About us
https://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=Jennings
While a surname itself may give us incomplete or misleading or, at best, only general information about the origin of a family, DNA-testing can give us concrete evidence for identifying and separating family lines. Y-chromosome DNA testing is especially helpful because the male Y-chromosome is handed down, father to son, unchanged through the generations, except for rare mutations which, in themselves, can be helpful indicators of branching. The accessibility and affordability of family DNA testing is doubtless the greatest technical advance in the history of genealogical research because -- at long, long last -- we have a tool to break down those brick walls!
We are the Official Worldwide Jennings DNA Project for ALL JENNINGS descendants.
Our objective is to use Y chromosome test samples to construct family groups and define lineages. These clusters are further refined using autosomal DNA test results and family trees provided by our members. We hope to match individuals who share common Jennings ancestors and break through researchers’ brick walls.
We host two separate initiatives: (1) the FTDNA Jennings Surname project here, (2) a Facebook forum to discuss FTDNA test results and Jennings DNA - Genealogy at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2416564068634365
[1] We recommend ALL MALE JENNINGS take FTDNA's Y-37 test or greater. Y-67 and Y-111 levels of testing are better for determining matches within the very common haplogroup R-M269. If you have maternal Jennings ancestors, try to locate a male Jennings relative to take the Y-DNA test.
[2] We kindly request that Jennings Project Members submit your direct line PEDIGREE to your most distant verified JENNINGS ancestor. Please include your kit number. Pedigrees are posted to our ACTIVITY FEED page is ONLY visible to Project Members.
Email us with your pedigree to jennings.ftdna@gmail.com
Most Distant Jennings Ancestor b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location
m. Spouse b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location
- Descendant #1 b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location
m. Spouse b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location
- Descendant #2 b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location
m. Spouse b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location
- Descendant #3 b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location
m. Spouse b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location
As far down your family tree as you feel comfortable sharing.
[3] We wholeheartedly encourage ALL JENNINGS descendants, male and female, to take autosomal DNA tests (such as FTDNA’s Family Finder).
[4] RECOMMENDED SETTINGS for your FTDNA Profile.
Look for the Account Settings gear icon under your name and kit number:
1) Optimize GENEALOGY
- Step 1: Select the top tab “Genealogy”
- Step 2: Enter your verifiable, earliest known ancestor in the spaces provided for Paternal ancestry and Maternal ancestry
- Step 3: Scroll down and click SAVE
2) Optimize your PRIVACY
- Step 1: Select the top tab “Privacy & Sharing”
- Step 2: Toggle “on” the button “Opt in to Matching”
- Step 3: Set “Match Levels” to “All Levels”
- Step 4: Family Tree Sharing can be set to “Only Matches” or everyone.
3) Optimize your PROJECT settings
- Step 1: Select the tab “Project Preferences”
- Step 2: You will see the JENNINGS project name (if you have joined) and a list of our administrators. Click on the pencil icon.
- Step 3: On the pop up screen, you are given a choice about the level of administrator access to your account. We recommend “Limited” for all administrators.
- Step 4: Don’t forget to click “Accept Project Preferences” at the bottom.
- Step 5: Opt in to Sharing which allows Group Administrators to publish your pseudonymized DNA results which means your name is anonymous but your test results and earliest known Jennings ancestor are publicly displayed on our Y-DNA matrix.
4) Name a backup BENEFICIARY of your DNA test results.
- Step 1: Select the tab “Account Information”, then choose “Beneficiary Information”
- Step 2: Fill in the form
OUR PROJECT IS HAPPY TO ACCEPT YOUR DONATIONS to enable testing of other male Jennings descendants.