In 1610, Thomas West became the leader of Jamestown, accompanied by three of his brothers and several male relatives. Recent DNA analysis of two skeletons from unmarked graves in a Jamestown church has revealed that both individuals were related to West, sharing a maternal lineage. This discovery led researchers to documents confirming that one of the men, Captain William West, was illegitimate, born to Thomas West’s spinster aunt, Elizabeth.
Although Captain West was raised as part of the prestigious West family in England, the details of his illegitimate birth were deliberately erased from the family’s genealogical records. Researchers believe that whispers of this scandal may have influenced his decision to seek fortune in the American colony. These findings were published on August 13 in the journal *Antiquity*. Dr. Christine Lee, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Mississippi, noted that the combination of genetic data and historical evidence helps uncover narratives that were once hidden or considered shameful.
In 2014, researchers discovered four unmarked graves at Jamestown in an Anglican church used by colonists from around 1608 to 1616. The craftsmanship of two coffins suggested that they contained important members of the colony. One of the deceased was buried with a spangled military sash fringed in silver. Based on burial details, age estimates of the skeletons, and historic documents, researchers identified the remains as those of Captain West (the owner of the sash), who died in his early 20s, and Sir Ferdinando Wenman, who died at age 34. While Jamestown records listed both as kin to the governor, only Wenman’s relationship as a first cousin was previously known.
The next step in the investigation involved analyzing ancient DNA (aDNA) from the skeletons. This process led to unexpected discoveries, according to study coauthor Kari Bruwelheide, a skeletal biology specialist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Due to the poor condition of the ancient DNA, the only conclusive results were found in the mitochondrial haplogroup, a matrilineal part of the genome. Study coauthor Dr. Éadaoin Harney, a lecturer of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University, explained that both Wenman and Captain West shared the haplogroup H10e, indicating they were likely close maternal relatives. This finding was surprising, as researchers initially assumed their connection would be on the paternal side due to their surnames.
This discovery led researchers to documents concerning Captain West’s female relatives, ultimately uncovering a previously overlooked 1616 court case about the beneficiary of West’s will. He had left his belongings, including family jewelry, to Mary Blount, another aunt of the Jamestown governor. The legal documents revealed that Mary Blount had raised Captain West "on behalf of her unmarried, deceased sister, Elizabeth," confirming his illegitimate birth.
Although the ancient DNA was incomplete, it provided enough evidence to reveal the unexpected maternal relationship, which prompted further investigation into the family’s history. This led to the confirmation that Captain West, Governor Thomas West, and Ferdinando Wenman were all cousins.
The discovery of this family secret adds another layer to the history of Jamestown, the oldest English settlement in North America. Study coauthor Michael Lavin, director of collections and conservation at the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, emphasized that the people who came to America to start new lives had family secrets and personal dramas, just like people today. The fact that these secrets can be uncovered more than 400 years later is a remarkable achievement of the historical and scientific community.
