Note: Values reported from other labs have been converted to the reporting system used by Relative Genetics. Values in parenthesis are the raw values from the other labs. As DNA science advances, different labs chose different markers for analysis; in particular, only 26 markers in FTDNA’s 35-marker test are the same as in Relative Genetics’ 35-marker test, hence we compare x/26 rather than x/37.

“Updated SMGF conversion factors were used resulting in no conversion factor applied to marker DYS394/19” for test results added after the data denoted by note # 22. If you want to contact the person who provided the test samples in any column, to possibly exchange family information, please contact Walt Seelye at dna@seeley-society.net

(Depending on your screen settings, there may be more columns to the right. Slide the scroll bar at the bottom of the screen to see them. Because the data table was getting too wide, it has been split into three tables, one for each of the immigrants, plus one for other lines.)

Markers highlighted in yellow are “multiple markers.” A difference in one or more values in a set of values for one of these multiple markers counts as only one mutation since they are inherited together.

Results Matching the Nathaniel DNA Profile

Number of Differences Among Seeley DNA Test Subjects
(Markers, Total Differences*)
(37 Marker Tests Only)

Color Legend:

Purple title colors for N01 through N06 indicate a known lineage to Nathaniel through other documentation

Green cells indicate markers where Nathaniel differs from Obadiah

Tan cells match neither Obadiah nor Nathaniel

Yellow marker groups (i.e. 385, 459, & 464) only count as one marker each

Labs:

Her: DNA Heritage (now Family Tree DNA)

Rel: Relative Genetics

SMGF: Sorenson Molecular Genetics Laboratory

FT: Family Tree DNA

Ox: Oxford Ancestors

Lineage

N01: 1-Nathaniel, 2-Benjamin, 3-John, 4-Joseph, 5-Justus, 6-Orange
N02: 1-Nathaniel, 2-Benjamin, 3-John, 4-Joseph, 5-Justus, 6-Justus Azel, 7-Justus Wellington
N03: 1-Nathaniel, 2-Benjamin, 3-John, 4-Joseph, 5-Justus, 6-Justus Azel, 7-William Stuart, 8-William Moroni
N04: 1-Nathaniel, 2-Benjamin, 3-John, 4-Joseph, 5-Justus, 6-Justus Azel, 7-William Stuart, 8-Joseph Nephi
N05: 1-Nathaniel, 2-Benjamin, 3-John, 4-Joseph, 5-Justus, 6-Justus Azel, 7-William Stuart, 8-William Stuart
N06: 1-Nathaniel, 2-Benjamin, 3-John, 4-David
N07: 1-William Seeley (c1816,NY), 2-George W. Seeley (1841-1908)
N08: Ezra D. Seeley (1795/9-1864) descendant
N09: John B. Seeley (1835 NY-1903 IL) descendant
N10: Samuel Seelye (1778 VT-1854 KY) descendant
N11: John Seelye (1751 NJ-1825 NJ) descendant
N12: Samuel Seeley (c1770, d. Venango Co.,PA) descendant
N13: 1-Nathaniel, 2-John (Y020)
N14: Alfred E. Seeley (1864-1954) Boscobel, WI
N15: Stephen J. Seeley (1791-1864), Lyman Seeley (1814-1902), George H. Seeley (1848-1938)
N16: 1-Nathaniel, 2-Benjamin, 3-John, 4-Justus, 5-Ebenezer, 6-Elanson, 7-Ebenezer, 8-Frank Adelbert Seely
N17: G-G-G-Grandfather John Seeley, G-G-Grandfather Justus Seeley (1840-1887), G-Grandfather Colin Seeley (1871-1955)
N18: Jonathan, Bartholomew Seelye (1828-1884), Commodore Perry Seelye (1859-1931),
N19: 1-Nathaniel, 2-Nathaniel, 3-James, 4-Nathan, 5-Seth, 6-Nathan, 7-Seth
N20: Frederick Seelye, Horace A. Seelye, Fred Seelye

Results Matching the Obadiah DNA Profile

Color Legend:

Purple title colors for O01 through O04 indicate a known lineage to Obadiah through other documentation

