I placed the previous updates for March through June on the Wells.org website here:
https://wells.org/project26/project26.html
While I have made progress in updating the top level indexes for the many boxes I have at hand, not much else has been accomplished this month. Just too many personal distractions - I know you all are familiar with that sort of thing. You will notice that I am about a week behind with my update this month.
So, this will be a short update.
I have spent time digging up into and down family trees for some of you although I can't say a lot of progress has been made in that area. I hope for much more progress in several areas during August.
I expect to complete the effort to contact every subscriber to the DNA Project we have so far not reached.
I expect to complete the import code so we can compare the FTDNA test results against the several hundred pre-FTDNA results from BYU, Relative Genetics, Ancestry and Sorenson. The hold up is that I am attempting to assign every Y-DNA test result to a family code although those we can't pin down are getting W999 as a code subject to a later family assignment. I will complete the upper general index on my many boxes of records. I have discovered a lot of stuff I really wasn't aware I even had.
I will list the "baseline" families who currently have someone willing to be the family coordinator along with those we still need volunteers to step in and take that role.
If I succeed on these projects it will be a good month.
I still have not found that perfect family to use for this so far. Again I am looking for a Wells family that you KNOW was triggered by a name change not more than 5 generations up your tree that you can prove with a paper trail.
Yes, they have a new Summer Sale that ends on August 31st.
So - If your family is represented by a male who has only taken the 12 marker test, consider upgrading to 37 markers. As I have often said if you don't match any other Wells at 37 markers you won't by taking a test with more markers. You have a mystery that needs to be solved. Cost is $59
If you tested in the pre-Family Tree DNA (2014) period when we transferred over a bunch of test results at 43 markers, OR you transferred your test results yourself - consider "upgrading" to 37 markers. Do this from within your account at the upper right corner you will see a bar that says "Add Ons and Upgrades". This will take you to a page where you can choose a Y-DNA37 test for $39. Why do this? Because it is the only way you will be able to match your results against others in the FTDNA database and others will be able to find you.
If you have difficulty logging into your account, please contact me and I will assist you.
If, as a female Wells descendant or link via a maternal connection and you have a male cousin who carries the Wells surname you think you can persuade to take a DNA test, opt for the Y-37 marker test at $79. If they are only contributing the DNA and are really not so interested in genealogy, you can set up an account by ordering the test and add (Sherry Smith, admin) next to his name on the account. The kit can be sent to you or your cousin depending on the address you use which can be changed later.
https://www.familytreedna.com/my/upgrades?ekit=ocURBBC7tDr9ylX1dpaP%2fg%3d%3d
Family Finder test. While this is currently $39 I would recommend that you take the AncestryDNA test and then transfer the results to FTDNA once your results are posted. This gives you access to the databases in both systems. Either wait for an Ancestry sale at $25 OR order the current Special Offer for $49 which also gives you a three month subscription to their World Explorer for an additional $1
A few more have been added. I will provide a list of those covered and not covered next update.
Meanwhile, to have a look at the different families check this page:
https://www.wells.org/dnaproje/families1.html
At the very least I would like coverage for the first 28 families.
Orin Wells
253-630-5296
Retutn to the Project 26 Index
Last revised 9/1/2026