Kemp - Camp DNA Testing Results

Why the need for "genetic genealogy"?

Hello. My name is John SCOTT Kemp, the great-great-great-great-great grandson of Nathaniel L. Kemp, also known as Nathan Camp (1774-1856). In December of 2004, I was sitting in a computer lab in Brunswick, GA, half-heartedly searching the Internet for updated information and leads to solve the problem of the Kemp-Camp connection. By this I mean that since no direct evidence existed to link our ancestor Nathan Camp/Kemp to his father and family - no wills, deeds, family documents, testimonials, nor photos - circumstantial evidence has been the only means of trying to tie Nathan to his brethren.

Not long after Old Nathan's death en route to Arkansas in 1856, genealogically-minded Kemps began wondering about our heritage, since their great grandfather evidently never made that information available. Men like Adamsville, TN's Baltis Kemp and Arkansas-born New York lawyer James Taylor Kemp began corresponding and writing letters to 'old timers' to find out if they knew the name of Nathan's father back in NC. Evidently they never discovered it. The prevailing theory held by Kemp family researchers has been that Nathan was the son of Edward Camp of the illustrious Thomas CAMP family of VA, NC, SC, and GA.

As others, I set out to reinvent this wheel almost two decades ago by tracing the paths of generations of Kemp genes and blaze a few new ones of my own to (re)establish the theory OR dispell it - whatever might come. In that period, full of much travel and ancestral homecoming, I have found such strong and unwavering evidence placing Nathan with the CAMPs, that, albeit circustantial, is indeed an avalanche of corroborating and fascinating material.

Much of that information I am now analysing, composing and uploading to the NKN website, but it will take some time to add five years of new data. Keep an eye on the What's New page for that progress.

What is DNA testing and how can it help?

While sitting in that computer lab back last year, I started thinking about a History Channel show in which scientists were conducting DNA testing of locals to see if they were the descendants of an ancient people suspected to be from that area. They were comparing the DNA samples from the living with tissue from burial mummies. What struck me about this was that the DNA profile could remain so constant even for a hundred generations. Then suddenly it hit me - THAT's IT! We CAN know if we KEMPs are CAMPs!

All I needed was a current member of the Camp family with unimpeachable pedigree to Thomas CAMP I (1717-1798) to participate with me in having our DNA checked by a professional lab like the ones used by the genetic genealogists in the program. Now I did have something to search for on the Internet. What I quickly discovered was that genetic genealogy was a thriving industry and that thousands have already done it and online databases containing DNA profiles were available for searching.

I decided to go with one of the best, the Genelex Corporation (www.genelex.com) of Seattle, WA who is a leading DNA lab and is accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board in forensic DNA testing. There prices were reasonable and they educated me on the science and technology based upon my need to connect back to a common ancestor.

They told me about the Common Male Ancestor Test which "examines 26 genetic markers that are passed from male descendent to male decadent. These markers were selected because they remain identical for over 20 generations almost without exception. If your Common Male Ancestor Test and another man's Common Male Ancestor Test are identical then you share a common male ancestor."

Now I needed to find the right CAMP family member to participate. I contacted the CAMP Family Discussion Group and had an advertisement posted, indicating that I was a Kemp and was looking for a member of the Camp family to take the CMAT with me. I had responses within 24 hours by several well-established Camps, each of whom offered their family trees including dates back to the grand old sire, Thomas. Within two weeks, I had a gracious and willing pool of excellent volunteers to select from and I chose who I considered the very best possible candidate.

He is Joseph William 'Buck' Camp, Jr. [Brigadier General, retired]. Because of his warmth and sincerity, he soon came to be known to me simply as 'Uncle Buck.' He is also Chairman of the Board of Eagle Support Services Corporation, Eagle Deutsch GmbH, Bowhead Eagle LLC (partner) and resides in Huntsville, AL. He shared with me that he had previously participated in other genetic genealogy and was desirous to gather more knowledge and experience in this area.

Here are our generations listed for comparison:

Our common ancestor,
Thomas Camp I (b.1717-1798)
Benjamin Camp (b.1757)
Edward Camp/Kemp (1739-1834)
Joseph Camp (b.1777)
Nathan Camp/Kemp (1774-1857)
Benjamin Camp (b.1801)
Joseph Warren Kemp (1805-1855)
Joseph Walter Camp
Capt. Nathan MacDonald Kemp (1830-1912)
Harrison Pierce Camp
Joseph Alton Kemp (1850-1919)
Joseph William Camp, Sr
Thomas Edward Kemp (1869-1952)
Joseph William 'Buck' Camp, Jr
William Culous Kemp (1895-1964)
 
John Wilbur Kemp (1925-1982)
 
John Scott Kemp (b. 1958)


Buck and I received our DNA tests from Genelex shortly thereafter, conducted them, and sent the materials back to the lab for analysis. What an exciting expectancy this was for me and a few of our Kemps privy to knowledge of the testing. Within a few weeks, we both received our DNA certificates. Buck received his first and attached a scan of his DNA certificate to an email. When I received mine, I nervously but closely examined each of the 26 Y-chromosome values to see how well they matched up.

Were we Kemps, as long suspected, descendants of the Camp family? Was the pile of circumstantial evidence placing our Nathan nearby Edward and other Camps to be legitimized at long last?

YES - it was! Our DNA profiles were exactly the same. All 26 points of the Male Y-Chromosome signature had identical values! See the scans of our DNA certificates below (click to enlarge):

Joseph William 'Buck' Camp, Jr
John Scott Kemp


The critical data can be examined below - the 26 points of the y-chromosome signature from my certificate. Reports for all male descendants of Thomas Camp for twenty or more generations would be identical:



For more information on genetic genealogy and its interpretation, visit these websites:

Read the article Our Name: A Compilation of Research into our KEMP, CAMP and Related Surnames
by John Scott Kemp		  
   Visit the Edmund Camp Cemetery, located in Eastanollee, Stephens Co. (formerly Franklin Co.), GA
View the Family Tree of Edmund Camp, to see where Nathan Camp/Kemp may fit in, as well as, his possible brothers & sisters, etc.  
  Visit the Thomas Camp Cemetery, near Rutherfordton, Rutherford Co., NC, located off US221 and Hines Rd., just before the SC state line.

Nathan Kemp Network (c) last updated March 2, 2006.
Owned and maintained by John Scott Kemp (collectorjims@yahoo.com)
All material contained herein, written or graphical, used by permission only.