About us
Here are the EXPECTATIONS for our participants to help them and the Project Administrators make the project as meaningful and as collaborative as possible.
1. Everyone MUST take the Family Finder test with Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), OR transfer DNA results from AncestryDNA, 23andMe, or MyHeritage to FTDNA. Here's how to transfer to FTDNA: https://learn.familytreedna.com/imports/transfer-autosomal-ancestry/family-tree-dna-family-finder-transfer-program/. Keep in mind that the transfer is a two-step process: first, you must download your "raw data" file from the company you tested with; and second, you must upload this "raw data" file to Family Tree DNA. Instructions for doing both steps can be found at the link shown above. Transferred kits must pay the $19 "unlock" fee to make the Chromosome Browser tool available to the administrators for project analysis. MEN who still carry a registered Huguenot surname should take the Y-DNA test at 111 markers, and/or the Big Y. Men and women may take the Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Full Sequence test if they wish. Questions? Just ask!
2. A Family Tree is REQUIRED for this project. Go to "Family Tree" on your FTDNA main page. You can upload a GEDCOM, or enter your information manually. Questions? Just ask!
3. ACCOUNT SETTINGS. Go to: https://learn.familytreedna.com/user-guide/my-account/my-account-information-page/
Here are the preferences for Account Settings for this project:
a. Keep your contact information up to date.
b. Keep your FTDNA kit number and password written down in a safe place. You may share this information with your project administrators if you choose to. Project administrators are held to very high standards and will protect your information. If you forget your kit number or password, they will have it for you. If you change your password, please notify your project administrators.
c. Designate a Beneficiary for your DNA sample and kit information in the event of your passing.
4. GENEALOGY SETTINGS. A Surnames List is REQUIRED for this project. Make a separate entry for as many surnames (including maiden names) as you can that are in your ancestry. Make sure to include a separate entry for variations in the spelling of a surname as well. In the "location" field, use the name of the country and/or the abbreviations for the state in which your ancestors with that surname were born, for any states in which they lived, and for the state in which they died. For your maternal Earliest Known Ancestor, enter the name of your mother's mother's mother's mother, as far back along your matrilineal line as you know. This will always be a woman's name. For your paternal Earliest Known Ancestor, enter the name of your father's father's father's father, as far back along your patrilineal line as you know. This will always be a man's name. Here's how: https://learn.familytreedna.com/user-guide/my-account/my-genealogy-page/
5. PRIVACY & SHARING SETTINGS. Go to: https://learn.familytreedna.com/user-guide/my-account/my-privacy-and-sharing-page/
a. You must "Opt In" to matching.
b. You may "Opt Out" to Law Enforcement matching. The default is "Opt In."
c. You must select "All Levels" for Family Finder Match Levels. Otherwise, your match list is limited and prevents the very collaboration for which DNA Projects are designed.
You will be removed from the project if your Family Finder Match Level is not set to "All Levels."
d. You may decide to share your Origins and Ancient Origins with matches ("Opt In").
e. You must "Opt In" to sharing your Family Tree at least with Matches, but you may choose to share it with the entire FTDNA database of testers.
6. PROJECT PREFERENCES SETTINGS. Go to: https://learn.familytreedna.com/user-guide/my-account/my-project-preferences-page/
a. Set the ACCESS LEVEL for your project administrators to "Advanced." This is a requirement for this project. Advanced access will allow your project administrators to use the Chromosome Browser to perform project analysis. Your kit cannot be included in this project analysis without access to the Chromosome Browser tool. You will be removed from the project if you set Administrator Access to "minimum."
b. You must "Opt In to Sharing" on "Group Project Profile."
7. NOTIFICATIONS PREFERENCES. Go to: https://learn.familytreedna.com/user-guide/my-account/my-notification-preferences-page/
a. Family Finder Email Notifications. Select "Immediate" and "Close" matches.
If you have done any of the following tests:
b. mtDNA (Mitochondrial DNA). Select "HVR1/HVR2."
c. Y-DNA. Select each desired level that you would like match notifications for. (I don't bother with anything under the 37 marker level.)
d. Big Y. Select "New Matches."
e. PROJECTS. Select "Subscribe." This is REQUIRED for this project.
Please feel free to contact your project administrator(s) if you have questions or need assistance! These settings are very important for the success of the project.