Moses McCarter’s Paternity and YDNA & DNA Colquhoun Family Background

October 10, 2021

Written by Tiffany McCarter-Evans 

YDNA Expert - Buford Watson

After testing Multiple Male McCarter men from various branches claiming to be descended from Moses and Catren McCarter we are starting to get some answers.  

Moses McCarter was the biological son of a Unknown Calhoun and a Unknown McCarter Mother who was possibly Anne Margaret McCarter. A possible daughter of John McCarter Sr of Bart Township, Lancaster County, PA.  As for who Moses's father was. We know his haplogroup is E-M35 and that it connects with the Calhoun/Colquhoun family of Luss Scotland.  His father could have been one of a few Calhoun men who came to Lancaster County PA in 1733.  In 1733, James Patrick Calhoun Sr. His wife Catherine Montgomery, their daughter Mary Catherine Calhoun Noble, her husband, her brothers James Patrick Calhoun Jr, Ezekial Calhoun, William Calhoun, and Patrick Calhoun Sr, Esq. came to Chestnut Level, Lancaster County, PA.  They came from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland at Crosh House.  James Sr's brother Hugh Calhoun arrived with them and his sons settled here also. Along with their brother Audley Calhoun's two sons also settled in the Chestnut Level area of Lancaster County PA.  

But there is yet another Calhoun in the Chestnut Level LAncaster COunty PA Area at the time that Moses was conceived and born. His name is James Calhoun he was born in 1694 in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He is a 2nd cousin to James Patrick Calhoun Sr.  His parents were William S. Colhoun and Alice Cunningham. William is the son of William Campbell Colquhoun and Catherine McAuselan.  Moses McCarter Descendants match 3 sons of William and Catherine in YDNA tests. Along with Autosomal DNA Matches from James Calhoun's other children.  One line that we match from James Calhoun is his son Adam Calhoun of Chestnut Level, PA. 

If the Moses Calhoun-McCarter split happens generations further back like some researchers try claiming. The true Moses McCarter Descendants wouldn't match Calhoun's from the Calhoun Family of Crosh House County Tyrone Northern Ireland.  We have autosomal DNA matches with James Patrick Calhoun Sr's Descendants in Autosomal DNa and YDNA. Along with Autosomal DNA MAtches with Hugh Calhoun, Adam Calhoun, Ezekial and William Calhoun.

We also have YDNA Matches with Rev. Alexander Colquhoun and 7 of his sons: Robert, John, Audley, Andrew, James Sr, Alexander Jr, and Hugh Calhoun. James Patrick Calhoun Sr and his wife and children, his brother Hugh Calhoun, 2 of Hugh's son's, 2 of their brother Audley Calhoun's sons and their cousin James Calhoun 1664-1772 all went to Chestnut Level Lancaster County PA.  Any one of them could have been Moses McCarter's father. We may never know. But one thing is for sure this is the Family Moses McCarter descends from.

The importance of the Autosomal DNa Matches and why that is so important.  Auto somal DNa matches can only go back so far. Take trulines for example. It will only take you back to your 5th great grandparents. Therefore only showing back to 6th Cousins in your trulines.  Since most of us are our 5th great grandchildren of Moses and Catren. We can't go further. At the 7th Cousin range it is still possible for them to show up as a match, but Ancestry will not show you any shared cousins at this range of 7th cousin.  So if you see one of your matches has no shared matches. One possible explanation is that it is a 7th cousin or beyond match.

So I found and had Cousins tested that were 4th great grandchildren of McCarter. Now I can see Moses. That's where I see matches with Adam Calhoun Descendants. Who is possibly Moses's half brother. I can see matches with James Patrick Calhoun Sr and his sons Ezekial, William, James Jr and Patrick Calhoun Sr. There are also DNA matches with other sibley's lines of James Patrick Calhoun.

I also use the name James Patrick Calhoun Sr as his name even though some researchers claim his name is Patrick Calhoun. Their claim is because there is a Will for a Patrick Calhoun in Lancaster Records. I have not seen this yet to see what it says. But their claims are based solely on that Will.

