Objectives

On August 8, 2006 the project began after several years of discussions among Steve Ralls (researching the line from James Rawls), Henry Rawls (researching Isaac Ralls), Bobby Rawls (researching Gabriel Rawls) and your project manager, David Ralls (researching Willis Ralls).  It is our hope that this project will open new research avenues for Ralls/Rawls/Rawles researchers.
 
What is Y-DNA testing and how does this new tool assist genealogists?  To briefly state the basics of Y-DNA testing for genealogical purposes; let us begin with the fact that each individual inherits 23 pairs of chromosomes from his parents. The first 22 pairs of chromosomes "recombine" their genetic material, thus creating a mix that makes your DNA profile unique to you as an individual. The 23rd pair of chromosomes is what determines your sex. From your mother you inherit an X chromosome, and from your father, either an X or a Y chromosome. If the pairing from your parents is XX, you will be female, if it is XY, you will be male. Since only the male is capable of contributing or passing on the Y chromosome, it will always be passed down from father to son, generation after generation. While the genetic material of the other 22 chromosomes is "recombined", the genetic material of the X and Y chromosomes remains intact, with only periodic mutations. Thus, we are able to trace the male lineage by looking at specific "markers" on the Y chromosome to identify a "signature" of that male lineage.
 
By examining the “signature” of a participating male we hope to identify which specific lineage that that individual belongs to.  It will be through the participation of as many Ralls, Rawls, Rawles, Rowls, Rowles and the use of traditional genealogy methods that we will solve our ancestry.

The objectives of the Ralls - Rawls DNA Project are:

"By establishing this DNA database of Ralls/Rawls/Rawles/Rowls/Rowles lines, we hope to: a) identify and categorize DNA-based lineage clusters of this surname; b) better understand how the different lineages interrelate; c) better understand the origins and evolution of the different lineage clusters; d) assist current and future genealogist with their research on this general surname; e) provide baseline data that can be compared to families of this surname worldwide, thereby allowing future research efforts to be more narrowly focused; and f) provide a repository of DNA material that can be further analyzed as technology improves."

The following Ralls/Rawls/Rawles groups have been identified [1]:

  1. Accomack and Northampton Counties, Virginia.  Progenitors of the Accomack and Northampton group were John and Daniel Rowles.  In 1635, a John Rowles [2] was found in Accomack County, Virginia and a Daniel Rowles [3] was residing in Northampton County, Virginia in 1640.  Researchers have speculated that John and Daniel were brothers.  Currently, there is not a participant of the Accomack and North Hampton group in the Ralls – Rawls DNA Project.
  2. Stafford County, Virginia. The oldest known ancestor of this line was a John Ralls.  Descendants of John Ralls prospered and are responsible for the naming of Ralls County, Missouri and Ralls, Crosby County, Texas.  Members of this group belong to the Haplogroup I, subclade I1a.
  3. Nansemond County, Virginia  Nansemond County, Virginia was a destination for early immigrants.  George Rawles and John Rolles are the earliest known immigrants, appearing in 1635, in the greater Nansemond County area.  George Rawles is listed on a land record dated 1635. [4] The land involved is located at the mouth of the Nansemond River.  John Rolles, age 22, departed London on 15 May 1635 for Virginia on the Plaine Joan. [5] He is later found in Lower Norfolk.  Also arriving in this region in 1635 were Jo. [John] Rolles, Benedict Rolls, and Henrie Rowles. [6]  Other early immigrants to the area are: 1) Robert Roles, 1637 in James City [7]; 2) William Rolles in Upper Norfolk County in 1644 (later Nansemond County) [8]; 3) Christopher Rowles (spelled Xpofer Rowles) in Lower Norfolk County in 1646 (later Norfolk and Princes Anne Counties) [9]; 4) Jno. [John] Rowles in Lower Norfolk County in 1653 [10].  A John Ralls, 1695, is the earliest known person in Nansemond County by evidence of a land patent for 650 acres located in Upper Parrish of Nansemond County, VA. [11] Members of this group belong to the Haplogroup I, subclade I1b2*. [12]
  4. South Carolina – Ralls/Rawls Group I.  This group contains two known progenitors, Silas Rawls, Sr.  and Willis Ralls.  Currently, the exact relationship between these two individuals is not known.  Silas Rawls, Sr. can be found serving as Adjutant for Colonel James Cary Loyalist Regiment and Colonel William Ballentine's Loyalist Regiment from 16 June 1780 to 31 December 1782. [13] Silas Rawls appears to have received a land grant for 300 acres along Colsons Branch, Orangeburg District in 1787.  [14] The last reference of Silas Rawls, Sr. is his listing on the 1790 Census, Orangeburgh District before he migrated to Sumner County, TN.   The references to Willis Ralls originating from South Carolina are the birth of his son William B. Ralls in circa 1803 and Sarah Ralls in circa 1804.  In addition an early newspaper account of the first settlers to Hopkins County, KY list him as arriving from South Carolina. [16]  Members of this group belong to the Haplogroup R, subclade R1b1.
  5. South Carolina – Ralls/Rawls Group II.  This group consist of two brothers, Arthur Henry Rawls and Thomas Jefferson Rawls who married two Gunter sisters.  Arthur married Maude Gunter and Thomas Jefferson Rawls married Cassie Gunter.
  6. Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties, Maryland.  This group descends Christopher Rowles, mentioned in the Nansemond County, Virginia – Group I.  Christopher Rowles appears to have migrated from Lower Norfolk County, Virginia to Maryland.
  7. Orangeburg District, South Carolina.  The fifth group descends from Johannes Rall/Rhal, a German line arriving in Charlestown, South Carolina in 1749 and settling at the fork of the Saluda and Broad Rivers in Lexington County, South Carolina in 1752.  Descendants of this line can be found with the surname “Rawls”. [17]
  8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Francis Rawle, Sr. and his son Francis Rawle, Jr. immigrate to Philadelphia on the ship Desire arriving 23 June 1686. This early American Quaker family was successful and prominent in early Philadelphia. 
  9. Warrick and Surry Counties, Virginia.  In the 1660’s a John and James Rowles were found in Surry County and a Roger Rowles in Warrick County.  These early Rowles could have been an offshoot from the Accomack and Northampton “Rowles”.
  10. New York.  Aaron Rawls of the British Army of the Revolutionary War.

