Today’s narrative will be a continuation of the effort to clarify the differences of the two John Ramer families. In the event anyone might believe that John RÖMER/RAMER and Barbara BURKHOLDER of Pennsylvania are the John and Barbara RAMER of Covington County, Ala., there is another body of evidence that with absolute certainty disproves that.

Two proven descendants of John and Barbary of Covington County, Ala., have been participants in the RAMER Family DNA Project. One of these is a descendant of John William RAIMER who moved to Texas, and the other is a descendant of John RAM#R Jr. who remained in Covington County.

Four proven descendants of the same line as John RÖMER/RAMER of Pennsylvania have also tested. One is a descendant of Joseph, son of John and Barbara (nee BURKHOLDER); two are descendants of a brother of this John, Abraham RÖMER/RAMER, who moved to Markham, Ontario, and one is a descendant of a second brother of John, Philip RÖMER/RAMER, whose descendants settled in Illinois, just west of Chicago.

All six of these men were analyzed using a Y-37 protocol by Family Tree DNA. The two men descended from John and Barbary were found to be perfect matches for each other. There was more variation in the four descendants of the Pennsylvania line. as much as two degrees of difference, but all four were found to share a common ancestor.

When the men from Covington County were compared to the men from the Pennsylvania line however, the results showed that there was no common ancestor. The profiles for the two groups were different at twelve of the 37 STR-markers. In very simple terms, there is a huge difference in the genetic markers of the two groups. There is no chance that these two groups descend from a common ancestor.

So, if John RAMER of Covington is totally unrelated to the John RAMER who died in Perry County, Penn,, who were his ancestors? No one has yet found an answer from traditional genealogical research to the question of who fathered the John RAMER who was reportedly born in North Carolina. However, genetic analysis has most definitely provided strong evidence regarding the line from which he is likely descended and absolute proof regarding several men with whom descendants share a common ancestor.

As noted above the two descendants of John and Barbary are perfect matches on a Y-37. Interestingly, they are found to be matches or found to share a common ancestor with 13 other men. One of these 13 men is a proven descendant of Mathias RÖMER/RAMER of Berks County, Penn. His entire male ancestry has lived within 50 miles of where the family settled in 1739 upon the family’s arrival at Philadelphia. He is a perfect match for both of the men described above. It must be stressed that this fact is NOT evidence that Mathias is the progenitor of the Covington County, Ala., line–although that may be possible. But it is a virtual certainty that these three men share a common ancestor.

Similarly, a fourth participant of the study is a proven descendant of a Dr. Daniel William RAYMER of Cheatham and Robertson Counties in Tennessee. Daniel William was the son of William R. and Lucinda (CHAUDOIN) RAYMER, and William R. was the son of a Henry RAYMER who was reportedly born circa 1784 in Rowan County, N.C. This would suggest that he was a son of Johann Nicholas RYMER Jr. More will be presented on this line later, but it should be noted now that this participant is also a perfect match on 37-markers for the three men already discussed.

A fifth participant is also a perfect match on 37 markers for the four men discussed thus far. This participant is a proven descendant of George and Susan (SHARPE) RAMER. George was reportedly born circa. 1770 and arrived in Davidson County, Tenn., from Rowan County, N.C. This would, again suggest that he was the son of Johann Nicholas RYMER Jr.

But there are nine other men who share a common ancestor with all five of these men. While not perfect matches for the five discussed so far, their profiles are close enough to be considered proven to share a common ancestor with the five.

Two of these nine, are, again, proven descendants of Johan Nicholas RYMER. One is a proven descendant of the Henry RAYMER mentioned above, and one is a proven descendant of the George RAMER mentioned above.

So, it would appear that a total of six descendants of Johann Nicholas RYMER are proven by the 37-marker tests to share a common ancestor with the two descendants of John RAMER of Covington County, Ala.

There are two facts worth noting at this point: Census records for John RAMER Sr. of Covington County show that he was born circa 1780 in North Carolina, and there exists solid proof that Johann Nicholas RYMER of Rowan County was born and reared to adulthood in Berks County, Penn., the home county of the Mathias RÖMER mentioned earlier.

Of the remaining five participants, whose profiles match the two descendants of John RAMER Sr. of Covington Co., three are proven descendants of Henry RAMER of Dearborn County, Ind. However, again, there is documented proof that this Henry RAMER was born about 1750 in Berks Co., Penn., and lived there until enlisting in the Continental Line for the Revolutionary War. He served in Rowan and Lincoln Counties of North Carolina and was discharged there. He married there and had a family before removing to Dearborn County, Ind., about 1812.

One of the two remaining men whose profile match the two descendants of John RAMER Sr. of Covington County is a proven descendant of John Wesley RAMER of McNairy County, Tenn. No connection to any ancestral line has yet been established for this line, but in light of the findings discussed here, it would appear that this too is a related line.

The last of the matches to the two descendants of John RAMER Sr. of Covington County is the least researched. However, at this point it would appear that he is a direct descendant of Johann Adam RÖMER, another member of the Berks County, Penn., line.

In conclusion, the exact parentage of John RAMER Sr. of Covington County, Ala., is not known at this time. However, the DNA evidence does conclusively prove that his descendants share a common ancestor with 13 other participants in the RAMER Family DNA Project whose ancestral lines go back to the RÖMERs of Berks County, Penn.

The following addendum is offered for further consideration: “The Berks Co, PA line of RÖMERs” is a term that is used to denote descendants of one or more of the following men:

• Johann Nicholas RÖMER / REYMER – a passenger (age 30) on the Loyal Judith, arriving at Philadelphia on 25 Sep 1732
• Johann Nicholas RÖMER / REHMER – a passenger on the Loyal Judith, arriving at Philadelphia on 3 Sep 1739
• Mathias RÖMER / REHMER – a passenger on the Loyal Judith, arriving at Philadelphia on 3 Sep 1739
• Johan Adam RÖMER / REHMER – a passenger on the Loyal Judith, arriving at Philadelphia on 3 Sep 1739

The relationship between these three (or is it four) men is not yet known.

Spelling of this surname varies greatly depending on source.

The research of these DNA studies by John Ramer of Fitchburg, WI, served as the source for this narrative. Hopefully these results help distinguish between the two John Ramer families and serve to further define the Ramer ancestry.

Anyone who might have any questions regarding the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

STRAUGHN SCHOOL-WIDE REUNION:

Everyone who at any time attended Straughn School is encouraged to attend a school-wide reunion, which is the 130th Anniversary occasion. It is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at the school. Instead of any formal program fellowship, visiting, school spirit, etc. is expected. Desired refreshments will be available from venders. Contact Kelley Carter at 334-804-7777 if additional information is desired.

Everyone is also invited to the Back Porch Band performance on Friday evening, May 19, beginning around 6 P.m. This is a fund-raiser for the band.