A recent investigation of human remains from the 17th-century British settlement in Jamestown, Virginia, has revealed a long-hidden scandal in the family of the colony’s first governor, Thomas West. DNA analysis of two skeletons from unmarked graves in a Jamestown church showed that both individuals were linked by shared maternal lineage, leading researchers to discover that one of the men, Captain William West, was actually illegitimate. The scandal surrounding his birth was deliberately hidden from the West family’s genealogical records, possibly contributing to his decision to seek his fortune in the American colony.
The study, published in the journal Antiquity, demonstrates how genetic data can unveil forbidden or shameful narratives from the past, providing a better understanding of how individuals circumvented societal norms. The investigation into the unmarked graves, conducted in 2014, uncovered that one of the skeletons was Captain West, buried with military honors, and the other was Sir Ferdinando Wenman, a first cousin to the governor, whose relationship to West was previously unknown.
Through the analysis of ancient DNA, researchers determined that both men shared a matrilineal genetic lineage, uncovering the surprising family relationship. This revelation led to the discovery of court documents from 1616 confirming Captain West’s illegitimate birth. The findings not only shed light on a long-held family secret but also added another layer to the history of Jamestown, emphasizing the complex human relationships and drama that existed within the early American colony. The study highlights how combining genetic data with historical evidence can reveal hidden stories from the past, providing new insights into the lives of those who lived in Jamestown over 400 years ago.
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