DNA identifications of three 1845 Franklin expedition sailors from HMS Erebus

Abstract

A program of DNA analysis initiated in 2013 as a means of attempting to identify skeletal remains of members of the 1845 Franklin Northwest Passage expedition using DNA profiles obtained from archaeological tooth and bone samples and profiles obtained from descendants of expedition personnel previously yielded positive identifications for two members of the expedition, both of whom died at Erebus Bay on the southwest shore of King William Island, Nunavut. Here we report on the identification of three additional sailors who died at that same location. At site NgLj-1, comparison of archaeological and descendant mtDNA profiles yielded a match with a genetic distance of 0. At site NgLj-2, comparison of archaeological and descendant Y-chromosome DNA profiles yielded a match with a genetic distance of 0, and at site NgLj-3, comparison of archaeological and descendant mtDNA profiles yielded a third match with a genetic distance of 0. We conclude that the DNA and genealogical evidence confirm the identities of these three men as William Orren, Able Seaman, HMS Erebus, David Young, Boy 1st Class, HMS Erebus, and John Bridgens, Subordinate Officers' Steward, HMS Erebus. To date, all five sailors from the 1845 Franklin expedition that have been identified through this research died at Erebus Bay and all were from HMS Erebus.