US hero's sister exhumed for DNA

Archaeologists believe they have found the pioneer's remains

A church in Suffolk has granted special permission for US researchers to extract DNA from the remains of a sister of one of America's founders.

Captain Bartholomew Gosnold established the first English-speaking colony in the USA - Jamestown - in 1607.

DNA will be taken from Elizabeth Tilney, buried at a church on the Suffolk/Essex border, to authenticate the remains of Gosnold found in the US.

A diocesan spokesman said this was the first time permission had been given.

The spokesman said that after more than two months of detailed consultation, the Chancellor of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, His Honour Sir John Blofeld, gave permission for a limited archaeological excavation.

The application succeeded where others have failed because the reason and methodology of the project was well thought through James Halsall, the Gosnold project spokesman for the diocese

"Scientists from the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) hope to extract DNA from the remains of Elizabeth Gosnold Tilney, sister of Gosnold, the man who founded the first English speaking colony in the New World," said the spokesman.

According to John Smith, one of the most famous Jamestown leaders, Gosnold was, "the prime moving force" behind the settlement of Jamestown.

"It is a very exciting development," said James Halsall, the Gosnold project spokesman for the diocese.

"For the first time a scientific project has been given the go-ahead to seek to extract DNA material to establish the identity of a family member.

"It has taken a lot of work and co-operation between the parish, diocese and national church authorities in Britain and American scientists.

"The application succeeded where others have failed because the reason and methodology of the project was well thought through."