by Robert Inhoff, GGFA Webmaster For several years part of my research has focused on Licking County, Ohio, about 30 miles east of Columbus. There my 3rd Great Grandfather, Abner Goff and his father, Daniel purchased 200 acres for $1,000 in 1813 after moving from Clarendon, Rutland, Vermont. In a […]
An Irish Goff Family in Missouri?
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy A post on the GGFA Facebook site read, “My father is Ralph E. Goff, grandfather is James E. Goff and my elusive great grandfather is Samuel Goff. By his [death certificate] his mother’s name is Mary Weddell but doesn’t know his […]
The Ambitious Enumerator
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy In the United States, it can be a challenge to find a precise date of birth for 19th century ancestors. The 1900 U. S. Federal census marked the first time that the month and year of birth is available nationwide. But […]
Irish Gough Family Comes Into Focus
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy As of April 2023, 34 genetically distinct Goff, Gough and other surname variants have been proven through YDNA. At least 10% of these families trace to Ireland. Genealogy research in Ireland is particularly challenging for several reasons. First, most 19th century […]
Who was in Receipt of Pistol Contents?
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy On “July 2d, [1842, a] recontre took place in Carthage between Mr. A. C. Sharkey and Mr. George Goff, in which the latter received the contents of a loaded pistol in the right side, just below the kidneys. – The difficulty, […]
Faulty Connection
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy A longstanding misidentification of the parents of Edward Goff (c1803 VA) of Pike County, KY, US has hampered the research into his true lineage. Background: Online family trees offer valuable clues in building one’s lineage. The downside is that errant conclusions […]
Watching the Trees Grow
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy A Chinese proverb says that “People from the past plant the tree, so we could hide in its shade.” Trees require nutrients from the soil, rain from the sky and light from the sun in order to grow. In the same […]
Anthony Goff Family of Rehoboth has YSTR Clues, Big Y 700 Will Offer Answers
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy The genetic family charts on the GGFA website hold important clues. Sometimes these charts, which are based on YSNPs and YSTRs, agree with the paper trail. The charts can also point the way to break down a brick wall. Background: On […]
Were Reports of Goff’s Death Exaggerated?
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy In 1873 in Milledgeville, GA, USA, a dispute between neighbors led to gunfire. In the aftermath, a 62-year-old Goff female was left critically injured. The news went viral, in an 18th century kind of way. The shooting victim’s father-in-law, Asa Goff […]
Early Goffe Entries in the Norfolk (UK) Record Office
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy This is the last of a ten-part series on early Goffe families in England. The Norfolk Record Office (“NRO”) maintains a database of online historical records. In Norfolk, like elsewhere in the south and east of England, Goffe is the earliest […]