The Carter Society has recently implemented a Y-DNA Project to establish, maintain, and defend the Y-DNA of our Colonial Virginia Carter patriots: Thomas Carter of Lancaster County, John Carter of Lancaster County, William Carter of Surry County, Thomas Carter of Isle of Wight County and Giles Carter of Henrico County.

Acting on the premise that Y-DNA is passed unchanged from father to son for as many as 500 generations, our Y-DNA Project will establish the most likely Y-DNA of our Carter patriots by using the Y-DNA of their direct male descendants. Within the Carter Society membership, these direct male decendants fall into two categories: (1) direct male descendants with the Carter surname, and (2) grandfathers, fathers, brothers, and male cousins with the Carter surname that are related to our members with surnames other than Carter.

To satisfactorily complete our Y-DNA Project goals, we will need the Y-DNA test results of at least three direct male descendants of each of our Carter patriots.

Both Carter Society members and non-members are encouraged to participate in our Y-DNA Project. However, non-members must provide reasonable proof of their lineage back to one of our Carter patriots.

Test kits for the Carter Society Y-DNA Project may be obtained by logging on to Family Tree. Search the CARTER surname, then click on the Carter Society Y-DNA Project. Your test kit for twelve markers will cost $99 and will be mailed to your home.

Charlie Carter, Project Chairperson