DNA Analysis of Jamestown Graves Exposes 400-year-old Family Secret

It would be fair to argue that the English Jamestown colonists are not exactly history’s most revered people. Apart from, well, their colonialist outlook, they apparently resorted to cannibalism in the early 17th century, owned and abused chattel slaves, and ate dogs to survive. Now, a new DNA study has pointed to a taboo secret that has been gleaned from the graves of two of the high-status late 16th and early 17th century individuals. It seems one of the two was an illegitimate child.

• Dog Meat: Jamestown Colonists Killed and Ate Indigenous Dogs
• Archaeologists Identify Remains of the Early Colonists of Jamestown

Excavating the Church Site: High Status Individual Graves

Archaeologists have excavated the site of the town's 1608-1616 church, where the first representative assembly in America, known as the General Assembly, met in 1619. During these excavations, several burials were uncovered near the church's altar, specifically in the Chancel area. DNA analysis was conducted on the skeletal remains of two male individuals found in these burials.

A study, published in the journal Antiquity, combined the DNA findings with historical records, as well as osteological and archaeological evidence, to identify the men as Sir Ferdinando Wenman (1576–1610) and Captain William West (1586–1610).

“These graves were purposely buried near the altar in the Church Chancel”, says co-author of the research Dr. William Kelso, Emeritus Director of Archaeology at Jamestown Rediscovery in a press release.

“This prominent location suggests the graves contained the remains of high-status individuals.”

The four aligned graves in the chancel area of the 1608 Jamestown church (c. 1608–1616). Shared coffin style and orientation contribute to the possible identification of the second (JR2992C) and fourth (JR170C) individuals from the left as members of the prominent West family. (Donald E. Hurlbert, Smithsonian Institution/Antiquity Publications Ltd)

Unexpected Familial Ties

Both Sir Ferdinando Wenman and Captain William West belonged to the influential West family, which included Thomas West, Third Baron De La Warr, the first governor of the Jamestown colony. The study has revealed a notable and unexpected connection between the two men —they were related through the maternal line.

This surprising discovery led to further documentary research, which uncovered a court case involving Captain West's estate after his death. The case, brought by his aunt and the beneficiary of his will, strongly suggested that William was the son of Thomas West's aunt, Elizabeth, who never married, indicating that William was illegitimate.

The authors of the study write:

“The aDNA data reported for these two men reveals a previously unrecorded aspect of identity for one, and alters initial perceptions held by researchers regarding his parentage. Despite the study's failure to secure precise paternal reference data for the West lineage, the DNA findings are appreciated for the clarity they provide to identification, especially within the context of other types of data (i.e. archaeology, skeletal biology, chemical analysis, genealogy and historical primary source documents),”

In the 17th century, illegitimacy was a significant social taboo, particularly within prominent families, and such cases were often omitted from official lineage records. This appears to have been the case within the West family. Therefore, the study not only confirms the identities of these men but also uncovers a 400-year-old case of illegitimacy within a high-status family.

“This study is the first to successfully use aDNA as a tool of identification at the colonial site of Jamestown, Virginia”, states co-author Karin Bruwelheide from the Smithsonian Institution.

“This study further reinforces the need for multidisciplinary approaches to better answer questions of not only who was involved in colonization, but possibly, why.”

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The Jamestown Settlement: New World Profiteering

The Jamestown settlement, established in 1607 in what is now Virginia, was the first permanent English colony in North America, reports The Heritage Daily. It was founded by the Virginia Company of London, a joint-stock company that sought to profit from the New World's resources. The location was chosen for its defensible position against potential Spanish attacks, being situated on a peninsula along the James River.

However, the site proved to be problematic due to its swampy environment, which led to poor sanitation, contaminated water, and disease outbreaks. The early years of Jamestown were marked by extreme hardships, including food shortages, conflicts with Indigenous peoples, and a high mortality rate among settlers.

One of the most significant events in Jamestown's early history was the "Starving Time" during the winter of 1609-1610, when food supplies ran dangerously low, and the settlers were reduced to eating rats, dogs, and even resorted to cannibalism. The colony's population plummeted from about 500 to just 60 survivors. Relief came with the arrival of new supplies and settlers in the spring of 1610, which helped stabilize the colony. Leadership under Captain John Smith and later Governor Thomas Dale was crucial in the colony's survival during these difficult years.

The cultivation of tobacco by John Rolfe around 1612 became a turning point for Jamestown, transforming the struggling settlement into a profitable enterprise. Tobacco quickly became Virginia's cash crop, attracting more settlers and investment. This agricultural boom led to the expansion of the colony and the introduction of the headright system, which granted land to settlers who could pay for their passage or that of others, further fueling the growth of the colony.

By the mid-17th century, Jamestown had grown into a thriving community, laying the foundations for the colony of Virginia and the future United States. It served as the capital of Virginia until 1699 when the capital was moved to Williamsburg.

Despite its early struggles, the Jamestown settlement is remembered as a symbol of perseverance and the beginning of English colonization in the Americas, paving the way for the eventual establishment of the United States.

Top image: Excavation of the fort’s 1608 Church showing structural posts and four chancel burial outlines.                    Source: Michael Lavin, Jamestown Rediscovery (Preservation Virginia)/Antiquity Publications Ltd

By Sahir Pandey