Lately, solved genetic genealogy mysteries appear in the news very often. This made it easy to miss some of the biggest historical discoveries of genealogical DNA research in the past few years. An increasing number of breakthroughs owe quite a bit to DNA testing and genetic genealogy techniques. Check out our list below for five examples:
1) English King Richard III
In 2012, researchers at the University of Leicester found what they believed to be the remains of England’s King Richard III. In order to prove that the skeleton found belonged to the fifteenth-century monarch, though, they turned to genetic genealogy techniques. A genealogist joined the team to trace Richard’s matrilineal line down to two living cousins: Michael Ibsen and Wendy Duldig. Their mitochondrial DNA proved a match to the remains, confirming, along with other evidence gathered, that King Richard III had been found.
2) Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia
Many know the legend of the Princess Anastasia–according to rumor the only member of the Russian royal family to escape execution in 1918. In 1991, remains believed to belong to the Romanovs were discovered in Yekaterinburg, but scientists needed genetic genealogy research to prove it. They reached out to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Queen Elizabeth II’s husband), for help. The Duke is the grand nephew of the Tsarina, Anastasia’s mother. His mitochondrial DNA proved a match to the bodies found. Among the remains, every member of the Romanov family was accounted for, including Anastasia. This proved that she had not escaped, but been executed with the rest of her family.
3) US President Abraham Lincoln’s Mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln
Historians had long debated Abraham Lincoln’s ancestry on his mother’s side. His mother, they knew, was Nancy Hanks, born the illegitimate child of Lucy Hanks. Tracing any further than that, however, led to vigorous debate over the few sources available. Then, in 2015, a team of genealogists used mitochondrial DNA tests of Hanks family descendants to prove the identity of Lincoln’s maternal grandparents: Joseph Hanks and Ann “Nancy” Lee of Richmond County, Virginia and Nelson County, Kentucky. Another mystery solved by genetic genealogy!
4) US President Warren G Harding’s Love Child
The stories passed down in the Blaesing family said that their ancestor was the daughter of US President Warren G Harding, who had an affair with her mother, Nancy Britton. Letters passed down through the generations provided evidence for the love affair, but how far had it gone? The answer remained unknown until Harding descendants agreed to a DNA test that confirmed the truth. Elizabeth was Harding’s daughter.
5) Charles Lindbergh’s Secret Second Family in Germany
Astrid Bouteuil and her brothers Dyrk and David Hesshaimer of Germany knew their father only as a mysterious man named Careu Kent. Then, in 1974, they learned his true identity: American aviator Charles Lindbergh–first to cross the Atlantic solo by plane. Still, they needed help to fully prove it. Only in 2003, with help from the Lindbergh family in America and genetic genealogy techniques were both families fully reunited in the knowledge that they were kin.