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 […]
My Experiences With WikiTree
I was WikiTree’s top Goff contributor for the year 2021 but I’m not all that enthusiastic about this site. I thought WikiTree would be the perfect place to post my family information and pictures, particularly my two Goff lines, on a public site where a paid subscription was not required. […]
Early Goffe Entries in the Suffolk (UK) Record Office
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy This is the ninth of a ten-part series on early Goffe families in England. The Suffolk Record Office (“SRO”) maintains and grows a database of online historical records. In Suffolk, like elsewhere in the south and east of England, Goffe is […]
An Irish Goff Family in Rhode Island, USA
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy A Goff family from Ireland that settled in Rhode Island, USA in the mid-19th century faces challenges in tracing their Irish ancestry due to the loss of many Irish records of genealogical value. Using a combination of traditional records and genetic […]