Finding Nelson

It took 25 years, but I have finally found my birth father, Nelson Talran Harvey.

It was not due to my diligent researching through the census, military and any other documents I could find, but was a result of spitting into a tiny vial for Ancestry to analyze in the lab.

During the months it took for the result of the analysis, I continued to research every "Harvey" ancestry lineage I could find. I continued to fill out the Harvey ancestry tree in which I had found a "Nelson Harvey" that seemed to be the most likely. However, nothing quite matched up, based on the information I had learned from my birth mother.

Finally, the testing was done and I received notification that my results had been posted for viewing. I eagerly logged into my Ancestry account to see what secrets my chromosomes might reveal.

My ethnic makeup was a bit of a disappointment. Most people have a varied ethnic background - ancestors from exotic locations or a mixture of races. Not me. My results showed I was ethnically simple with two main locales - The United Kingdom and France. Oh, well...I thought I'd explore any DNA matches.

Most of the matches were for the French half of my background. But, there were a couple of matches that looked promising to find the Harvey side. So, I contacted both of them to see what might happen.

After many messages, back and forth, with no personal knowledge of any "Nelson" in the family tree, these kind people went a step further and began quizzing older family members to see if anyone knew of a "Nelson" cousin. And, there was one aunt who did! She remembered him from childhood, but did not know anything more about him. But, she provided enough information for me to begin a new search - this time in the right places.

 Soon, I was furiously researching to fill in the blank side of my genetic makeup. It took a while, but the branches of my family tree filled out. I found ancestors with interesting stories and cousins I never thought to imagine. Of greatest importance to me was finding Nelson's brother, "Frank."

Through these wonderful (new) cousins of mine, I was able to get in touch with Frank. We had a couple of wonderful telephone conversations. He was warm and welcoming, telling me he was thrilled to have a niece (as most of the children in my generation were males.) Then, he told me about Nelson and gave me insight into the birth father I never knew.

It became apparent that Nelson was a persona non grata in the family. I was not surprised. The information which he told my birth mother about himself was not quite the truth. Actually, about the only thing he truthfully told her was that he was in the Navy. The rest was a fabrication or twisted truth. Still, I was open to contact with him, if he was willing. But, I still had to track his whereabouts.

 It was in August 2019 that I got the answer. Nelson had died the previous February and was being held in the Riverside (California) Coroner's vault awaiting confirmation of next-of-kin prior to burial. Although the Coroner's office had been diligent in tracking me down, my rights to any property were forfeit, because of my adoption. However, I was able to connect the inspector with Nelson's brother, Frank, and inform him that Nelson was a veteran.

So, finally, the riddle of 25 years has been solved and I have reaped the benefit of being in contact with a number of new family members. Although I have not met any of them in person, I feel connected to them and hope to someday have a chance to get to know them better.

Oh! About the Harvey lineage I had been researching - I believe there is a connection between the lines, but I haven't been able to conclusively establish it...yet.