Publications

My first book DNA and Social Networking: A Guide to Genealogy in the Twenty-First Century was published in November 2011 by the History Press, and can be ordered from Amazon.co.uk or direct from The History Press. It can also be purchased from Amazon as a Kindle edition. The book was released in North America in March 2012 and is available from Amazon and other online retailers in the US, Canada and Australia.

My second book for the History Press, The Surnames Handbook, was published in October 2012. The book is a comprehensive guide to researching a surname and covers topics such as surname mapping, DNA testing and one-name studies. The book includes extensive weblinks to all the many online resources for researching a surname. It is also available in a Kindle edition.

I also contributed a chapter entitled "The Napoleonic War Hero" to the book
A Viking in the Family and Other Family Tree Tales by Keith Gregson (The History Press, 2011, pp96-99.) This chapter is about my great-great-great grandfather David Tidbury (c.1785-1867), a veteran of the Peninsular War who also fought at the Battle of Waterloo.

I contributed a chapter on "The promises and limitations of genetic genealogy" to the book Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies edited by Debbie Parker Wayne and published in March 2019.

I contributed a chapter in the commemorative book So Far. Genetic Genealogy The First 25 Years 1999-2024 edited by Diahan Southard (Your DNA Guide, 2024). This book is available as a free download from Your DNA Guide.

Papers in peer-reviewed journals

• Gleeson M, Rutherford D, Kennett D, Cleary J, Leonard M. How successful is commercial DNA testing in resolving British & Irish cases of unknown parentage? The Journal of Genealogy and Family History 2022 Volume 6 Number 1. Published online 3 October 2022.
• Kling D, Phillips C, Kennett D and Tillmar A. Investigative genetic genealogy: current methods, knowledge and practice. Forensic Science International: Genetics 2021, published online 30 January 2021.
• Samuel G and Kennett D. Problematising consent: searching genetic genealogy databases for law enforcement purposes. New Genetics and Society, published online 18 November 2020. 
• Samuel G and Kennett D. The impact of investigative genetic genealogy: perceptions of UK professional and public stakeholders. Forensic Science International: Genetics 2020: 48: 102366.
• Thomson J, Clayton T, Cleary J, Gleeson M, Kennett D, Leonard M and Rutherford D. An empirical investigation into the effectiveness of genetic genealogy to identify individuals in the United Kingdom. Forensic Science International: Genetics 2020, Volume 46 (May): 102263, published online 24 February 2020.
• Thomson J, Clayton T, Cleary J, Gleeson M, Kennett D, Leonard M and Rutherford D. The effectiveness of forensic genealogy techniques in the United Kingdom – an experimental assessment. Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series 2019 7(1):765-767.
• Kennett D, Reisel D and Harper J. Genetic databases and donor anonymity Human Reproduction,  34(9): 1848-1849. Published online on 16 August 2019
• Kennett D. Using genetic genealogy databases in missing persons cases and to develop suspect leads in violent crimes. Forensic Science International 2019: 301: 107-117. Published online on 14 May 2019. 
• Kennett DA, Timpson A, Balding DJ, Thomas MG. The rise and fall of BritainsDNA: a tale of misleading claims, media manipulation, and threats to academic freedom. Genealogy 2018 2(4): 47. Published online 2 November 2018.
• Harper J, Kennett D, Reisel D. The end of donor anonymity: how genetic testing is likely to drive anonymous gamete donation out of business. Human Reproduction 2016 31 (6): 1135-1140. First published online on 12 April 2016.

Academic websites

• Debbie's Google Scholar profile
• Debbie's Orcid profile
• Debbie's Scopus profile
• UCL Molecular and Cultural and Evolution Lab