Reasons why I call him James Patrick Calhoun Sr.  His immigration record for 1733 he is listed as James Calhoun. Along with his wife, one daughter and 4 sons. The church he is buried at has him listed as James Patrick Calhoun Sr. I have been to this church Chestnut Level Presbyterian church. James is not the only Calhoun buried in this cemetery.  He has nephews and cousins buried in the same cemetery. James Calhoun 1664-1772 and his wife Elizabeth Wilson are both buried in Chestnut Level Cemetery. He would have been 2nd cousins with James Patrick Calhoun Sr and possibly Moses's biological father.  Along with Notable Southern Families Vol 1 published in 1918. It lists him as James Patrick Calhoun Sr and his son as James Calhoun II. This book states that James Patrick Calhoun Sr was the son of Patrick Calhoun/Colquhoun. And that his father was James Colhoun/Colquhoun and his father Patrick and his father James.  If I follow the line of descent for James Patrick Calhoun Sr he would not have been the son of Rev Alexander Colquhoun, he would have been a cousin. I believe the Patrick Calhoun who's Will in Lancaster County could be this Patrick Calhoun/Colquhoun. or possibly a cousin.  I will know more once I get a copy I ordered.  As for James Patrick Calhoun Sr being the son of Patrick Colquhoun/Calhoun/Colhoun I am still researching. That would make Autosomal DNA matches impossible if this theory was correct that was published in 1918.  But there is way more evidence that his name was James Patrick Calhoun Sr and not Patrick Calhoun. For one then James P Calhoun Sr’s son Patrick who went by Patrick Calhoun Sr - Esq. His son Patrick went by Patrick Calhoun Jr and I even found his son Patrick Calhoun III using he was a 3rd. If James Patrick Calhoun’s father was Patrick Calhoun. Then his son Patrick Calhoun Esq would have been the Jr or II and not his brother James Patrick Calhoun Jr - II.

Any one of these men could have been the biological father of Moses McCarter of Bart Township, Lancaster County, PA.  Through YDNA testing Moses McCarter's descendants match 6 of the sons Rev. Alexander Colquhoun of Crosh Hose, Northern Ireland and their descendants match. Those son's are Robert Colquhoun, Audley Calhoun, Hugh Calhoun, Andrew Calhoun, and Alexander Caulhoun Jr. and James Patrick Calhoun Sr. 

Along with YDNA matches from 3 sons of William Campbell Colquhoun. I have even found YDNA matches with three different sons of Alexander “Alasdair” Colquhoun 15th of Luss, Clan Chief Colquhoun and Clan Chief Kirkpatrick. Who was Rev Alexander Colquhouns Great Great Grandfather. 

Alexander “Alasdair” Colquhoun was born 31 JAN 1573 • Castle Knockmile, Luss, Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Died 23 MAY 1617 • Luss, Dunbartonshire, Scotland

From Rev. Alexander Colquhoun's father William Campbell Colquhoun we match 3 of his sons YDNA tester's. Those sons are Rev. Alexander Colquhoun, James Cahoon, and Patrick Colquhoun.

Along with going back even further to Rev. Alexander's great great grandfather Alexander "Alasdair" Colquhoun - 15th of Luss, Clan Chief of Clan Colquhoun and Clan Kirkpatrick 1573-1617.  6 other YDNA tester's descend from this Alexander. We have matches with his son's lines of John Colquhoun Baronet Colquhoun of Luss and Nova Scotia, his son Alexander Colquhoun 17th of Luss, and Moses's line descends from his son Adam Colquhoun.

We have not found one match that does not go back to the Colquhoun Family of Luss. We are still confirming new lines from YDNA Matches.  So we are sure we will find even more that also descend from this Colquhoun/Calhoun Family.

We may never know exactly who Moses's McCarter's Parents' names were. But through YDNA and Autosomal DNA We do know what lines they come from.

With Autosomal DNA, Kit Member who are the 4th great grandchildren of Moses McCarter. So with trulines, a connecting ancestor, and a DNA match we can see DNA matches from Calhoun descendants of James Patrick Calhoun Sr. line.  If Moses's connection was further back than this. We wouldn't show autosomal dna matches with shared matches. Trulines only go back to 5th great grandparents and 6th cousins. You can still match a 7th cousin in DNA matches but it won't show any share matches. That was what Ancestry informed me of. So the farthest back Autosomal can go back to with the tests I have is no further back then Rev. Alexander Colquoun's children. 

They are Robert Colquhoun, John C. Colquhoun, Audley Colquhoun, Major William Calhoon, James Patrick Calhoun Sr, Francis Colquhoun, Judith Colquhoun, Humphrey Calhoun, Catherine Colquhoun, Helen Calhoun, Andrew Calhoun, Frances "Fannie" Calhoun, Alice Calhoun, Alexander Colhoun Jr.

We have matches with 6 of those sons. Autosomal DNA matches with these children of Rev. Alexander Colquhoun and Lady Judith Hamilton. 

I hope this helps those who are seeking answers that paper trails can not tell alone.  The only way we figured this out is by tracing each line and creating a papertrail to back up the DNA. Which we have done. As we learn more we will make any updates or corrections.  Nothing is ever set in Stone with Genealogy. New information and Documents and new tester's come forward. So we will keep you posted.

It is very clear to see this is the Family Moses McCarter descends from. Even if we never find out who his father was. This is the correct Calhoun/Colhoun/Colquhoun Family. There is not one YDNA Match that does not go back to this Colquhoun Family that I can see or have found not too.

Thank you

Tiffany McCarter-Evans

McCarter Family Historian