Green Crow: Tracing the Sir William Lineage

The Crow(e) DNA Study Project identifies a Green Crow paternal group and associates its lineage with Sir William Crow (approximately 1547–1627) of the Isle of Man. My Y-DNA belongs to that group. The researchers’ genetic conclusion is the foundation of this investigation; the question that remains is how the named ancestors in my documented American line connect with the Manx family.

Two Different Kinds of Evidence

The Genetic Trail

The project's written results place kit 28728, reporting Sir William Crow (about 1547–1627), in its Green Crow group. Four other Green Crow kits report Walter Crow, born around 1714–1717 in Maryland and later living in Kentucky.

The names attached to individual kits come from genealogical research supplied to the project, while the genetic grouping comes from comparing paternal DNA. Both deserve to be described accurately. I credit the project’s conclusion about the Green Crow lineage; our job here is to identify the missing generations in the documentary record.

Read the project's group descriptions →

The Historical Trail

Canon R. D. Kermode's Annals of Kirk Christ Lezayre describes William Crow of the Nappin, records clerical appointments, and refers to his 1620 will, wife Elsbie, son Edward, and daughters Isabell, Katherin and Margrete.

These historical references give us specific records to compare with the lineage identified by the DNA researchers. They may help establish the missing names and family relationships between Manx and American records; they do not yet identify the person who made the journey.

Examine Kermode's account →

Where the Evidence Stands

These findings are promising, but they do not all carry the same evidentiary weight.

Source	What it supports	What it cannot yet establish
FamilyTreeDNA Green Crow group	Researchers classify several tested paternal lines together, including kits reporting Sir William Crow and Walter Crow.	The complete genealogy between those named individuals, or my own position in that chain.
Kermode's Manx history	An identifiable historical William Crow, appointments, family details and a reported will dated 1620.	That the tester's reported pedigree reaches the same William without missing or misassigned generations.
Manx parish and land records	Numerous Crow and Crowe individuals and holdings, including names repeated across families.	That every similarly named Crow belongs to one family or the same genetic line.
American Crow family records	Reported lines of Walter Crow and later American branches; individual relationships can be checked against records.	The person, date or route by which any proposed connection reached America.

DNA branch-age estimates describe the approximate age of genetic mutations or common ancestors—not documented birth dates for named individuals. We must also allow for adoption, surname changes and other breaks between biological and recorded paternal lines without inventing an explanation for any specific case.

The Question Still Open

Where Is the Documentary Bridge?

Can anyone identify the generations between the Sir William Crow lineage identified by the Green Crow study and my documented American paternal family? Who was the missing Crow, and what records connect the two sides?

Especially useful: wills, parish entries, land transfers, migration records and a clearly sourced father-to-son pedigree that bridges the gap. A matching surname or an unsourced online tree isn't enough.

Share a Research Lead →

Mention The Crow Identity in the contact form. Don't be alarmed by the security Crow—he's keeping the spammers out. I'll reply by email so we can exchange documentation directly.

Check the Sources Yourself

This investigation builds on the work of the Crow(e) DNA Study volunteers and the people who helped fund my test. Their work established a meaningful paternal genetic connection. These original research links let visitors follow that work while we look for the missing documentary bridge.

Genetic evidence and participants' reports

Crow(e) DNA project background · Written family-group results

Public Y-DNA STR results · Public SNP results

Group Time Tree (may require login; genealogical labels are participant-supplied).

Independent Manx history

Kermode, Annals of Kirk Christ Lezayre, chapter 9 (clergy and family); chapter 20 (Crowe properties and families).

Nigel G. Crowe's preserved Manx Roots genealogy · Five generations of Crow clergy

Research caution: The title “Sir” can occur in older references to clergy and is not, by itself, proof of a knighthood. The identity of similarly named men and the exact pedigree must be checked against original records.

Back to DNA Research The Missing Crow: Isle of Man to America