A few years ago, I was going some genealogy research online and through an online forum connected with someone who turned out to be my dad’s half brother. My grandparents divorced when my dad was a newborn and he never knew my grandfather. This half-uncle of mine was really confused as to why I was researching his father (my grandfather) who had passed away without telling his four other children about his previous marriage and first son. He didn’t even know if his mom knew, and wasn’t about to ask her. The fallout from this was pretty bad for them, and for my dad. I think the half-siblings were worried my dad would try to get money out of them or something. My dad only wanted to get to know them, as he always regretted never getting in touch with his father. They also had a very hard time reconciling their memories of their father with this new information. They thought he was a great father, and didn’t understand how he could have a child that he’d never met. After a few phone calls and letters were exchanged, they made it clear they never wanted to hear from us again.
For my dad’s sake, I wish I hadn’t “met” his half-brother or gotten him in touch with my dad. It was like he got to be rejected by that side of his family all over again.
So, give yourself some time to think about all of the possible consequences of sharing what you know. Look at it from several angles, consider the feelings of everyone involved, and try to do what’s right—not what’s easy (or dramatic). Good luck.