I'm lost, so is he related to Rebecca because his DNA results stated that he doesn't have any Native American roots which is weird in itself because it stated that he had North American roots. Native American is North American. If he isn't related to Rebecca, how is Tom related to the Smelphs?
shareI believe the tribe that was referenced was one of the "13 tribes." Just like he thought he was a Chinaman because his great grandfather was dressed up like that. What is funny is how he takes on the characteristics of those groups when he believes he has descended from them.
shareHe assumed that Rebecca was native American from her appearance and I suppose he liked the romanticism of that connection.
As was explained Rebecca turned out to be a Schmelff and therefore Jewish. Tom's photo of Rebecca was one part of a larger family photo which Marty Schmelff had in his shop.
You really ought to pay attention.
Still does not explain as to why her surname was not on the marriage certificate...
sharetease_gareth ยป Thu Sep 26 2013 06:43:48 IMDb member since May 2008
He assumed that Rebecca was native American from her appearance and I suppose he liked the romanticism of that connection.
As was explained Rebecca turned out to be a Schmelff and therefore Jewish. Tom's photo of Rebecca was one part of a larger family photo which Marty Schmelff had in his shop.
You really ought to pay attention.
Rebecca wasn't native American at all. Watch it again.
shareTom assumed that Rebecca was Native American for a few reasons: (1) the letter said "your mixed blood is outside the purview of our class"; (2) she had long black hair; (3) she was from the Mojave Desert; and (4) the absence of her last name on the marriage certificate indicated that the name was difficult for the average Anglo to spell.
When Tom went to the Indian reservation, he didn't find any evidence specifically linking the tribe to his family, to the name "Chadwick," or to the photo of Rebecca.
In contrast, when he visited Marty Schmelff, he immediately found the same photo of Rebecca. Marty said that Rebecca was a daughter, not a wife, in the Schmelff family. The photo showed Rebecca, her brother David, and her parents Eli and Naomi. (Eli's father was named Shmuel Schmelff, and David was the father of Ezra Schmelff, aka Tumbleweed Tim. I made a chart while watching the show!)
Therefore, Tom re-evaluated his assumptions. The comments in the letter could apply to a Jewish woman just as well as to an Indian woman; plenty of Jews have black hair; the Schmelff family comes from the Mojave Desert; and "Schmelff" would be difficult name to spell on the marriage certificate. However, JayCeezy's point about the many inter-ethnic marriages in the Chadwick family still stands; Rebecca was Jewish and her husband, Charles Chadwick, was a Gentile, so they were different ethnicities.
Incidentally, "Rebecca" is a Jewish name :)
Thus, all the current evidence indicates that Tom is part Jewish and NOT part Indian.
On the other hand, anti-Semitic prejudice was just as strong in England as it was in America, so I don't know why the Chadwicks chose England as their destination. I also don't know why the DNA results said Tom had "North American" ancestry; that might indicate an Indian connection through a different family member. I guess we'll find out if they ever make a second season.
Monk: "I love Jesus."
Marty: "Jesus! Tremendous Jew."
Can anyone explain why Tom heard he had north american ancestry and then immediately said he was not indian?
shareI don't think anyone can explain that right now. Either the writers made a mistake, or they were planning to explain it in season 2. Tom could still have North American/Native heritage from a different ancestor.
share