5 Biggest Revelations About Jamie's Secret Son in Outlander Season 7

The first part of Outlander Season 7 is just around the corner, and the main cast will be joined by some intriguing new faces. One of them is Charles Vandervaart, who will play Jamie Fraser's son, William Ransom. Vandervaart takes over the role from Clark Butler and Oliver Finnegan, who played young William in Seasons 3 and 4, respectively.

William's arrival is highly anticipated by fans of Diana Gabaldon's book series, as he is a major character in An Echo in the Bone, the novel on which Season 7 is largely based, and plays a significant role in Jamie's arc. If you haven't read the books, don't worry — here are five facts about Jamie's secret son to get you ready for the upcoming season and beyond.

How did Jamie end up with an illegitimate son?

The story of William's birth is quite fascinating. His mother, Geneva Dunsany, blackmailed Jamie into sharing a bed with her before she married the elderly Ludovic Ransom, Eighth Earl of Ellesmere. The one-night stand, which happened during Jamie and Claire's 20-year separation, resulted in the conception of William.

How did William come to have three fathers?

Both Geneva and her husband died the day William was born. Geneva died of postpartum complications, and Ludovic was shot by Jamie after trying to kill the child he knew was not his. Geneva's sister, Isobel Dunsany, and her husband, Lord John Grey, adopted the boy.

That's how William ended up with three fathers, though he's currently unaware of Jamie in the show's universe.

Where is William now?

William hasn't played a major role in the show yet, but the Season 7 teaser suggests that he will be an important character in the upcoming installment. In the months leading up to the Season 7 timeline, William, as the legitimate Lord Ellesmere, must travel with the British Army to the American colonies.

What will happen to William in Season 7?

The new season's biggest conflict is bound to be Jamie and William fighting on opposite sides of the Revolutionary War. The teaser already showed how conflicted Jamie is as he goes head-to-head with his son and Lord John Grey, but if the season goes the novel route, Jamie and William won't have much on-screen interaction.

Will William ever find out who his real father is?

At the end of An Echo in the Bone, William meets Jamie and realizes how much they resemble each other. Jamie then tells him the truth, and William is furious. It is not until the next book that the father and son finally reconcile and have an honest conversation.

So we could have a heartwarming family reunion in Season 8, which is set to be Outlander's final.

Outlander Season 7 lands on Starz on Friday, June 16, 2023.