DNA Bombshell

[kjmck]

Hi Everyone,

Looking for opinions and advice on this one.

I ordered my brother-in-law an Ancestry DNA test as his mother was adopted and we were curious to find out anything about her family. The results came back recently and it has confirmed what we thought we knew about his biological maternal grandmother who was a lady from Co. Wicklow, who moved to England with her sister in their late teens, and she gave birth a few years later in October 1961.

DNA matches have come back on the maternal biological grandfathers line indicating that this man was from America. I think I have narrowed it down to one man, who I have been told was in the military, so perhaps there was some conflict or reason he would have been stationed over in England in 1960/1961? This line of the family seems to have multiple DNA connections, well over 40 that I can pinpoint.

Now, the bombshell in this is that the DNA results revealed that my brother in law's father, is not his biological father which was not expected. His father, auntie, half sister, paternal cousins have previously tested and are not showing as DNA matches on ancestry. So this has thrown up a lot of questions.

Can it be possible that there can be any mistake in these DNA results? I have read this question from many other researchers, but now I find myself asking it too.

I know it may be difficult to research the paternal line as not many close DNA matches have come up, and being mainly Welsh with the common surnames that seem to be appearing it makes it extra difficult. Can anyone advise on how to approach this, what services or professionals may be able to help?

I look forward to hearing from anyone willing to help.

Many thanks,
Keelan

[CaroleW]

I can't answer from the DNA angle but look at when his parents married in relation to when he was born?

Depending on those dates - some possibilities.

He was illegitimate - born before the marriage

His mother was already pregnant by somebody else when she married.  Husband may have thought he was the father so you need to be careful or he may have known & agreed to bring him up as his own child

Mother had an affair during the marriage.  Tread very carefully if this could be a possibility - particularly if she & her husband are still alive & he may not be aware

[Galium]

DNA matches have come back on the maternal biological grandfathers line indicating that this man was from America. I think I have narrowed it down to one man, who I have been told was in the military, so perhaps there was some conflict or reason he would have been stationed over in England in 1960/1961? This line of the family seems to have multiple DNA connections, well over 40 that I can pinpoint.

There were, and still are US military bases in England. 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7113062.stm

Do you know whether your b-i-l's grandmother lived near one of them?

[coombs]

Yes, as Carole said, did your brother in law's mum marry before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or did she marry after your bil was born?

[jc26red]

Now, the bombshell in this is that the DNA results revealed that my brother in law's father, is not his biological father which was not expected. His father, auntie, half sister, paternal cousins have previously tested and are not showing as DNA matches on ancestry. So this has thrown up a lot of questions

If your brother in laws father is still living, maybe suggest they both do a YDNA test with familytreedna which follows the paternal line. If nothing else it will give a second opinion and perhaps point towards a suggested name if your brother in law and his father do not match.

Of course, this might be delicate to approach his father if he isn’t aware of any dna issues.

[kjmck]

I can't answer from the DNA angle but look at when his parents married in relation to when he was born?

Depending on those dates - some possibilities.

He was illegitimate - born before the marriage

His mother was already pregnant by somebody else when she married.  Husband may have thought he was the father so you need to be careful or he may have known & agreed to bring him up as his own child

Mother had an affair during the marriage.  Tread very carefully if this could be a possibility - particularly if she & her husband are still alive & he may not be aware

Hi Carole,
His parents married Jul-Sept 1981 and he was born in October 1983, so it would appear to be an extra-marital affair. His parent's have been made aware, not by myself, and his father didn't know or have an inkling that he wasn't his biological father. A rather difficult situation as you can imagine. :/

[kjmck]

DNA matches have come back on the maternal biological grandfathers line indicating that this man was from America. I think I have narrowed it down to one man, who I have been told was in the military, so perhaps there was some conflict or reason he would have been stationed over in England in 1960/1961? This line of the family seems to have multiple DNA connections, well over 40 that I can pinpoint.

There were, and still are US military bases in England. 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7113062.stm

Do you know whether your b-i-l's grandmother lived near one of them?

Hi Galium,
Thanks for this. My b-i-l's mother was born in Epping, and at the time her mother was working as a chambermaid in a pub in Braintree.

[kjmck]

Yes, as Carole said, did your brother in law's mum marry before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or did she marry after your bil was born?

Hi,

Unfortunately in this case it appears he was conceived through an affair had during the marriage.

[kjmck]

Now, the bombshell in this is that the DNA results revealed that my brother in law's father, is not his biological father which was not expected. His father, auntie, half sister, paternal cousins have previously tested and are not showing as DNA matches on ancestry. So this has thrown up a lot of questions

If your brother in laws father is still living, maybe suggest they both do a YDNA test with familytreedna which follows the paternal line. If nothing else it will give a second opinion and perhaps point towards a suggested name if your brother in law and his father do not match.

Of course, this might be delicate to approach his father if he isn’t aware of any dna issues.

Hi,

That's a good idea thank you for that. I have found someone who is showing as either a second cousin or a 1st cousin twice removed, so possibly looking at shared great grandparents. So I am in contact trying to find out from the other person if this match is on their maternal or paternal line so that I can start to eliminate two sets of great grandparents. But it will be a slow process