When 25-year-old Amy Smith was a little girl, she would ask her grandmother about her family history, but rarely got any answers. Her curiosity had been sparked, however, and as she grew older she began piecing together an extraordinary family story despite her grandparents’ reluctance to revisit a painful past.
Her research revealed ancestors who had lived through significant moments in history, as well as generations touched by tragedy. Now that her grandparents have passed away, Amy sees her dad as the family’s remaining link to the past. This Father’s Day, she’ll be giving him a MyHeritage DNA kit in the hope of uncovering new family connections, learning more about their heritage, and ensuring their stories live on for future generations.
Amy's story
Both of Amy’s grandparents were from London, although her grandmother was half Danish. Her great grandfather had been a motorcycle dispatch rider during the Second World War. Tragically, he suffered a severe facial injury while carrying out his duties when he rode across Nazi territory and struck a booby trap.
Her grandmother’s early life continued to be beset by tragedy. She lost all of her siblings to illness and her mother was admitted to a psychiatric institution.
Amy also discovered as a young girl that her 3x great uncle had died on the Titanic in 1912. George Swane was working as a chauffeur for a wealthy Montreal family, the Allisons, and was travelling with them on the Titanic. On the night of the sinking, George knocked on doors, warning passengers to get dressed and get out. The Allisons’ nanny, Alice Cooper, later reported that George had instructed her to get into a lifeboat with the baby, Trevor Allison.
Sadly, George died alongside his employers, the Allisons, and their daughter, Loraine. He was the only employee of the Allison family to lose his life. His body was the 294th to be recovered, and he is now buried in Fairview Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Unveiling the past to find the new
“I am incredibly interested in understanding where I've travelled from through time, and what that meant for my ancestors, ultimately for my grandmother, and now for my dad and me,” says Amy. “It fascinates me that DNA can help explain these stories, linking people, places and moments in time. I’d love to find living relatives who are also related to George Swane and, perhaps one day, visit his grave together in Canada.”
“Ultimately, my main goal is connection. I think we can sometimes get caught up in our own stories, our own lives, struggles and joys. I understand the importance of family stories and what they mean for us: they help us empathise, understand others’ experiences, and imagine what their lives were like. Ultimately, it’s a connection to the people who not only came before us but made us, and to what that means for our own identity.
“My dad loved my grandmother very much, and I feel as though this journey allows me to connect with both her and him. Through understanding where we came from and what that means for us today, I’m sure it will only bring us closer.”
Uncover your family story
Family stories can easily be lost over time or become the subject of rumour and speculation. A DNA test can help uncover these stories, shed light on the truth, and reveal new family connections to celebrate for generations to come.
Taking a DNA test with MyHeritage is simple. Just take a quick cheek swab and return the kit to begin exploring your ancestry and the stories that connect you to the past. Read this article to discover how three work colleagues uncovered surprising truths about their family histories.
Now is the perfect time to start your own journey, with the MyHeritage DNA kit available at the special Father’s Day price of just £19.90*.
This Father’s Day, give the gift of discovery and help preserve your family’s story for future generations.
*Offer subject to availability and may change - please check the website for current pricing and terms.