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For many Gastons, and those like myself who is a Gaston on my mother's side, we come to this forum looking to find out something about our ancestors. Many Gaston researchers on this site can trace their roots back to the first Gaston immigrant generation to the U.S. from Northern Ireland (Co. Antrim). For example, Patrick Gaston and myself have been able to trace our oldest "American" Gaston ancestor back to Hugh Gaston of New Jersey (1687-1772), born in Ballymena, Co. Antrim. Many others will claim either William of Antrim (his descendants went to the Carolinas) or John and Alexander of New England. Most of the Gastons descending from these early Gastons are also aware of the legends that these "Irish" Gastons are the descendants of a French Protestant (Huguenot), Jean Gaston.
We've had the tendency on this forum to suspect any Gaston coming onto the forum in search of their ancestors is from one branch or the other of these early pioneers. In fact, research into Gaston migrations from the 17th century until now is starting to raise some interesting questions.
Information has arisen via passenger lists for ships coming to the U.S. containing the names of Gastons up until the 20th century. While some of these Gastons came from N. Ireland (Ulster), others came from England, Scotland, France and even Spain! Other Gastons had gone to Canada, but also from the same countries mentioned. This raises the question as to if indeed all U.S. Gastons are related, as we've previously assumed. A few years back, a Puerto Rican Gaston was trying to figure out where he fit into the greater picture.
A number of us have discovered that many "Irish" Gastons were forced by poverty to seek work in Scotland, England, Canada, the U.S. and Australia for centuries. At the same time, there appear to be Gastons in England before the time of our legendary Jean Gaston! Gastons in France go back to the 1300's at least.
Through the National Geographics Genographic project, it turns out a few Gastons from the U.S., Canada and France have participated in search of their genetic origins. Since then, through the Family Tree DNA project (FTDNA, based in the U.S. but a partner with the "Genographic" project), we've discovered that 2 of the French Gastons are genetically unrelated! We're also starting to get a sense of the related branches within the Ulster or "Irish" Gastons not only of the U.S. but Canada as well!
Craig Gaston (Canadian) is the administrator of the Gaston DNA project (craigpgaston@vidieotron.ca) and Gérard Gaston is the administrator of "Planet Gaston" http://pagesperso-orange.fr/planetgaston/en/index.html. These sites may eventually help us figure out the origins of a number of Gaston families. We're currently waiting for the results of another French Gaston and two other U.S. Gastons not sure of their heritage.
Some of the "old timers" on this site may remember me from previous postings but many more will remember Patrick Gaston. There are many who've come to this forum either not sure of all their connections back to the 17th century or not even sure of who their great grandfather was! For all you folks that do research on this site, we'd like to invite you to contact either Craig, Patrick, Gérard or myself about looking into the Planet Gaston site or even participating in the Gaston DNA project if you're interested in a) knowing from which Gaston branch your family comes or b) the historic origins of you family's DNA group.
So far, all N. American Gastons have fit into the DNA "Ulster Gaston Modal" but there are bound to be others who might have a different origin. It could be France just as easily as England or Ulster! Maybe even Scotland or Spain! Descendants of the early immigrant generation from Ulster may wish to find out which American branch they fit into, even if they aren't sure of all their early ancestors.
All the participants in the DNA project were initially reluctant to join. The doubts of several others in the U.S. and France have proved greater than their curiosity. All I can say is that the results to date have been fascinating. If you're are interested but have questions, please contact the persons mentioned, myself included.
Via Planet Gaston, you can learn about all kinds of people who proudly bore the Gaston name. Via the DNA project, you can not only contribute toward your own understanding of your family's origins but can also help all of us see how Gastons are related worldwide.
FYI, neither Craig nor Gérard get paid for their work on these sites. This research is a labor of love, scientific and genealogical curiosity. FTDNA charges to process a DNA sample but this applies strictly to FTDNA. No way around that one! In any case, this is an opportunity to help you understand your origins and also contibute to the sum of all Gaston researchers.
Look forward to hearing form some of you!
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