Additional research has revealed something I never expected.

I first started this quest trying to find out if it was possible for 2 of the 4 key genetic lineages of Babbs in the US to come together in the same county.

The place in question was Clay County, IL. I’m several weeks into researching what I’ve deemed the “Travis Theorem” and I concur that the lineages we know as the White Stags of VA/NC and the Green Men of Maryland did in fact converge in Clay County, IL.

---

What are the odds?

The follow up question was this: Are those two families related or is it merely a coincidence that they showed up in the same place at the same time. In other words, “What are the odds?”

According to Microsoft Copilot there were 1621 Counties across the US in the year 1800. So, I guess those are the odds.

I am currently researching everything that is known about these particular individuals and scrutinizing every single point of data attributed to them in order to try and prove/disprove this theory.

Thus far, I’ve not been able to prove a link between the Green Men of Maryland and the White Stags of VA/NC that are found in Clay County, IL. It doesn’t mean that it isn’t out there, but as of yet, I’ve seen no evidence.

---

That Being Said

Tonight, I ran across something that was so intriguing that I couldn’t wait to share the news. This event happened in no other than Frederick County, VA, which just so happens to be the location of this summer’s Babb Family Association Reunion.

Also coincidentally, registration is still open.

Frederick County is already known to be one of those counties that played host to two of the 4 genetic lineages in the US. In addition to the Lions of the Sea, who descend from Phillip Babb of the Isles of Shoals, we have found local graves of the lineage we know as the Blue Panthers of Bavaria.

---

Enter, the Green Men of Maryland

As you likely already know, I’m currently tracking the ancestry of William Lane Babbs (3-2-6) etal. from Clay County, IL. William is also a member of the Green Men lineage. William’s parents are listed as John and Rebecca (Lane) Babbs who married in 1789 in Frederick County, VA.

I was first concerned by seeing Frederick Co, VA as the place where John and Rebecca were married as that is also the same county where the Lions of the Sea lineage deposited Thomas Babb (1-2-2) and his brother Philip (1-2-3). However, upon further examination I’ve found that in 1754 Hampshire County was created from part of Frederick County, VA.

This connection was obscured when Virginia itself was divided into 2 states. In the map below, I’ve highlighted the boundaries of these two counties along with Berkeley County, VA/WV, which is also important to this story along with Hampshire County. Just remember it, so I don’t have to come back to it in one of my next posts.

Both were crafted from parts of Frederick County, VA.

So What?

This means that we have an actual crossroads of 3 different genetic lineages of Babb(s) cris-crossing through a single county. Those would be the Green Men, the Blue Panthers of Bavaria and the Lions of the sea.

Please take a minute to absorb that.

---

In this timeframe there are only 4 genetic lines of Babbs in the United States (3 English and 1 Bavarian). In addition to the Bavarian Lineage, we now have 2 of the three English lines located in this same place.

It is a fact that roughly 70% of early Americans came through Virginia. So, while this story doesn’t explain how these lines might interrelate, it does demonstrate the possibility that families traveled in all directions westward of this country. While doing so, they crossed paths at times.

This was also demonstrated in my personal life when my father married Edna Babb (his 3rd out of 4), who was of no relation to him. They first talked because of the common name and then ended up marrying. #truthisstrangerthanfiction

---

So, as to the of whether 2 Genetic Lines of Babbs can come through a single county, the answer is clearly Confirmed. I’ll go a step further and say that 3 can conjoin in a single place. However, it doesn’t mean that they have any bloodlines between them.

---

Did this happen in Clay County, IL? Well, the jury is still out on that one. I’m still on my quest, but I must say that having seen these three unique Babb(s) lineages in one place doesn’t bode well for the “Travis Theorem.” It clearly has happened and thus isn’t unique.

This doesn’t mean that Travis’ theory is dead. In fact, it is just the opposite. With these lines in the same geography, it means that there could have been a potential for cross breading that would bring the lines together.

That is a question for Y-DNA that has yet to be answered. It will only come in conjunction with the most bullet proof paper trail that can exist.

We are creating that paper trail now!

Stay tuned!