DNA Links 1.3 Million to Maryland’s First Colonists

Why this is here: The analysis pinpointed roughly 9,000 people from the 1.3 million surveyed as very likely direct descendants or close relatives of the original Maryland colonists.

A team led by Éadaoin Harney at 23andMe Research Institute in the United States identified 1.3 million living relatives of people buried in St. Mary’s City, Maryland.

Researchers compared DNA from 49 skeletons in a 17th-century cemetery to genetic data from over 11.5 million 23andMe users. This analysis allowed them to tentatively identify the remains of Maryland’s second governor, Thomas Greene, and potentially his family.

The study also revealed a burial of a young boy of African descent, carefully interred in a coffin—a detail that suggests he may not have been enslaved. Researchers contrasted this with the simpler burials of two young men likely from Ireland, who showed signs of hardship and manual labor.

Identifying individuals without historical records proves challenging, and confirming Greene’s identity requires further investigation. The team successfully traced six genetic families within the cemetery, even finding a three-generational lineage spanning decades. Work continues to refine these connections and expand understanding of early colonial life.