We have found a "cluster" of eleven yDNA samples that match. For now this cluster is designated the KF/A group. (see Chart 3)
- Five who match have pedigrees which go back to the 1737 AMISH immigrant; KF-Isaac (so designated in AAMG86, page 159)
- One has a pedigree which goes back to Isaac-1653 through KF-Isaac's brother MICHAEL.
- One has a pedigree which goes back to the 1717 MENNONITE immigrant; A-Andrew/Andreas (so designated in KCL, page 1)
- One has a pedigree which goes back to Solomon 1735 (described in Charles Fahs Kauffman's book, page 713 - Appendix S)
"Solomon was a member of the GERMAN REFORMED Church in York Co., PA, and many of his children were members of the Moravian Church. Yet through the DNA Project, we discovered that Solomon is related to Amishman Isaac Kauffman's lineage (and of course, Mennonite Andrew Kauffman's line as well). This was an important and unexpected discovery." (Ellen Levy)
- Three others match this cluster, with lesser knowledge of their pedigrees (see note below).
There is a bit of church history involved here. The Anabaptist group developed in Switzerland. Later, under the leadership of Menno Simons, from northern Germany, part of the Anabaptist group became known as "Mennonite". Around 1690 a leader named Jacob Amman attempted to lead a "reformation" within the Swiss Mennonite group. The result of that was the formation of a group which took the name "Amish" after Jacob AMMAN. In 1700 there were "Mennonites" in Switzerland and there were "Amish". But the official state church was "Swiss Reformed". Both the Mennonites and the Amish were considered to be undesireable citizens by the Swiss authorities because they would not align themselves with the Swiss Reformed. As a result many of them moved out of Switzerland, to Montbeliard in France, Alsace-Lorraine, Bavaria, and the Palatinate in Germany. Later many of these people immigrated to America. Some came directly from Switzerland to America.
Our DNA project seems to reflect the upheavals resulting from this religious division, with each of the three "Swiss" Christian denominations showing up in our tests in today's families in America.
Regarding the "three others":
One has a pedigree that goes back to a "John Caughman/Coffman (abt. 1725-abt. 1804)" probably from Rhineland, Palatines, Germany- associated with Virginia, Arkansas and/or Kentucky. A family researcher sent the following:
Hello,
I am related to John Nathan Caughman whose DNA results matched yours. (the
KF/A group) Thank you all for doing the DNA testing. John Nathan Caughman,
George Pierson and I have been working on this line for many years and hopefully
this will lead to a breakthrough.
I am descended from
Mary Catherine Caughman, who was my great grandmother. She was the daughter of
Nathan Caughman, who was the son of
Alfred William Caughman and the grandson of
Nathan William Caughman Sr. who was born in KY in 1792. Nathan Caughman Sr. was
the son of
John Caughman/Coffman.
Our earliest know ancestor, John Caughman, was killed on Barren Creek about
eight miles from Bowling Green, KY in 1793 when his son was a year old. This is
from a family booklet and lore. I do not know how he was killed?? drowned??
Indians?? An Amish man who built my bookshelves told me that there was an Amish
community near Bowling Green, KY. As far as any of us know, Nathan may have
been the only son of John Caughman so he might have died young, making his
possible birth c1770 and his wife's name might be Louisa Cowan/Cowen, but that
is story only and not proven. The Graham and Bloyd families helped him and he
came west to AR with them marrying one of their daughters in AR. These families
were in Green County, KY also. Given names of the sons of Nathan were Alfred
William, William, Seaborn Andrew, Nelson B., Taylor Isaac. Grandsons are named
Isaac, Amos Alfred, John Riley, and Elmer Nelson.
I have a copy of the book titled "A Genealogy and History of the Kaufman-Coffman
Families in North America 1531 to 1937 compiled by Charles Fahs Kauffman and am
reading it looking for clues. On pg. 2, A112 there is a: John Kauffman---no
trace. He is preceded by a sister born in 1769. This makes me wonder if this
is a possibility for us. The time frame is possible. These are children of
Andrew Kauffman. Are any of you descended from this line?? Please add me to
your lists of family researching this DNA group. My email is
hdilt@swbell.net and my name is Peggy Sue LaPorte. Thank you for
your time and any help we can find to connect to one another.
Best wishes,
Peggy
Peggy's last paragraph is interesting in that it suggests a possible link to the Andrew line in this cluster. Input from others is desired. Contact Peggy and/or Don Kauffman.
We await further test results from others to add to our knowledge.