Back to Family Story outcomes, S22

by Sophia Barry

A tale of the adoptee

When it comes to my familial history, my knowledge and understanding of where I come from along with my relatives, were very strong, as I was convinced to believe. However, around the age of 10, I came to be told by my grandfather on my paternal side, John James Barry IV, that he was adopted. My Grandfather John did not know where his ancestors were from or what his genetic or ethnic makeup was, but he also had no desire to learn who his biological parents were and why he was given up for adoption. 

However, for the sole purpose of this course and genealogical research, my grandfather permitted me to investigate possible prospects for his biological ancestors and discover who his biological parents were themselves. For familial privacy and respect for my grandfather’s wishes to not unveil who his biological parents are to him, I will be using only pseudonyms and surnames in this piece. 

Discovering the biological line

When it came to looking into possible prospects and finding who may be my grandfather’s biological parents or even any biological descendent to him, this is where the support and help from my Aunt Shannon (Shannon Barry, 1971-Living) came in handy. My Aunt Shannon is very into genealogy and looking into our family history, especially when looking to find my grandfather’s biological parents. Over a few years, and with my grandfather’s permission, as long as she promised not to share the information, my Aunt discovered that she was permitted to obtain his original birth certificate, holding both the names of his biological mother and father. Through the information shared with me from my aunt, along with the support in Thru Lines and segments shared with individuals who were what was marked as my Potential Ancestors in Thru Lines, I was able to not only support the findings on who my biological great-grandparents were on my paternal line. I traced my paternal grandfather’s (John James Barry III) physical line back to my fifth Generational Grandparent. With the help of my aunt and her trust in me to keep the information she gave me confidentially, I was able to support Dorothy McInerney and Arthur Brisbois as the biological parents of my grandfather, John James Barry III. However, when using the support of Thru Lines along with the additional information provided through Thru Lines, it was evident that my grandfather was the product of an affair. I found he was given up for adoption due to his biological father, Arthur Brisbois, going off to marry another woman less than two years later than my grandfather’s birth.

Believed Only Came from Irish Roots

Growing up, I always believed I was very Irish. I thought this because my grandfather’s last name was Barry, and this is a very Irish last name. Anita Barry and John Barry were my Grandfather’s adoptive parents. They were very loving, but they were so impressive that y grandfather never felt even the need, desire, or urge to look into discovering or finding his biological parents or even his biological past. Additionally, when it came to my grandmother on my paternal side, I also was aware that she also came from solid Irish roots based on what I was told. that she also came from dependable Irish sources based on what I was told, However, when I learned my grandfather was adopted, I wondered if I even was as Irish as I believed. When looking into my grandfather’s biological lines and my ethnicity results in Ancestry, I found I still had a solid connection to Irish Heritage. However, I also was surprised to find that my Grandfather’s biological line held a strong presence in French-Canadian territory after immigrating from Northern Ireland to North America. So, while I did question my connection and roots to Irish Ancestry due to my grandfather’s adoption and my very Irish last name, his ancestors did come from Irish land.

Discovering French-Canadian Roots

What was surprising to discover when looking into my genetics and genealogical ancestors following their past, when looking at the paternal side of my family, specifically my grandfather’s biological line this is where I found an abundant amount of information on generations of relatives and ancestors residing in French-Canadian territory. Not only did my Ancestors on my paternal grandfather’s biological side reside in French-Canadian territory since the mid-1600’s, I found that they are also related to the Prime Minister Trudeau line. My Eighth Great-Grandfather, Joseph Trudeau (1725- 1792), who lived in Saint-Constant, Quebec, is a relative to Prime Minister Justin Pierre James Trudeau himself. Discovering this huge presence my ancestors on my grandfather’s biological line held in French-Canadian Territory gave me a whole new perspective and understanding as to where my grandfathers ancestors came from along with even the side of my familial ancestors that remained unknown for so long, where they came from! It’s so cool to now know I have more than some French-Canadian Heritage in me along with the Irish I grew up believing.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/209289320/eustache-brisbois