This Ancestry and DNA project was initiated by the descendants of Thomas St. John (1564-1625) of Uchel-olau, Glamorgan, Wales beginning in 2001. Thomas was the Master on the Popham Colony's ship, The Richard, that was taken captive by the Spanish off the coast of Florida. He bribed a guard for his freedom and returned to London a year later. His brother, Sir William St. John, Knight was a founder of the Jamestown Colony, 1st English Governor of the African Colony, and a Vice Admiral in the English Royal Navy. Two other brothers, Captain Nicholas St. John and Lt. Alexander St. John were killed at St. Lucia Island while trying to colonize it for England. These brothers were direct male descendants of Sir John St. John, Knight and 1st Baron St. John of Lageham, who descended from the first St. John, Ralph.
Ralph, son of Wimund II, Seigneur de Haye-Pensel (Paynel) assumed the St. John surname in 1053 in the presence of William the Conqueror. Ralph became the 'man' of St.John at the end of the sea near Mont St. Michel in Normandy, France but he is more prominently known as Ralph de Brehal and Ralph Paynel, the Domesday Tenant, [a merge with his son Ralph Paynel, Jr.]. Another son, Thomas of St. John, renamed the village St. Jean-le-Thomas. Ralph St. John-Paynel married the sister of Gilbert d'Lacy of Stantone in Domesday, probably Emma de Lacy.
One of Ralph's younger sons, John St. John, I of Stanton-St. John married the daughter of Hugh Plugenet of Headington and founded the St. John family of Stanton-St. John, Lageham, Instow, Barton, Godstow, and Swallowfield in England. He is the ancestor of the St. Johns of Uchel-olau (High-light), Glamorgan, Wales, Weobley Castle in Swansea and the American Immigrants Mathias St. John (1601-1669) and Mathew St. John (1590-1671).
There are many false claims regarding persons of the St. John surname. Historians have confounded specific individuals with others. Articles and books often describe confusing and conflicting claims. Unsubstantiated theories have been added to research sites as legitimate records. This site attempts to fix these issues with primary records and DNA testing by identifying as many living descendants and their direct lineages as possible. Check Out - Debunked Claims
Genetic Genealogy
We have two DNA projects at FTDNA 1) The St. John DNA project: www.familytreedna.com/groups/st-john/about/background 2) The Glamorgan Wales DNA project: www.familytreedna.com/groups/glamorgan-wales-cousins We can also review your AncestryDNA results if you share them with member 'thepoetz' We are currently seeking any St. John males to test for our Y-DNA study of the various paternal lines. Other tests for female St. Johns are also proving helpful such as mtDNA and autosomal DNA for both male and female descendants.
Heraldry Genealogy
According to the College of Arms, any person who descends from a legitimate male descendant of Sir John St. John, 1st Baron St. John of Lageham inherit the right to his arms.
Secondary St. John Surnames
Several secondary St. John surnames have been created through the years including: St. John-Paynel, de Port-St. John, Mewes-St. John, Poynings-St. John, Mildmay-St. John, and possibly others. While this project's main goal focuses on the original St. John lineage, it does include those other paternal families that share the St. John surname.
Please consider donating to the St. John Genealogy & DNA project. Donations will help purchase new records, transcribe records, update the website and functionality, or help pay for DNA testing.
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