Second year-end presentation on progress with the Anglesey Bonesetters DNA project that aims to elucidate the geographic origins of a ca. 1744 shipwreck survivor - Evan Thomas - who was rescued off the north coast of Anglesey. Part-funded by the Welsh Assembly Government's Sustainable Development Fund via the Anglesey County Council AONB office.

1. Gwreiddiau Daearyddol Meddygon Esgyrn Mon Geographic Origins of the Anglesey Bone Setters John Rowlands Cyfarwyddwr y Prosiect Project Director

2. Year 1 Objectives ( ca . £1000 SDF contribution): Identify direct living male descendant of Evan Thomas

3. Helen Osborn, MA Osborn Research, London Produced detailed report to probate standards Uncovered an address of a direct male descendant, last known to be living in Bethesda. Local detective work found the man we were after...

4. Thomas David Evans ('Dafydd'), Moelfre!

5. Year 1 Bonus! Daily Post Article leads to Dr. Richard Anwyl Evans, NSW, Australia. Second cousin to Dafydd Evans, so crucial check of family fidelity. Y-chromosome of both men identical.

6. Dr. Jim Wilson, Royal Society Research Fellow, Medical Research Council Year 3: Full Y-chromosome sequencing Beijing Genomics Institute, Shenzhen, China. Year 2 (2010) – coarsely identified Evans' DNA origins in Eastern Europe, certainly not British, also rare match in region of origin.

7. Evan Thomas' 'Marwnad' (elegy) 1814, 8 pages. -> Copy traced to Cardiff Library Copy now at Llangefni library for first time.

9. Shipwreck Index of the British Isles - Volume 5 'Wales & the West Coast' Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 2000. ISBN 1-900839-61-X Pers. Comm. Alan Jones to John Rowlands, 2010.

10. So, was there really a shipwreck we can positively identify and associate with Evan Thomas? No!

11. The good news! Initial DNA results show that the Y chromosome pattern is not British S116 + (but negative for 6 markers of this type, so poorly-defined) Strong USA ancestry bias in DNA databases means this pattern is absent from large commercial Y-chromosome databases. Evan Thomas DNA matches just 1 in 1000 of closest population Although no reliable evidence of shipwreck, the DNA does tell us there is a story.

12. Best matches: (1) Czech Republic, Slovakia (2) Austria, Croatia Possible reason to be on the ship: Austrian War of Succession? 2011-2012 work will sample populations in these regions -> much higher resolution data on geographical origins. -> if we're lucky, we may get to surname level. S116 +