DNA Tracking Maps
While it was once thought that our 5 progenitors (Godfrey S0004, Isaac S0005, John S0008, John S0013 and Richard S0022) were all part of one big happy Sheldon family from England, DNA tests have since proven this to be incorrect. The 5 progenitors are actually split into two distinct and unrelated groups. Group E includes descendants of Godfrey S0004, John S008 and Richard S0022 while Group R includes descendants of Isaac S0005 and John S0013.
Group E is so named from the haplogroup E from which this group has descended. This haplogroup is very rare in England. Group R is from the haplogroup R from which this group has descended and is one of the most common haplogroups in England.
The information on this page is based on data from FTDNA’s Sheldon DNA project and the tracking maps were produced using the SNP Tracking tool on the website “Tracking Back” by scientist, Rob Spencer. It’s important to note that these tracking maps are just an approximation and do not pinpoint exact locations.
If you have Y-DNA data and would like to create your own tracking map, it’s very easy. Just click here and enter any SNP from your Y-DNA or mtDNA data and you’ll be able to view your own map.
Group E
The below map shows the path for two descendants of Richard S0022. Note the long gap between the Neolithic Age and the Modern Age. There isn’t a natural progression over a long period of time so there is the thought that the person was a transplanted Roman slave or soldier brought to England but this is just speculation and is really anybody’s guess, especially with the small sample size we have as of today.
The map below shows the path for a descendant of John S0008 and note how the gap between the Neolithic Age and the Modern Age is the same as the map above. This confirms there is a definite relationship between Richard S0022 and John S0008 which was always assumed because Henry Olcott Sheldon, in his publication The Sheldon Magazine, identified Richard as a son of John S0008 but put a “?” next to Richard’s name. There is no proof that Richard is the son of John nor is there any solid evidence as to how they are related. however, DNA data does confirm a relationship. As above, the lack of a natural progression through Europe has led to speculation that this person was a transplanted Roman slave or soldier brought to England but this hasn’t been confirmed nor is it likely to ever be confirmed.
Group R
The map below shows the path for a descendant of John S0013. Note the long progression across Europe over time compared to Group E. The R haplogroup is the most common group in Europe and shows a definite relationship with Isaac S0005 below.
The map below shows the path for a descendant of Isaac S0005. Again, note the long progression across Europe over time compared to Group E. The R haplogroup is the most common group in Europe and shows a definite relationship with John S0013 above.