Articles

• Get more from your DNA test. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, December 2024, issue 224, pp14-17.
• Tech Tips: create a master index of BMDs for a surname. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, July 2024, issue 219, pp50-51.
• Break down brick walls with DNA. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, December 2023, issue 211, pp15-19.
• Your DNA questions answered. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, May 2023, pp15-20.
• How to use 23andMe.  Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Summer 2022, issue 193, pp24-25.
• How to use Living DNA. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, June 2022, issue 191, pp32-33.
• Make the most of FamilyTreeDNA. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, May 2022, issue 190, pp32-33.
• How to use MyHeritage DNA. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, April 2022, issue 189, pp32-33.
• DNA Painter: What is it and what are its key features? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, February 2022, issue 187,pp32-33 An edited version of this article is available online.
• Anonymity for donors until children turn 18 – can this be maintained? Guest blog post for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, 9 September 2021.
• Guide to one-name studies. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine? March 2021, issue 175, pp24-28. An abbreviated version of this article is available online.
• Get more from your Ancestry DNA test. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine?, November 2020, issue 171 pp19-24.
• DNA ethnicity explained. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, May 2020, pp16-21. An edited version of the article with the title "What do DNA test results mean?" is available online on the WDYTYA Magazine website.
• From father to son. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Issue 158, November 2019, pp24-29. An extract from the article can be found online here.
• Making the most of your DNA matches. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Issue 152, June 2019, pp17-22.
• DNA dilemmas and delights. Family Tree Magazine, May 2019, pp56-58.
• Talking Headlines with Debbie Kennett, Research the Headlines, 10th January 2019.
• Guide to DNA testing. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, December 2018, pp17-23.
• Paint your chromosomes. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Summer 2018, pp23-26.
• The brave new world of genetic genealogy MIT Technology Review, 28 April 2018.
• Personal genetic testing and the implications for the donor conception community. BioNews, 26 February 2018.
• DNA dilemma. Family Tree Magazine, January 2018, pp22-23.
• A guide to DNA testing for genealogy. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, issue 125, May 2017, pp17-23.
• DNA tests - why you need one. Family Tree Magazine, November 2016, Volume 33 No 1, pp56-57.
• Harper J, Kennett D, Reisel D. How personal genomics spells the end of donor anonymity. BioNews, 3 May 2016.
• DNA for genealogy: which test is best for you? Family Tree Magazine, Christmas 2014, pp54-55.
• Cousins reunited: autosomal DNA demystified. Berkshire Family Historian, December 2014, volume 38, pp26-28
• Sense about genealogical DNA testing. Sense About Science blog, 15 March 2013.
• Exploring your ancestry through DNA testing. Celtic Guide August 2012, Volume 1, Issue 8, pp32-34. Available from: http://www.celticguide.com.
• Ancestral research through DNA. FIBIS – The Journal of the Families in British India Society Spring 2012, Number 27, pp44-52
• Cousins reunited. Family History Monthly, May 2011, issue 195, pp46-48.
• DNA testing and the Devon DNA Project. Devon Family Historian, number 135, August 2010, pp15-18.
• Geni.com review. Family History Monthly, April 2010, issue 181, pp76-77.
• A decade of DNA testing. The Greenwood Tree, February 2010, Volume 35, Number 1, pp11-12.
• Social networking for family historians. Family History Monthly, February 2010, issue 179, pp36-37.
• Devon DNA Project. Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. Autumn 2009.
• GenealogyWise: A new networking website for family historians. Journal of One-Name Studies, October-December 2009, Volume 10, number 4, pp16-17.
• A practical guide to DNA testing. Family History Monthly, October 2009, issue 174, pp22-25.
• Facebook for family historians. Berkshire Family Historian, Volume 32, March 2009, pp10-12.
• Answers from your Genes. Berkshire Family Historian, Volume 33, September 2008, pp14-17.

Letters

• The DNA debate (letter about genetic homeland stories). Family Tree Magazine,  August 2013, p90.
• DNA discoveries. Your Family Tree, April 2010, p21.
• Making the best DNA match. Ancestors, June 2009.

Book reviews and software reviews

• I Know Who You Are. A review of the book by Barbara Rae Venter. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, October 2023, issue 209, p69.
• Exploring Oxfordshire Surnames. A review of the book by Jessica Feinstein, Sue Honore and Richard Merry. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, January 2023, issue 199, p68.
• Understanding DNA Ancestry. A review of the book by Sheldon Krimsky. BioNews 1133, 21 February 2022.
• Tracing Your Female Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians. A review of the book by Adele Emm. Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, March 2020, pp41-42.
• Who We Are and How We Got Here. A review of the book by David Reich. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, June 2018.
• Tracing your Ancestors from 1066 to 1837: A Guide for Family Historians. A review of the book by Jonathan Oates. Journal of One-Name Studies, October-December 2012, Volume 11, Number 3, p30.
• The Berkshire Probate Index reviewed. Berkshire Family Historian Volume 36, September 2012,  pp10-11.
• Surnames, DNA and Family History. A review of the book by George Redmonds, Turi King and David Hey. Journal of One-Name Studies January-March 2012, Volume 11, Number 1, p29.

