I have recently been diagnosed with a nasty cancer which, because of my dicky ticker, is probably untreatable. I’m not seeking your pity, but rather help to enable me to wrap up some of my affairs. I’ve had a good life, a long and successful marriage and don’t feel short-changed. In fact, I consider myself fortunate to have been given some time to finalise a few things. If I’d been run over by a bus or struck down with WuFlu I wouldn’t have had this opportunity.
I’m therefore reaching out to the BFD community to see if I can conclude two matters. You can see them at the end of this article. I wish to thank Juana and the BFD for giving me the opportunity to publish this story and request.
The Back Story
As part of my self discovery journey, which has included delving into my genealogy, I decided to get a handle on my genetic make up.
The reasons that spurred me into the journey were firstly my age, secondly my mother’s age (she was almost 90 at the time) and thirdly an incurable curiosity. I had just read “The Seven Daughters of Eve” by Bryan Sykes that presents the theory of human mitochondrial genetics, and this together with subsequent reading encouraged me into looking at my genetic history as well as the genealogical side.
I selected 23andme as the vehicle to help me. This company has been around for some time, and their website has a wealth of information on what they do, and what you may expect. If you are thinking of doing a similar search 23nadme has a special of US$79 until 26 November.
23andme offered a saliva-based testing service for US$99, and this price together with their length of operation clinched the deal, and I sent away for the kit. This arrived in a few days and after following the step by step instructions my saliva was winging it’s way to the USA. Several weeks elapsed, then I received an email telling me my results were available online. (If you decide to use this I recommend you rinse your mouth thoroughly before you start, otherwise, you may find you are related to a pork sandwich!)
I won’t go into all the information, but will say:
I have slightly more than the average of Neanderthal DNA in my make up (yes, our ancestors did cuddle up to the Neanderthals during the cold nights).
I received some medical indicators (since withdrawn because the AMA brooks no competition to their monopoly).
On my mothers side, maternal haplogroups are families of mitochondrial DNA types that all trace back to a single mutation at a specific place and time. By looking at the geographic distribution of mtDNA types, we learn how our ancient female ancestors migrated throughout the world.
The following shows the migration revealed by my genes from Africa to the middle east. There is more modern information also, not shown.
J1c2b is relatively common among 23andMe customers.
Today, I share my haplogroup with all the maternal-line descendants of the common ancestor of J1c2b, including other 23andMe customers.
1 in 800 23andMe customers share my haplogroup assignment.
On my father’s side the picture is quite different., and of course there is more modern information. You can see that my fathers ancestors moved much more broadly than my mother’s folks, who were relatively stay at home types.
1 in 170 23andMe customers share my haplogroup assignment R-M405.
Using complex algorithms 23andme have produced information on my recent ancestry breakdown.
Just before Christmas last year I received an email from 23andme updating some information. They wanted to remind me that I had a significant portion of Germany ancestry (this may be why I want to invade Poland).
They also told me about my famous (and royal) connections.
Me and King Richard III of England (on my mother’s side).
The much-maligned English Monarch, King Richard III, died in the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 – likely the result of a severe blow to the back of his head. Richard’s body was buried in a friary church in Leicester, but the structure was demolished less than 100 years later thanks to the dissolution of the Catholic Church in England, and many thought his skeleton lost to time.
Our common ancestor was 13,000 years ago.
Me and Louis XVI of France (on my father’s side).
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793.
Our common ancestor was only 10,000 years ago.
You commoners can pay homage to me (money and jewels are acceptable).
Charles and William are reported to be worried by my rise in the royal ranks. Harry and Megan couldn’t care less!
As you can see, all sorts of information can be revealed by ones genes. I have found a number of cousins unknown to me, but have not had time to correspond with them all. I was always prepared to find something dark hidden in the family tree, and that follows.
How can you help me?
Charles Anders Andersen
I did some research into my paternal grandmother based on the German connection and found a half brother for my father. Nobody in the family (and certainly not the keeper of the family archive in Denmark) knew of this man. I’ve received his death certificate which shows him to be a rare bird in our family, a drinker to excess.
Charles Anders Andersen was born 9 September 1918 and died in June 1976. I have his death certificate which shows some errors, so it’s likely that his family were sketchy on his history. According to the death certificate, there was one living son at that time. He married Alice Edith Davies during the war. It’s uncertain whether my grandfather Anders Andersen fathered Charles, or lent his name and legitimacy to save the mother (my grandmother’s sister) from disgrace. Remember, this was during WW1 when the flower of New Zealand manhood was being slaughtered in the trenches of Europe. A DNA test compared to mine would answer this question.
I would like to contact any living relatives of Charles to tell them what I know. Any readers of The BFD who can help are asked to email me at [email protected] so I can make contact.
Elizabeth Dorothea Andersen.
My uncle Anders (not the same person as my grandfather in the above) was the brother of my great grandfather. He was reputed to have found two fortunes in the Australian gold fields, and settled in the Wairarapa where he purchased and cleared land at Woodside. He later retired to Featherston where he died. He has the grandest monument in the Featherston cemetery, so must have still been wealthy at that time.
Some time previously he and his first wife adopted a little girl, and when Anders left her a bequest in his will the case went to court and made history. Until this time only “natural” children could inherit, and this case established the rights of adopted children in New Zealand.
You can read about the case here. I would strongly recommend this site as a great place to research news of past ancestors.
I am keen to contact any relatives of Elizabeth Pilkington and her husband William Andrew Pilkington who were in Pukekohe around 1911. I have knowledge of where Elizabeth came from which I would like to pass on. Any readers of The BFD who can help are asked to email me at [email protected] so I can make contact.
Some other worthwhile reading on this subject:
Deep Ancestry
Inside the Genographic Project by Spencer Wells
The Rational Optimist
How Prosperity Evolves By Matt Ridley
Francis Crick
By Matt Ridley
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