On Thu, 31 Jul 1997 purplevw@sl.net writes: >Hello; > >It may be that I have posted here before, I do not rmemeber. >However, about 15 or more years ago, I subscribed to >"Pennington Pedigrees" and they used to refer to different >lineages and branches with numbers, and that is what has >caught my eye. > >So, can you tell me how you arrived at the number and how you >are able to keep track so as to give a person the number of the >line that he belongs to. <snip> >Can you tell me if this line has a number? It is my husband's >lineage. > Sandra, I stand to be corrected - but it is my understanding that the PENNINGTON RESEARCH ASSOCIATION tried various systems to try to keep up with the different UNCONNECTED lineages and they finally settled on the group numbers. As I understand, when a PATRIARCH was found where his parents could not be identified and when he had substantial descendants, he was assigned the next available group number for identification. The number itself is NOT significant except to divide the lineages where links to other groups cannot be found. The groups were numbered as they were identified. Later if a link to another group is proven, the groups involved are combined into one. The goal is to combine all groups into one - then we will have discovered ALL of the PENNINGTON genealogy. It is the belief of many knowledgeable researchers that all PENNINGTONs came from one common ancestor in the 12th century. Finding a person's group number is done by identifiying that person or one of his ancestors in previously researched data which has resulted in him or his ancestor being placed in a specific group. There are currently 27 PENNINGTON groups. From the limited info here on your Robert (b.c. 1763 NC), it APPEARS that he is a descendant in Group I, Ephraim PENNINGTON, b.c. 1605 in England, emigrated c. 1643 to New Haven, CT, and d.c. 1660/61 at New Haven. Hope this helps. Bobby ---------------- Bobby Pennington Charleston, SC <bobbypennington@juno.com> <bobpenn@bellsouth.net>