To further my genealogical research, I joined Ancestry and took a DNA test. This connected me with numerous relatives who had also tested, allowing me to analyze their genetic percentages. I found that descendants of William George and Martha, as well as descendants of Martha's siblings and other related lines, had participated in DNA testing.
Among my genetic matches, I've identified multiple third and fourth cousins with 7% and smaller percentages of Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander DNA. However, it remains unclear whether these Indigenous connections originate from Martha, William, or elsewhere within their broader family.
My aunt, a great-great-granddaughter of William and Martha, has ordered a DNA test. I will share her results when they become available. It appears that younger generations have been more active in DNA testing than those closer in direct descent to William and Martha. This underscores the importance of encouraging parents and grandparents to test, as their results may reveal higher percentages of Indigenous DNA and provide more precise information about where this dna has been inherited.
Given the low frequency of Indigenous DNA among tested descendants, I think that perhaps only William, and not Martha, may have been of Aboriginal descent as "native born" meant born in Australia and not aboriginal.
To further your research and connect with potential relatives, I strongly encourage you to consider DNA testing. Please be aware that these tests can reveal unexpected family connections, as I discovered a half-sister through mine. Although my own results didn't show Indigenous DNA, this could be due to the natural variation in genetic inheritance, a factor that affects even full siblings. Even if you don't have an Ancestry account, you can still have your DNA tested as its a valuable tool for filling in genealogical gaps.
*Note: I do not work for Ancestry or any dna testing companies*