Blue cells indicate differences between Obadiah and Nathaniel

Tan cells match neither Obadiah nor Nathaniel

Yellow marker groups (i.e. 385, 459, & 464) only count as one marker each

Labs:

Her: DNA Heritage (now Family Tree DNA)

Rel: Relative Genetics

SMGF: Sorenson Molecular Genetics Laboratory

FT: Family Tree DNA

Ox: Oxford Ancestors

Lineage

O01: See footnote 1
O02: 1-Obadiah, 2-Jonas, 3-Ebenezer, 4-Jonas
O03: 1-Obadiah, 2-Obadiah (Y7409)
O04: 1-Obadiah, 2-Jonas, 3-Eliphalet, 4-Wyx
O05: Obadiah … Augustus (b. c1739) … James
O06: Obadiah … William (b 1780 CT) … Charles
O07: William A. (1778-1858) Wells Twp, Bradford Co., PA
O08: DeForest Bowen (1840-1903)
O09: Austin (b. MA) … John B. (b 1843 Cape Breton, NS)
O10: Alfred (1806-1897), Ethan (c1862-1966)
O11: Allen SGS#3733, Judson Delos (1857-1929), Lee Marcus (b1874)
O12: Obadiah…Sylvanus b 1746, Sylvanus b 1776, Willam b 1803, Philetus R. b 1843, Wm H. b 1867, James H. b 1899

Results Not Matching the Nathaniel or Obadiah DNA Profiles

Color Legend:

These pairs are considered as one for match/mismatch

Nathaniel profile

Obadiah profile

Apparent mutation

Labs:

Her: DNA Heritage (now Family Tree DNA)

Rel: Relative Genetics

SMGF: Sorenson Molecular Genetics Laboratory

FT: Family Tree DNA

Ox: Oxford Ancestors

X01: Henry Seeley/Silley (b. c1833, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England)
X02: Isaac Joseph Seely (b. 1837, Chester, Meigs Co., OH)
X03: Samuel Seley, b. c1793 VT, M. Charlotte Moore, lived Cambridge, VT
X05: Descendant of Captain Cutting Cilley
X07: Samuel, James b 1876 NY, James b 1904 NY

* Mutation “Steps” – total change in number of STR’s.
The Nathaniel and Obadiah Profiles differ from each other by 13 markers and 14 mutation steps.

Interpretation of Results

Family Tree DNA provides a table for evaluating the significance of 37 marker matches. It should help in the understanding of the above results.

The first Seeley DNA Project showed that there are very different DNA patterns for the descendants of Obadiah Seeley and Nathaniel Seeley, indicating that they were not closely related as was once thought (they had been assumed to be brothers by many people). The purpose of this additional testing is to better define the patterns, and to establish a database for researchers to use to help them find their unknown ancestry. Six Seeley descendants of unknown lineage have been tested so far. Two were found to be from the Obadiah line, and three were from the Nathaniel line. One of the subjects is apparently not descended from or related to either immigrant.

Conclusions:

The subjects tested thus far fall into one of three DNA profiles: Nathaniel, Obadiah, and Henry of Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England. There are no exact matches between any of the test subjects with the 37 marker tests, but there are exact matches with the less sensitive 9 or 12 marker tests.

The “Nathaniel” and “Obadiah” 37 marker profiles found in this testing indicate that there are 12 single step differences and one two-step difference separating them. This suggests that there are a very large number of generations between them and any possible common ancestor. These results clearly that they are not related within any “genealogically significant” time frame (since surnames came into use).

Four of the six subjects with a 37-marker “Obadiah Profile” differ from the presumed “Obadiah Profile” by two single-step differences, one (40466) had two single-step differences plus a two-step difference, and two had only one single-step difference. None match it exactly. A one, two or three single-step difference in the subjects tested is well within the expected range of mutations anticipated given the number of generations between the test subjects and Obadiah, their immigrant ancestor.

Three of the subjects with a 37-marker “Nathaniel Profile” matches this profile exactly. The other three differ from the profile by one single-step difference (with a different mutation for each subject).

There are five Seeley/Seely subjects in the SMGF database. Four are fairly close relatives of each other. Two show a single difference from the standard Nathaniel profile and the other two match it exactly. The other does not match either profile. This would be due to an error in their reported lineage, as that subject claims a lineage from a line related to the others in that database.

