John Luther William Frederick Glaves (abt. 1788 - abt. 1845)

I am a third Great Grandson of John. I tested my DNA through FTDNA and took the Big Y 700 and found I am a descendant through John of a 10th century Viking from Koparsvik, Gotland, Sweden This man was determined as part of the Viking DNA project. He is Viking #468 and was found in grave #235 in Koparsvik which is just south of the Ringwall of Visby. His DNA haplogroup is R-BY125166. He is one of about 130 Viking Skeletons to be found with unique horizontal V grooves filed through the enamel of their front upper teeth. Experts believe the filings are either a religious or guild membership signal. He was an elderly man buried in Christian fashion and his bones did not have the wear of a laborer or any indication of being a warrior. He was quite possibly in the Clergy or a businessman as Visby was a very prominent trade center on the Viking routes to the Middle East. In his grave was found two brass items, a Sache Buckle of sorts and a circle Brooch.

There are two farmsteads located in southeastern Gotland named Störa Gläves and Lilla Gläves, Störa and Lilla meaning big and little, Gläve or Gläva meaning Cliff or Head. I am in the process of determining if this location may be the historical home of our ancestors. Our DNA is closely associated with the surnames of Glawe, Blom, Blohm, or Bloemen, and Ackamaan in the Nedderlands and Northern Germany or at the time John was born there, Swedish Pomerania.