The Doctor Next Door: How DNA and a Census Solved My Family Mystery

I’ve been working on my family tree for more than 20 years, but one mystery always seemed like it would remain unsolved. After my mum passed away, I discovered that her father — my grandfather, William Rowan — had been born to a single mother in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1895. His birth certificate listed no father, and for a long time, I thought that was the end of the line for that side of the family.

I hoped the certificate might reveal a name, anything that could help me trace his paternal branch, but there was nothing. I came to accept that I would probably never know who my great-grandfather was.

Adding to that frustration, I’d already discovered that William’s younger brother, Edward Rowan, was also born outside of marriage. Edward went on to serve as an engineer in the merchant navy during World War II and tragically died in 1940 when his ship was attacked by a German submarine. His father’s identity remains unknown to this day.

With so many gaps in my family story — on both my mum’s and dad’s sides — I decided to take a new approach. I got my DNA tested and uploaded it to MyHeritage, hoping that science might succeed where paper records had failed.

A mysterious DNA match

One DNA connection puzzled me for quite some time. It showed up as a third cousin match, but I couldn’t make sense of the link. There were no familiar surnames in her tree, and she didn’t respond to my initial messages. Being from England, now living in Australia, and with roots in Northern Ireland, I was curious — but I couldn’t see how this cousin from the U.S. could be related to me.

Eventually, after much persistence, I did get a reply. As it turned out, the person who had uploaded the DNA wasn’t the cousin herself, but a friend of hers — a dedicated genealogist who was in poor health. It took years and a few nudges, but eventually, I was given access to her family tree.

One potential name stood out: Charles Hunt, a doctor who had lived in Belfast. I found him on the 1901 Irish census. But there was a problem: he and his family were listed on the opposite side of the city from where my grandfather William and his mother Margaret were living. It didn’t seem like a viable link.

Form A of the 1901 Ireland census that lists Charles Hunt and his family members

The answer was just next door

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something there. So I decided to look more closely — not just at Charles Hunt himself, but at his neighbors. That’s when I had my eureka moment.

To my absolute amazement, I found that Margaret Rowan and her young son William — my grandfather — were living next door to Dr. Charles Hunt on Botanic Avenue. They were even listed at number 22, right next to Charles at number 20. I had somehow missed that they were recorded twice on the same census, at two different addresses. But there it was, in black and white: my grandfather and his mother living next door to the man I now believe was his father.

Form B of the census, which lists Charles Hunt living at house number 20 and Margaret Rowan, David’s great-grandmother, living at number 22 Botanic Ave Belfast

I’d found my great-grandfather.

Closing the loop on a family mystery

I shared the discovery with my third cousin and have since connected with several other relatives in the U.S. and England through this branch. One relative even sent me a photograph of Charles Hunt, along with documents about his life. Apparently, he was quite a prominent figure — an eye surgeon and an inventor. A far cry from most of my ancestors!

A death announcement for Charles Hunt from The Evening Star, Washington D.C., September 24, 1937. Source: OldNews.com

I must admit, I don’t see a family resemblance between Dr. Hunt and myself. But discovering him — and piecing together this long-lost part of my history — has been deeply fulfilling. I’ve also learned that I have Catholic roots, which I hadn’t known before. Solving this mystery has helped me connect with cousins I’d never met and shed light on a past that had always seemed out of reach.

Photo of Charles Hunt from a passport renewal application submitted circa 1920

Looking back, I do feel some regret that I didn’t ask more questions while my parents were still alive. My mother once told me she knew little or nothing about her father’s father, and I suspect she may have known or suspected the truth but never felt able to talk about it. One of my aunties later hinted that they believed William was born outside of marriage, but it was never openly discussed.

The power of DNA and persistence

Had it not been for MyHeritage and its powerful DNA matching tools, I never would have solved this mystery. I was fortunate to receive help from a relative — albeit indirectly — and to spot a detail in the census that changed everything. DNA technology allowed me to find not just one missing ancestor, but to confirm and expand many branches of my family tree.

David with his wife and one of their granddaughters

I would strongly recommend DNA testing to anyone serious about family history research. It helped me discover connections I never thought possible, even after years of searching. And while I can’t change my ancestors or their circumstances, I can at least bring their stories to light and give them the recognition they deserve.

Many thanks to David for sharing his incredible story with us. If you have also made an amazing discovery with MyHeritage, we’d love to hear about it! Please send it to us via this form or email it to us at stories@myheritage.com.