Austin and his son John B. Seeley (born 1843 in NS) were apparently descendants of Obadiah, matching the pattern on 12 of 12 markers.

The DeForest Bowen Seeley (b. 20 Sep 1840 Wellsboro, Tioga Co, PA) descendant matches the Obadiah profile with only one single step mutation difference from the standard Obadiah profile. He is only one mutation away from test subject 22678, who has a known lineage of 1-Obadiah, 2-Jonas, 3-Ebenezer, 4-Jonas. This suggests (but does not prove) that he may be related to that line.

William A. Seeley (1778-1858) was also apparently an Obadiah descendant. Two single-step mutations plus one two-step mutation are within the range of the expected number of mutations in that number of generations since Obadiah’s generation.

Augustus Seeley and William Seeley (b. 1780 in CT) were also apparently Obadiah descendants, with two mutations in the 37-marker test. They are closer matches to each other than the other Obadiah descendants, which may indicate they share a closer relationship.

Ezra D. Seeley, John B. Seeley (born 1835 in NY), Samuel Seelye, and John Seeley (1751-1825 in NJ) are all apparently Nathaniel descendants, each with one mutation in the 37-marker test.

23933, a descendant of Henry Seeley/Silley of Fordingbridge and Rochdale, England, does not share a recent common paternal ancestor with either Obadiah or Nathaniel.

Isaac Joseph Seely has been reported as a descendant of Obadiah. The DNA profile for the person tested from that line does not match either the Obadiah or Nathaniel DNA profile. This can be due to various factors, however, a “paternity error” such as adoption, or illegitimate birth is the most likely cause.

For those individuals whose lineage back to the immigrant is not known, there is another possibility to consider when evaluating your DNA scores. There is a small but real possibility that you could be descended from another Seeley who was related to either the Robert-Nathaniel line or the Obadiah line without actually being a descendant of one of these immigrants. Your immigrant could have been a cousin on one of those lines. This especially true if your Seeley immigrant came to North America after Robert and Obadiah arrived here from England.

———————–

Reporting of results by DNA Heritage is different from Relative Genetics. Conversions are to the right of the table.

