Our Fathers Were Brothers: How a DNA Match Brought Us Together

In 2021, a MyHeritage DNA match led me to a remarkable discovery: a first cousin, Penny, whom I never knew existed. Curious about how we could possibly be related, especially as I believed I knew all my cousins, I reached out to her to learn more.

As we compared family information, I mentioned my father’s birth surname, Tate. That single detail unlocked the mystery. Penny had no idea that her father had been adopted as a child and that his surname had been changed but she knew the name “Tate” as she’d seen it on a document when clearing out her grandparents’ house. We soon realized that her father and mine were actually full brothers, born just two years apart.

Their lives had taken very different paths. My father was born Reginald Tate, but after his mother remarried and took him back into her care, his surname was changed to that of his stepfather, and he became Reg Evans.

Reg as a young man

His brother, Arthur, remained with the family who had fostered him since infancy and was later formally adopted, becoming Arthur Shearing.

Finding evidence in family records

Determined to uncover the truth, Penny began researching family records and ordered birth and marriage certificates. These documents confirmed what we had begun to suspect: both brothers were the sons of Jessie and William Tate. It was an extraordinary and deeply moving revelation for both of us.

After Arthur’s death, Penny was able to obtain his adoption records, which led her to the court records of Jessie and William’s divorce. After Jessie and William’s separation, William initially kept Arthur, but soon after he was adopted by the Shearings.

Arthur as a young man

We exchanged photographs of our fathers and were struck by the similarities in their appearance. Although they had been raised in the same area of East London, as far as we know they never met and neither knew of the other’s existence. Sadly, both had passed away before we made this discovery, so we can never know for certain what they might have felt about finding one another.

Two brothers, two lives

In 1958, my parents emigrated to Australia as part of the well-known “Ten Pound Pom” scheme, while Arthur remained in London. My father went on to build a successful career as a professional actor in Australia. Although he was best known for his stage work with the Melbourne Theatre Company, he also appeared regularly in film and television. He became highly respected within the industry, and his tragic death during the Black Saturday bushfires on February 7, 2009 made national news.

After completing his National Service with the RAF in Hong Kong, Arthur returned to England and went into the newspaper industry. He was a hot metal printer at the Daily Mirror, a national newspaper based in London’s famed Fleet Street. He remained there until his retirement. Like his older brother, Arthur was skilled with his hands and enjoyed making and building things, including furniture.

News clipping about a cradle Reg built that was still being used after his death

A mutual passion for quirky teapots

As Penny and I got to know each other through regular emails and phone calls over the following years, we discovered an astonishing number of similarities. We share a love of reading and research, and, quite amusingly, a mutual passion for collecting quirky teapots. We also have common interests in politics, travel, and environmental issues. Beyond that, we found similarities in our appearance, personalities, and ways of thinking.

After 4 years of building our relationship from opposite sides of the world, we finally met in person in 2025. From the moment we met, there was an immediate sense of connection. We spent a wonderful week together, introducing each other to our partners and sharing the stories of our lives.

Penny and Claire

Our experience has left us convinced that there is far more to genetics than we ever imagined. Despite growing up in different countries and completely separate family environments, we discovered so many traits, interests, and characteristics in common. It was a powerful reminder of the enduring influence of nature alongside nurture.

We are delighted that this unexpected DNA match brought us together, and we’re now looking forward to Penny visiting Australia next year so we can continue building the family connection we never knew we had.

Many thanks to Claire for sharing her wonderful story with us. If you’ve also made an incredible discovery with MyHeritage, we’d love to hear about it! Please email us at stories@myheritage.com.