G2G: Looks like we may need to revisit Beethoven's ancestry

Question

Hmm... a DNA analysis of some of Beethoven hair, which was compared to five living male descendants of that family, has revealed that there was an NPE somewhere along the line for many folks favorite musician.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7bgp8/beethovens-dna-has-been-analyzed-after-200-years-from-locks-of-hair

Comments

Fwiw, the linked profile is to the grandfather of the famous composer... or at least his purported grandfather.

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Thanks for that, Daphne, I've corrected it.

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For another quick read, Family Tree DNA just posted about this project on the company's blog: blog.familytreedna.com/new-beethoven-study/.

Answer 1

It strikes me that little or no decent sources such as baptism certificates and marriage records have been added to this family tree.  There are regular references to other family trees, Wikipedia, books, etc., which are indirect sources at most.  So start searching and adding direct sources.  Perhaps an idea to organize this through a Challenge where WikiTree members of various countries such as Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, etc. could make an important contribution.  From 1600 these sources should be found if they have not been lost.  In my opinion, official historiography can serve as a source. All profiles of recent "descendants" that are not proven by DNA and where no reliable sources can be found should be disconnected from this family tree.

Comments

Excellent points, Joop!

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I just learned that Ludwig's teacher Chistian Gottlob Neefe has had an affair with Ludwig's mother in his youth. There seems even to exist a letter dated 1801 discussing this topic.

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I found and added an image of an excerpt from Ludwig van Beethoven's baptism in his profile. Beethoven had asked Franz Gerhard Wegeler, professor of medicine in Bonn, to arrange this certificate for him because he needed it in connection with his intention to marry Therese Malfatti, for whom Beethoven is believed to have written the Bagatelle in 1810. Für Elise' has composed. It is written in French (because Bonn belonged to France at the time). It mentions the date of baptism (December 17, 1770), the names of Beethoven (Ludovicus) and those of his father (Joannes van Beethoven) and mother (Helena Keverichs) and those of his godfather (Laedevicus van Beethoven, his grandfather) and godmother ( Gertrudis Müller's dicta Baums, the neighbour). The document was issued at the town hall of Bonn, June 2, 1810, confirming his baptism on December 17, 1770.

Answer 2

It is amazing what they are able to find using old DNA sources. Perhaps other famous figures will have their DNA examined in the same way.

Answer 3

Genomic analyses of hair from Ludwig van Beethoven: Current Biology (cell.com)

Really interesting stuff. Looks like we need to test more male-line Beethovens to determine where the "break" was in Ludwig's line. It was inconclusive whether Ludwig and his brother Karl were full or half-siblings. I think it should be possible as well to ascertain whether or not Ludwig fathered any of his many paramours' children. 

Answer 4

I added a short passage about the doubts based on DNA testing to Ludwig's bio (similar to the passage in his father's bio).