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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2005-01 > 1106064455


From: Charles <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] Henry Numbers [in TMG]
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 11:07:35 -0500
References: <5.1.1.6.2.20050113002317.02b22b70@pop.seanet.com>
In-Reply-To: <5.1.1.6.2.20050113002317.02b22b70@pop.seanet.com>


Ida,

Yes, I think Genetic Genealogy will bring the Henry Number back into
vogue. I have used them for over 25 years for various uses in my
traditional genealogical research, especially as conversation breakers
at family reunions on name tags.

The Henry Number compactly, succinctly shows the direct line of descent
for a descent line and thus placing the Henry Numbers in a genetic
genealogy spreadsheet allows the viewer to easily see the relationship
between two tested male cousin's data. I think all genealogical computer
programs should offer this feature. Unfortunately, many do not. I once
used for my old PAF 2.31 software a DOS utility software done by Ann our
list moderator.

Thank you for pointing out the name of a software package that does.
However, it is fairly straight forward to calculating a few of the
numbers by hand using a simple descendant chart or register report and a
pencil to tally the number as you go down the generations from common
male ancestor to each descendant male in your project. See my Kerchner
Project table for an example of Henry numbers in use in a Surname
Project to show relationships for males known to be related via a common
male ancestor.
http://www.kerchner.com/kerchner37mkrs.htm

But note however, I would not use Henry Numbers as the only ID number
for the participant since the Henry Number can change if for example an
additional previously unknown child is found in a generation. The kit
number works better for ID purposes because it is unique and shouldn't
change. The fact that the Henry Number could change its exact absolute
number, the number of digits in the number normally won't change ... and
thus the number of Transmission Events (TE) for a male line won't
change. Unless the genealogy was very wrong and a whole new intervening
generation is discovered, which can happen in some people's early
traditional work. But finding a new child in one generation will change
the Henry Number for others males in the family, if the newly found
child was born in birth order prior to them. But again it will not
change the number of TE's which is one piece of data needed to calculate
observed Y-STR mutation rates for a surname project. The change in the
absolute number for Henry Number as more children in a generation are
found is one reason people stopped using them in general genealogical
use. But I think for genetic genealogy we should resurrect them.

For Genetic Genealogy, for showing the number of Transmission Events and
relationships between testees, the Henry Number is a very useful tool

Charles Kerchner
Emmaus PA
http://www.kerchner.com/dan-info.htm

Ida Skarson McCormick wrote:
> It is great to see the discussion of Henry numbering for use in DNA
> projects.
>
> The Master Genealogist (TMG) does various reports including the Henry
> (traditional and modified) and d'Aboville <http://www.whollygenes.com>;.
>
> For explanation of the modified Henry and other numbering systems, see
> Dick Pence's at <http://www.saintclair.org/numbers>;.
>
> --Ida Skarson McCormick, , Seattle
>
> "Ann Turner" <> wrote:
>
>> <snip>What current programs will generate a Henry
>> number report from a genealogy database?

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