DNA question please

[chrissiecruiser]

My father in law was adopted, so I have been trying to discover who his father was.

I have his birth details from the Ballarat Town and City Rescue and Childrens Home. Born 1923. It does not mention the father but the mother was Violet Agnes (Aggie) Goodridge from Eaglehawk, Vic.

(She had a son in 1910 and named him Stanley, unknown father and adopted him out.)

She married George Henry Dowsey in 1913.  He died in 1919.

In 1923, she had my father in law, Richard James Dowsey and adopted him out in 1924 to Frederick Lancelot Williams.   

In 1931 she married again, Richard Dennett, had a son Alan Richard Dennett who died in 1933. Richard died in 1934.

That's the back story.
My hubby did a DNA test with Ancestry and I have had two search angels trying to put the pieces together.
They both could not do so.
There does not seem to be ANY matches which are suitable.
The largest Paternal match is 4th-6th Cousin    64cm<1% shared.

Leeds method I did some time ago, but it was the same...

Do you think that
1. The father was an immigrant at the goldfields? This was in the Eaglehawk, Bendigo, Ballarat area.
2. The father was in the family?

    OR
??
 Just don't know and probably never will.

Chris

[garstonite]

Agnes Violet was born in Eagle hawk in 1891 -

Born in 1891 - Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australia
Deceased in 1978 - Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, aged 87 years old
 
Spouses With George Henry Dowsey 1886-1919

so Violet was aged 19 when Stanley was born - and 32 in 1923 at the next birth and 41 for the Dennett birth of Alan in 1932
all these recods can be seen on Geneanet.org some are pay per view - some are free

https://gw.geneanet.org/sabrinabettridge?n=goodridge&oc=&p=agnes+violet

..................... Agnes Violet was Georges 2nd wife
https://gw.geneanet.org/sabrinabettridge?lang=en&pz=james+jared+murray&nz=littlefield&p=george+henry&n=dowsey&oc=1

the tree owner S. Bettridge ...likely a direct descendant of George Henry Dowsey

[chrissiecruiser]

Thanks Garstonite,

What do you make of the highest match?
Chris

[Ruskie]

Have you looked at the mutual matches of the 64cM match, in case you can place them?

Have you contacted the 64cM match? Do they have a tree? Even a small tree with a few names can sometimes be used to build on.

[chrissiecruiser]

Thank you Ruskie,

Will do that. Most of the matches only have a couple of people on trees or are private.
Check tonight.
Chris

[chrissiecruiser]

OOO Ruskie,
This is hard!!
The 64cm match has a large tree, linked to hubby's GGrandmother -paternal line. I cannot place any of them.  One of his matches is linked to the same line. I cannot place her. The other few have no trees.

What do the segments mean please?
The 64cm has 3 segments.
I have a 38cm person with 5 segments....same line.
I am floundering!
Chris

[Ruskie]

Well at least that narrows down the family somewhat. Look at the smaller % shared DNA matches as well in case they have trees.

Someone will be able to explain the meaning of segments, as I don’t usually take much notice of them, but I believe that the fewer the segments the closer the match. An intenet search should help explain it for you.

I can’t advise on how you might connect with these families if none of the names in the tree seem familiar. Something you could do is look at their tree to see if any of the places their ancestors lived tally with yours.

(I have a similar situation with one of my close DNA matches - she has a large tree, and a couple of familiar mutual matches, but I can’t work out how we connect. I suspect an illegitimacy in her line as I do know where a couple of our mutual matches fit into my tree).

It could be that their tree is missing that vital person who connects to you. Keep in mind surname changes when females marry.

I’m sure others will be able to offer some more practical help. 

[chrissiecruiser]

Thankyou Ruskie,

I did look at the other matches, and am thinking maybe someone in the family may be the one.
They all lived in the area. Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Ballarat.
Violet Agnes lived in a main road at Ballarat. Whether this was to await the birth or it actually was her residence, I don't know.

What I haven't discovered is the connection between Aggie and Frederick Lancelot Williams who unofficially adopted Richard James.
I even looked at the war records to see if there was a connection. He was a farmer born Boyeo, Dimboola. Left from Horsham on the train with friends to join up.
Also lived at Propodollah, Nhill, Kerang and Beauchamp, Vic.

I've been on this for a long time, but it is interesting delving back.

Bye for now,
Chris

[garstonite]

the lower the segments the closer the match