Q&A features

• Q&A K Jones Boland family from Ireland 362 words? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Christmas 2024, issue 225.
• Q&A Where does my Scottish DNA come from? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, December 2024, issue 224, to be invoiced.
• Q&A Can DNA tell me who my great grandfather is? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, November 2024, issue 223, p44.
• Q&A What can Ancestry’s chromosome painter tell me? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, October 2024, issue 222, p48.
• Q&A Has DNA helped to find my 3x great grandparents? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, May 2024, issue 217, p46.
• Q&A Has ThruLines solved the mystery of my great grandfather’s birth? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, March 2024, issue 215, p46.
• Q&A Who was my grandfather’s birth mother? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, February 2024, issue 214, p48.
• Q&A Which line of Irish Carews do I descend from? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, January 2024, issue 213, p46.
• Can my DNA test results lead to my Irish family? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, September 2023, issue 208, p48.
• Can I find out who my mother’s father was using DNA? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, July 2023, issue 205, p46.
• How am I related to DNA match sisters? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, June 2023, issue 204, p46.
• Q&A How to uncover my connections with second/third cousins on AncestryDNA? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, November 2022, issue 197, p46.
• Q&A How can I find my DNA link with the Farnhams? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, August 2022, issue 194, p57.
• Q&A Can we find out who my late father's real father was through DNA testing? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Summer 2022, issue 193, p57.
• Q&A Could a DNA test help me with my Curtis brickwall? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, May 2022, issue 190, p41.
• Q&A Who are the Scottish ancestors AncestryDNA picked up? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine? October 2021, issue 183, p40.
• Q&A Is Ann or Helen my 4 x great grandmother?. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine? August 2021, issue 181, p39.
• Q&A Have I solved my DNA riddle? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine? Summer 2021, Issue 180, p40.
• Q&A How can I narrow down relationships in my DNA test results? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine? November 2020, issue 171, p40.
• Q&A My grandfather was brought up by foster parents. Can DNA help me to uncover who his biological parents were? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, May 2020, issue 164, p43.
• Medical DNA for family historians. Family Tree Magazine, February 2020, issue 161, pp16-18
• Q&A. Can you explain why the results of my DNA test don't reflect my German ancestry? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, January 2020, issue 160, p38.
• Q&A. Can you help me make sense of my DNA test results? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine December 2019, issue 159, p43.
• Q&A. Is it possible to calculate my late grandfather's DNA results? Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Summer 2018, p45.
• Q&A. Am I descended from a Scottish king. Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, August 2018, p43.
• Q&A. The Big Question. Do these DNA results mean that I have Italian ancestors? Who Do You Think You Are Magazine, March 2018, p46.

Websites
I am a major contributor to the UCL Debunking genetic astrology website.
I am the co-founder and a major contributor to the ISOGG Wiki.

Online publications

• A brief biography of my uncle Gerald Herbert Cruwys, a navigator with the RAF in World War II
• The Rectors of Cruwys Morchard

Transcriptions of wills published on Genuki Devon

• The Will of John Ackelande Esquire of Landkey (1538)
• The Will of John Ackland Esquire of Ackland (1553)
• The Will of John Cruse of Morchard Cruse (1577)
• The Will of Anne Cruse of Moretonhampstead, Cruwys Morchard and Rackenford (1586)
• The Will of George Westcott yeoman of North Molton (28th February 1593)
• The Will of George Westcott of Bishops Tawton (1st July 1595)
• The Will of Alexander Cruse of Cruwys Morchard (1648)
• The Will of Susann Cruse of Winkleigh (1648)
• The Will of Francis Colman, gentleman of Tiverton (1650)
• The Will of  Mary Cruse, wife of Winkleigh (1655)
• The Will of John Cruwys of Cruwys Morchard (1656-1711)
• The Will of Susanna Cruwys relict of Samuel Cruwys Esquire (1756)
• The Will of Dorothy Cruwys, spinster of Westminster (1757)
• The Will of Henry Cruwys of Hillersdon, Cullompton (1760)
• The Will of Jane Cruwys Widow of Hillersdon, Cullompton (1765)
• The Will of Thomas Augustus Cruwys of New Inn, Middlesex (1770)
• The Will of the Reverend John Cruwys, clerk of Cruwys Morchard (1715-1791)
• The Will of Bridget Cruwys, spinster of Westminster (1794)
• Estate Duty Office Will of Dorothy Dillon, widow, of Burrington (1812)
• Estate Duty Office Will of John Dillon, druggist, of Burrington (1798-1853)
• The Will of the Reverend Henry Shortrudge Cruwys (1805)
• The Last Will and Testament of William Cruwys (1821-1873)

Transcriptions of newspaper articles published on Genuki Devon

• Ashreigney Ploughing Match
• Ashreigney: A Day at the Races
• A Singular and Fatal Accident in Burrington (to Samuel Parkhouse in 1873)
• John Cruwys and the Stolen Cow
• The Sanitary Condition of Chulmleigh
• William Cruwys and Maria Westacott and the Stolen Blankets
• The tragic death of Herbert Cruwys of Witheridge
• A Letter from the Reverend John Tossell Johnson (1790)
• A trifling offence in St Giles
• Memorial to the fallen heroes of St Giles in the Wood
• Extracts from 18th and 19th century newspapers relating to Cruwys Morchard
• Cruwys Morchard Ploughing Matches

Indexes

• An Index to A Cruwys Morchard Notebook, 1066-1874

Indentures

• Transcription of a tripartite indenture dated 12th October 1770 between John Cruwys of Cruwys Morchard, Thomas Putt and Samuel Newte of the first part, Charles Evelyn of Totnes and Philippa his wife of the second part and William Mann yeoman of Broadhempston of the third part
• Transcription of a tripartite indenture between John Callard, Mary Short, Nicholas Hole and John Dillon dated 1st July 1760

Miscellaneous transcriptions

• The Tracy Deed
• Transcription of various deeds from John Tingey’s Calendar of Deeds Enrolled Within the County of Devon 1536-1673:
• Cheriton Fitzpaine deed
• Winkleigh deeds
• Letter from George Sharland Cruwys to Frederick Stockdale dated 2nd January 1841
• Cruwys Morchard wills and inventories

© 2012-2024 Debbie Kennett