The initial goal of the project is to determine whether or not LOVRIEN/LOVERING's living in the USA are descended from the immigrant John LOVERING who migrated to Ipswich, Massachusetts then on to Dover, New Hampshire where he was made freeman in 1657. He drowned in 1668 in the Piscataqua River leaving one known son, John, Jr.

The project also hopes to recruit participants living in countries other than the USA which would aid in determining the country of origin of the immigrant John LOVERING and would also create a master DNA base for all males of the LOVRIEN/LOVERING surname or anyone who believes he descends from a LOVRIEN ancestor.