DNA Research

Good afternoon! It has been a couple of weeks since I have posted, so I thought it would be a good time to post an update on my research. I have now identified and mapped 64 DNA matches (previously 47 as of 12Oct2026) whose family trees lead back to one of the four Jenkins families I am currently researching.

Current DNA Match Summary

Benjamin Franklin Jenkins — 24 (previously 21) confirmed DNA matches

• Descendants of William Houston Jenkins

• Descendants of Abigail Jenkins

Samuel Jenkins & Caroline Ceberta “Bertie” Johnson — 20 (previously 17) confirmed DNA matches

• Descendants of Silas Luther Jenkins

• Descendants of Hettie (Hattie) E. Jenkins

• Descendants of Georgia Ann Jenkins

William Lewis Jenkins — 9 (previously 5) confirmed DNA matches

• Descendants of Mary A. Jenkins

• Descendants of Sarah E. Jenkins

Sarah Armanda Jenkins — 11 (previously 4) confirmed DNA matches

• Descendants of Newtie Gay Ogletree

• Descendants of George Reed Ogletree

• Descendants of Nannie Lou Ogletree

One thing to note, in identifying additional descendants of Sarah Armanda Jenkins, we have now found matches through 3 of her children rather than just 1 as previously noted. Having DNA matches to descendants of multiple children of a couple indicates that the connection is at the level of one of their parents, or further back.

Another exciting DNA development, we now have a confirmed Big Y-700 DNA match with confirmed STR matches at 634 of 700 markers. What does this mean? I’m glad you asked! This means that we have further classified our father-to-son genetic line haplogroup into a more specific group. Our newly classified Y-DNA Haplogroup (Jenkins Male Line) is I-FTH83422.

What is Y-DNA? – Y-DNA is passed down from father to son nearly identically. Daughters do not inherit the Y-DNA so only a direct male of the line can test. The test does not necessarily mean you carry the same surname. There are numerous factors that can impact the surname…a child being born outside of wedlock, name changes through adoption or other means, or an unknown father. Additionally, while the Y-DNA is passed from father to son nearly intact, it does mutate through generations. So the further you go back in time you will notice changes. Our current match does not have the Jenkins surname, however the estimated time of the most recent common ancestor is 1450-1800. A lot can happen in almost 600 years! There could have been an adoption or a name change upon immigrating to the United States. It could also have been before surnames were fully adopted which was phased in between 1250 and 1400 being nearly standard practice by 1450. DNA research is not exact. But it does help give us direction!