Footnotes

1. There were two individuals named William Seeley who are not definitively placed in the Seeley lineage. These two Williams fit in one of these lineages (the numbers are the SGS numbers assigned for each person):
   First Line: Obadiah 4, Jonas 19, Ebenezer 63, Nathaniel 189, Samuel 501, William 1692, or
   Second Line: Obadiah 4, Jonas 19, Samuel 59, Joseph 182, Samuel 467, William 1595.
2. Values from the first SGS DNA project, data from Oxford Ancestors.
3. Values from the first SGS DNA project, data from Family Tree DNA.
4. Data from the study conducted by the Sorenson Molecular Genetics Foundation. The values are from an anonymous descendant of Don Carlos SEELY, b. 4 Jan 1846, Nashville, Lee Co., IA [died about Dec 1900 in or around Castle Dale, Emery Co., UT.
5. SGS member descended from John Byron Seeley, born in Malaquanatch, Island of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, December 5, 1843, died Nov. 8, 1926 in Olympia, WA. John B. Seeley was a son of Austin Seeley, born in MA, died before 1860, and Lucy Vaughn, born about 1818 in Canada, died after 1880. Lucy was living widowed in Princeton, Bureau Co., IL in 1860. By 1870 Lucy had remarried to Nathan E. Prout and was living in Johnson Co., IA. She and Nathan were still living there in 1880. The DNA testing was done by FamilyTreeDNA.
6. SGS member descended from Ezra D. Seeley, born 1797/99 in either Canada or Vermont. Ezra died on 19 Dec 1864 in Princeton, Mercer County, MO. He married first, Susan Boyce, and second Eliza Jane Bradford. He is not the same person as Ezra D. Seeley (SGS# ?865).
7. Data from the study conducted by the Sorenson Molecular Genetics Foundation. The values are from an anonymous descendant of Artie J SEELY, born 20 Dec 1894, Mount Pleasant, Sanpete Co., UT; died 27 Jun 1984, Cardston, Alberta, Canada. Values for DYS459 a & b could not be determined from the SMGF online database.
8. Augustus Seeley was born in New England about 1739. He joined the New York Provincials in Queen’s Co. N.Y. at age 19, listing his occupation as a hatter. He is listed again in the Muster Rolls in Albany Co in 1761. As a Loyalist he went to Upper Canada with Sir John Johnston, receiving land grants in Lancaster, Upper Canada, but settled in Elizabethtown, now Brockville Ontario. His parents have never been located.Augustus had two sons, James and Joseph and several daughters. His daughter Sarah married Hazard Wilcox Jr., they eventually went to Utah with the Pioneers. Two of their children, Clarissa Jane and John H. O. Wilcox married children of Justus Azel and Mehitable Seelye, Justus Azel Seelye Family Organization (JASFO). Many of the JASFO members descend from both Nathaniel, Seeley Genealogical Society SGS # 2 and Augustus Seeley, who is not listed in the SGS Books. His family is contained in the Seeley File.
9. Descendant of John B. Seeley, born 3 Jun 1835 in Niagara Co., NY; died 14 Jun 1903 in Prairie City, McDonough Co., IL. Married Sarah Elizabeth Miller, who was born 1837 in Canada.
10. Descendant of Henry Seeley/Silley, born about 1833 in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England. Died about Sep 1895 in Rochdale, Lancashire, England. Married Hannah Powell.
11. Descendant of Samuel Seelye, b. 6 Aug 1778, VT, d. 27 Apr 1854, Greenup, KY. Samuel married, in Whitehall, NY in 1802, Electa Fuller, b. 19 Jun 1783 or 1785, d. 14 Apr 1871, OH.
12. Data from the study conducted by the Sorenson Molecular Genetics Foundation. The values are from an anonymous descendant of Dean Winters Seeley born 31 Jan 1891 Indianola, Sanpete, Utah,died 31 Jul 1969 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah; m. 25 Apr 1917, Margaret Luella Abegglen.
13. Data from the study conducted by the Sorenson Molecular Genetics Foundation. The values are from an anonymous descendant of John Thomas Seely, b. 13 Oct 1887, Mt. Pleasant, UT; m. Mary Ellen Terkelsen.
14. Descendant of John Seeley, born 13 Aug 1751 (birthplace unknown), died 29 Apr 1825 in Middletown Twp., Monmouth Co., NJ. Married 1st (abt 1773) Phoebe Truex/Truax, and 2nd (abt 1797) Hannah Dianna Yeomans.
15. Descendant of William Seeley (b. 1780 Waterbury CT?; d. 22 Sept 1854 Meriden, CT) m. Patty (possibly Clark) (b. 1777/1778 d. 1869, Waterbury CT).
16. Descendant of William A. Seeley (1778-1858) of Wells Township, Bradford County, PA.
17. Descendant of DeForest Bowen Seeley b. 20 Sep 1840 Wellsboro, Tioga Co, PA, d. 2 Nov 1903. The 1900 census (Liberty Twp., Mitchell Co., IA) shows his parents born in NY.
18. Descendant of Isaac Joseph Seely (b. 25 Aug 1837 in Chester, Meigs Co., OH and his son Arta McLean Seely (b. 3 NOV 1874 in East Millcreek, Salt Lake County, UT). Listed in the Seeley database as a descendant of Obadiah, but does not match the Obadiah or Nathaniel DNA profile. The lineage given is Arta McLean (b.1874) – Isaac Joseph (b. 1837) – William Seely (b. 1816) – Jacob Seely (b. 1786) – John Nicholas (b. 1749) – Samuel (SGS#175, b. 1710) – Samuel (b. 1687) – Jonas (b. 1653) – Obadiah.
19. Descendant of Samuel Seeley of Venango Co., PA, born about 1770, possibly in Vermont. Married Sarah (maiden name unknown). Analysis by Ancestry DNA.
20. Descendant of Orange Seelye, born 1767, Justus W. Seelye 1745, Joseph Seelye 1714, John Seelye 1684, Benjamin Seeley1657, Nathaniel Seeley 1627, Robert Seeley 1602. Testing done through DNA Heritage (actual testing done by the same company that did the testing for Relative Genetics, Sorenson Genomics).
21. Descendant of Samuel Seley, b. NY, Married Charlotte Moore. They lived in Cambridge, VT. Analysis was dome by DNA Heritage.
22. Analysis was done by the DNA Heritage laboratory. Updated conversion factors supplied by the SMGF Lab results in no conversion factor applied to DYS394/19 resulting in a 35/37 match with the Obadiah profile. Earliest known ancestor was great-great grandfather Alfred Seely, b. Southport, NY, d. Wells, PA 1897, great grandfather Ethan b. ca 1862, d. 1966. Lived in Kansas.”
23. Analysis was done by the DNA Heritage laboratory. Updated conversion factors applied to match values recommended by the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) results in no conversion factor applied to DYS394/19 resulting in a 36/37 match with the Nathaniel profile. Earliest known ancestor was grandfather Alfred E. Seeley, 1864-1954.
24. Analysis was done by the DNA Heritage laboratory. Updated conversion factors applied to match values recommended by the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) resulted in no conversion factor applied to DYS394/19 producing a 37/37 match with the Nathaniel profile. Ancestors are: g-g-grandfather George Henry Seeley (1848-1938), g-grandfather George Lyman Seeley (1881-1953), and Grandfather George Robert Seeley (1911-1986).
25. Analysis was done by the DNA Heritage laboratory. Updated conversion factors applied to match values recommended by the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) resulted in no conversion factor applied to DYS394/19 producing a 37/37 match with the Nathaniel profile. Ancestors are: g-g-grandfather Elanson Seely SGS#923 (1793-1866), g-grandfather Ebenezer Seely SGS#2549 1816-1895), and Grandfather Frank Adelbert Seely.
26. Analysis was done by the DNA Heritage laboratory. Updated conversion factors applied to match values recommended by the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) resulted in no conversion factor applied to DYS394/19 producing a 37/37 match with the Nathaniel profile. Ancestors are: g-g-g-grandfather John Seeley, g-g-grandfather Justus Seeley (1840-1887) and g-grandfather Colin Seeley (1871-1955).
27. Analysis was done by the Family Tree DNA laboratory. Ancestors are: SGS#3733 Allen Seeley, Judson Delos Seeley (1851-1929), and great grandfather Lee Marcus Seeley (b. 1874). FTDNA does not test 11 of the markers in the Obadiah or Nathaniel profiles. Markers tested but not matching were DYS-437, DYS-464, and GATA H4. Because of the number of generations between Obadiah and the male tested, the male tested is considered a descendant of immigrant Obadiah Seeley with a match of 23 of 26 markers. Note that the markers identified in yellow (i.e., 385 (two components), 459 (2 components), and 464 (4 components) only count as one marker each.

