I am dealing with a slightly different issue but in the same vain. I found out, just before my mother died that she had been born out of wedlock. I can't fathom the way her whole family kept this secret for so long. She was born at home and as a result did not even have a birth certificate. Her father apparently skipped town. I have his name, Charles Mc/Mac Donald
he was from Oakville, Ontario. I have been trying for several years to find information about him, his is a very common name in Canada. It does explain why I, two of my children and four of my grandchildren have red hair.