How to locate father?

Question

I was born in Montrose, PA. Surname of Benio. I did both Ancestry and 23andme. I have been having multiple cousins come up with a surname of Powers that my grandfather who raised me denies having heard although it was the same town. One cousin even has 1757cM, 49 segments matching to me. I have been searching for information about my unknown father. He was not named on the birth certificate. Everyone denies knowing who he is and my mother refuses to divulge. Any ideas?

Comments

Volunteers in our Adoption Angels project specialize in helping people like you. In your case, you may not need genealogical advice so much as advice on working with recalcitrant relatives.

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Thank you!!! I only joined last night so do not meet the 3 month requirement although another DNA 1st cousin is who told me of wikitree :)  Recalcitrant is putting it mildly...

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You are not yet eligible to be a volunteer, but you can ask project members for help.

Answer 1

That 1757 match is no cousin. They’re either your half-sibling, or else your uncle/aunt or nephew/niece, or else they’re your grandparent or grandchild. That is, unless you have strange endogamy, like close relatives having children together.