DNA Descendants - Am I on the right track?

+1 vote
256 views
Some background by way of introduction - My paternal gfather was known to our family as Norman Ramsay Murray, however through ten years of convoluted research, I have collated a substantial base of entirely circumstantial evidence that his birth name may, in fact be [[Whitehouse-2276 | Edgar Whitehouse]].

Two days ago I received my DNA results and I am asking for advice about what the results are telling me. Needless to say after over ten years of wondering, I am extremely aware I am totally ignorant about DNA and I may well be reading what I want to read - hence my question here.

What I do know (proven with relevant BDM documentation) - My gmother was Rosetta Search. She married Norman Murray. They are listed as parents for my mother and one of two sons. Another male, suspected to be the other son is buried with Rosetta.

DNA Results

On the tab "DNA Descendants", both these males are listed as "inheritors of Edgar's Y chromosome and X chromosome DNA".

My Question: To what extent does this resolve the question about my relationship to Edgar? Answers in plain English please.

Many thanks in advance.
in Genealogy Help by Murray Willmott G2G1 (1.2k points)
edited by Murray Willmott

1 Answer

+4 votes

Unfortunately, WikiTree won't really help to resolve any questions about confirmed DNA relationships. It is more of a tool and collaboration resource backed up by traditional genealogy.

What I do know (proven with relevant BDM documentation) - My gmother was Rosetta Search. She married Norman Murray. They are listed as parents for my mother and one of two sons. Another male, suspected to be the other son is buried with Rosetta.

Looking at the profiles of Edgar Whitehouse and Rosetta Search, there is one major issue - a lack of verifiable sources. What sources are being used to show that Edgar married Rosetta, that show Edgar is the father of any of the listed children, and that Edgar is in fact one in the same as Norman Murray?

If all the sources say "Norman Murray", how did the profile become Edgar Whitehouse?

I have collated a substantial base of entirely circumstantial evidence that his birth name may, in fact be [[Whitehouse-2276 | Edgar Whitehouse]].

Small typo in the WikiTree ID, it should be Whitehouse-2267. But what is the "entirely circumstantial evidence" you speak of? I would suggest you document this information as Research Notes.

DNA Results

On the tab "DNA Descendants", both these males are listed as "inheritors of Edgar's Y chromosome and X chromosome DNA".

These are not actually DNA results, but a tool to further your research and work through DNA confirmation.

If you were to place another profile (say John Doe) in Edgar's current position in the tree, the DNA Descendants page would simply say that Edward and Francis Murray received John Doe's Y Chromosome.

And the two males cannot have both of Edgar's Y and X chromosomes. A person will only receive one chromosome from each parent (click for image).

Males are XY, the X from their mother and Y from the father. Females are XX, an X from their mother, and an X from their father.

by Steven Harris G2G6 Pilot (812k points)
Also did a quick search on FamilySearch. I found the birth registration for Edward Neil Elias Murray, born 6 Mar 1910 in Tasmania to parents Norman Ramsay Murray and Eva Rosetta (Search) Murray.

It indicates Norman Ramsay Murray was 38 at the time (born circa 1872 in New York [presuming Lincolnshire, England]), and Eva Rosetta Murray was 30 at the time (born circa 1880 in New South Wales).

Norman and Eva married 1908 in New South Wales.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C956-D9RQ-J?i=34&cc=2400177

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