The Giffords and The Wenmans

DNA Sheds light on Virginia governor’s secret after 400 years

A family secret hidden for more than 400 years has been unearthed by archaeologists working at the first permanent English settlement in the New World.

Using the latest DNA techniques, research at the colony of Jamestown in Virginia, has revealed how the family of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr and first governor of Virginia, covered up an affair to save a child from the taboo of illegitimacy.

Researchers made the discovery when DNA technology found that two bodies, identified as members of West’s family, were not as closely related as they should have been. The study’s authors say that the case demonstrates how new DNA technology can help to unlock long lost secrets.

“This study demonstrates the utility of combining genetic, archaeological and historical approaches to the study of the past”, said Dr Éadaoin Harney from Harvard University, co-author of the research, which is published in the journal Antiquity.

Archaeologists excavated the church that stood on the Jamestown site between 1608 and 1616, and found remains near the altar in the chancel.

“This prominent location suggests the graves contained the remains of high-status individuals,” said Dr William Kelso, emeritus director of archaeology at Jamestown Rediscovery.

Having aged the skeletons and checked the records, they concluded that these were two relatives of the governor: Sil Ferdinando Wenman, his nephew; and Captain William West, whose parentage was somewhat less certain.

Surprisingly, DNA showed the men were related through the maternal line, rather than the paternal line as might be expected suggesting that Captain West must have been illegitimate.

The family had maintained a cloak of silence on the subject and there was no clear indication as to who his parents were, although he had been granted the honour of being named after William West, 1st Baron De La Warr.

The critical clue was in Captain West’s will, which left his estate to his aunt Mary, who had married a man called Richard Blount. A further piece of the puzzle came from a court pleading in the National Archives, which showed Mary Blount trying to recover this inheritance after Captain West’s untimely death aged 24. In it, it was made clear that Mary had brought up the young William after taking charge of his care after the death of her younger sibling Elizabeth, the aunt of Thomas West.

She was listed as a “cousin” of William who bad left her possessions to him, and she had died unmarried and officially childless.

The researchers concluded that Elizabeth was the mother and that her family bad taken care of her son after her death. The father is unknown, but the family’s actions would have given Captain West some protection from the stigma of illegitimacy. He was cared for, seemingly matriculated at Cambridge University and also and a precious military education. Nevertheless, leaving for America would probably have helped him get away from whatever stigma remained.

The West’s were in the fortunate position to have the means to cope with an illegitimate birth and the shunning that might cause. Poorer families in the same predicament would often require aid from the church.

Despite her family’s-privileged status, the consequences for Elizabeth would have been stark. While she was retained in her father’s household, the research says that the incident would have “rendered her unmarriageable, isolated her and caused her considerable shame”.