[Oakum Picker]

My gf Albert born 1897 was illegitimate. My father told me that when my g-gm Alice married 9 months later, the new 'step' father William didn't want anything to do with Albert and he was raised by my gg-gps Joseph & Martha.

My father didn't know that Alice died in 1907 aged 28 but he did know William remarried but not when (1912) as Albert wouldn't set foot 'in that woman's house'.

In 1901 Albert was living with Joseph & Martha erroneously recorded as son whilst Alice, William & 2 other children were living elsewhere.

In 1911 Albert was still with Joseph & Martha & in fact lived with them until they died even after he married. William the widower & 2 surviving children were living with his parents.

As with his birth cert. no father's name is shown when he marries and he's just Albert on both. When he dies he is Albert William & his first 2 sons both have the middle name William.

Apart from one 1st cousin, I have just 4 3rd-4th cousins. With one of these I share 103cm across 5 segments. His tree has 8 people in it but I was able to work out that his g-gf was the brother of William which would indeed make us 3rd cousins if William is my g-gf.

My big worry is that my father's family lived in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and surrounding villages for over 300 years & whilst not a village I have probably 60/70 families intermarrying during that time, even my gps were 6th cousins.

As an example Ancestry has identified one of my matches as a 6th cousin but she's also a 4th cousin & a 2nd cousin once removed on 2 other lines. Does this blur the results?

So do you think William is my g-gf?

Thanks for any opinions.