For additional information on the Seeley DNA Lineage Project, contact the SGS DNA Project Manager, dna@seeley-society.net.

We are seeking additional participants for the project – both those with known lineages who would like to confirm their “paper trail” genealogical research, and those still seeking to identify their Seeley/Seely/Seelye/Sealy/etc. ancestry. The identity of participants will not be revealed publicly, however email can be forwarded to them.

We are also very interested in having participants who are not descended from the Robert-Nathaniel or Obadiah lines. Any Seeley-surnamed (or any other spelling) males on any other Seeley line are strongly encouraged to participate. This could possibly show a genetic link to one of the other lines. It would also provide data for those people with unconnected lineages to use for comparison to their own scores. [The Seeley line that settled at the Isle of Shoals in Maine is of particular interest to an SGS member, If you decend from this line please contact the SGS DNA Project Manager.]

If you would like to contact the participants in the project for the purpose of exchanging genealogical information with them, the project manager can forward email to them [except for the SMGF participants who are unknown – if you are one of the SMGF participants, please contact the project manager].

Genealogical data on Unconnected Seeley lineages

These pages contain information on unconnected Seeley lines either involved in this project, or submitted by others interested in participating in the project. If you are related to these Seeleys or have information on any of these lines, please contact the SGS DNA Project email, to be put in contact with the person submitting the data.