (an article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplogroup_R1bhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplogroup_R1b explains what this means).
I hope more Keeley/Keely males will participate.Getting participants in Europe would be especially helpful because finding genetic matches would help pinpoint the origins of Keeley immigrants to America....nearly all Keeleys & Keelys in America are either of Irish origin or German origin.My husband's ancestor Valentine Keeley's surname was originally spelled Kuhle or Kiehle or something similar.