Can I use my DNA to identify unknown Great Grandparents?

Question

I have three unknown Great Grandparents on my maternal grandfather's side of my family. As my wiki tree they are Margaret Anderson's parents-ie William Anderson and an unknown partner, and Henry Berry's mother Martha Davis (can't locate a birth or death record for her). She married Frederick Ward and took his surname. I have a 2nd cousin who shares these same three unknown Great Grandparents, and our mutual DNA matches have helped me determine three distinct groups of DNA matches. I have found some commonality in these matches trees, but am yet to get find any real answers regarding the identity of these three Great Grandparents. Is this an impossible project I wonder? Any thoughts or ideas would be welcome. Thank you. Vanessa

Answer 1

Do you have a copy of Margaret Anderson's marriage certificate ?  It should record both her parent's names.

Also, there is a death entry for "Margaret Ann Berry" in New South Wales Ref. 40145/1974 who died at Glebe 20 Dec 1973, parents unknown.

Comments

Thank you, yes I have a copy of Margaret Anderson’s marriage certificate. It says her father was William Anderson a labourer-whereabouts unknown, and lists her mother as - unknown (deceased). She states that she was born at Five Dock, NSW. The 1974 death record you have located is her record, but her son incorrectly stated her middle name as Ann instead of Agnes.