[1] This group classification and references are adapted, in part, from Ralls, Rawls, and Related Genealogy, Stephen A. Ralls, online at  www.ralls.us.
[2] Fleet, Beverly.  Virginia Colonial Abstracts.   Baltimore, MD.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988, vol. I, pp. 16, 30.
[3] Marshall, James Handley.  Abstracts of the Wills and Administrations of Northampton County, Virginia 1632 – 1802. Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1994, p. 8.
[4] Nugent, Nell Marion.  Cavaliers and Pioneers.  Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623 – 1666.  Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1974, vol. I, p. 23.
[5] Need source
[6] Hotten, John Camden.  The Original Lists of Persons of Quality; Emigrants; Religious Exiles; Political Rebels; Serving Men sold for a Term of Years; Apprentices; Children Stolen; Maidens Pressed; and Others Who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations 1600 – 1700.  Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978, pp. 80, 119, 135, respectively.
[7] Fleet, Beverly, op. cit., p. 58.
[8] Ibid., p. 153.
[9] Walter, Alice Granberry.  Lower Norfolk County, Virginia Court Records. Book “A” 1637-1646 & Book “B” 1646-1651/2. Baltimore, MD: Genealogy Publishing Co., Inc. for the Clearfield Company, Inc., 1994, 1995, pp. 9-10, 237-238.
[10] Ibid., p. 248.
[11] Nugent, Nell Marion.  Cavaliers and Pioneers.  Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents. Richmond, VA: Virginia State Library, 1979, vol. III (1695-1732), p. 5; Virginia Land Patents, Book 9, p. 27.
[12] See discussion of this subclade by Stephen A. Ralls, online at www.ralls.us.
[13] Murtie June Clark. Loyalist in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War, Volume 1 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1981), Volume 6, pages 125,127,131,133,136,141, and 149.
[14] South Carolina State Land Entries: State Plat, Volume 20, Page 12, Roll ST 624, South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina.
[15] Bureau of the Census, Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790, South Carolina (1908; reprint Greenville, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press), page 102.
[16] The Old Settlers, The Names of Those Who Broke the Primeral Forest of Crittenden, Crittenden Press, Crittenden County, KY, 1893. [17] Land Memorials: Vol. 9, p. 51.

For a more in depth description of early immigrants see Steve Ralls website at www.ralls.us and at Ron Rawls' site at http://home.ptd.net/~rrrawls/index.html.