# Who are the dead on King William Island? · Franklin expedition (HMS Erebus and HMS Terror) > Three answers have been proposed. Most can be identified by matching archaeological DNA to descendants traced by genealogy. leads, with evidence 2 for… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZVC26S9/who-are-the-dead-on-king-william-island Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:28+00:00 --- **0** # Who are the dead on King William Island? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What did the survivors do after leaving the ships in April 1848?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZBR0PFJ/what-did-the-survivors-do-after-leaving-the-ships-in-april)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: most can be identified by matching archaeological DNA to descendants traced by genealogy** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Most can be identified by matching archaeological DNA to descendants traced by genealogy. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters Each identification fixes a person, a ship and a place of death, so together they map the retreat⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJNG3QYJ/new-dna-analysis-identifies-more-members-of-the-ill-fated). Six of 129 are named; most skeletons are not. ## Answers 3 [**Most can be identified by matching archaeological DNA to descendants traced by genealogy.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K66G6RQV/most-can-be-identified-by-matching-archaeological-dna-to) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K7DJ73NC/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Only a minority can ever be identified, because remains are fragmentary and many lines have no living…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K6XY3Z9T/only-a-minority-can-ever-be-identified-because-remains-are) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 2011[Mays et al.: the 2011 Greenwich study shows how uncertain identification is without DNA.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JNK83N1F/new-light-on-the-personal-identification-of-a-skeleton-of-a)For: Only a minority can ever be identified, because remains are fragmentary and many lines have no living… 1. 2021[Stenton et al. puts forward: most can be identified by matching archaeological DNA to descendants traced by genealogy.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JK541ZAZ/dna-identification-of-a-sailor-from-the-1845-franklin) 1. 2026[Stenton: six men identified since 2019 from 50 samples at 10 sites and descendants of 33 crew.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJNG3QYJ/new-dna-analysis-identifies-more-members-of-the-ill-fated)For: Most can be identified by matching archaeological DNA to descendants traced by genealogy. 1. 2026[Stenton et al.: the Peglar case resolved a 167-year-old contradiction between his papers and his clothing.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JKWJ3WWX/some-very-hard-ground-to-heave-dna-identification-of-harry)For: Most can be identified by matching archaeological DNA to descendants traced by genealogy. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZVC26S9/who-are-the-dead-on-king-william-island%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZVC26S9/who-are-the-dead-on-king-william-island%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZVC26S9/who-are-the-dead-on-king-william-island%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZVC26S9/who-are-the-dead-on-king-william-island%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZVC26S9/who-are-the-dead-on-king-william-island%23add-source) Where it fits Franklin expedition (HMS Erebus and HMS Terror) [**What did the survivors do after leaving the ships in April 1848?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZBR0PFJ/what-did-the-survivors-do-after-leaving-the-ships-in-april)Key question · most likely some men returned to the ships, and one or both were sailed or drifted south with men aboard [How widespread was cannibalism in the last stage of the retreat?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59K0363YTH/how-widespread-was-cannibalism-in-the-last-stage-of-the)Most likely · it occurred among the last survivors at a few sites, such as Erebus Bay [When and how did Erebus and Terror sink?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZKJ4RQZ/when-and-how-did-erebus-and-terror-sink)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive **Who are the dead on King William Island?** You're here · most can be identified by matching archaeological DNA to descendants traced by genealogy [ Ask a question under this one ]