In January 2017 I started messaging a few of the DNA matches my mother had that were in the 3rd-4th cousin range. I had already worked out the connections of the first and second cousins.

As soon as I saw Selwyn’s country was New Zealand, I had a pretty good idea where he would connect. My mum’s grandfather George DAVEY had a sister Hannah Selina DAVEY who married Allah Dean MARU. In the early 1900s this family moved from Ulverstone in Tasmania to New Zealand.

When my parents and I went on holiday to NZ back in the 1990s, we looked up some Maru relatives to visit and talk over family history. On that visit, I was given a list of lots of dates from a family birthday book that Hannah Selina had been given.

I have spoken to other Maru relatives on further visits to NZ and many live in the area just south of Tongariro National Park in a small town called Raetihi.

Selwyn lives closer to Palmerston North though. So Selwyn was my first official DNA match that neither my mother nor I knew just from looking at his name. He is my 3rd cousin or my mother’s 2C1R.

 

#52 ancestors Week 1 First