Category Archives: History

Mary Todd Lincoln — almost

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Pat Shaul

Mary Todd Lincoln as my 6th cousin, 6 times removed is one generation away from confirmation on my pedigree chart that was proposed.  Our MRCA, Agnes Devey (1559-1639) would be my 10th great grandmother.   I have verified up to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Genealogy, History, Pedigree Charts, We're Related | Leave a comment

Priscilla Mullins Alden — Private Pilgrim

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Pat Shaul

As a third cousin, eleven times removed, Priscilla Mullins, the wife of John Alden, has more PRIVATE entries than I have seen in a long time — both in my pedigree chart and in her chart that links to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, BadTrees, Genealogy, History, Pedigree Charts, We're Related | 1 Comment

Roy Orbison – cousin, maybe for real.

Posted on July 30, 2017 by Pat Shaul

Roy Orbison is supposed to be my 9th cousin, once removed though our MRCA, Catherine Charlet (1623-1670).  The closest I can prove is my 4th great grandmother , Mercy Simons (1779-1804).   That leaves 5 generations to Ancestry / We’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Genealogy, History, Pedigree Charts, We're Related | 3 Comments

Elle Fanning — Looks like a match

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Pat Shaul

Yes, Elle Fanning does appear to be my 9th cousin, once removed.  Our MRCA, Edward Smith (1636-1693) is my documented 8th great grandfather.  Of course, I am never sure how Ancestry has done those match ups with the Smith Surname … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Genealogy, History, Pedigree Charts, We're Related | Leave a comment

Richard Branson – no cigar

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Pat Shaul

So close, yet no cigar.  I could be seeing about family discount on Virgin Air, but for this one glitch in the old pedigree chart.  Ancestry decided to attach George Lewis (1625-1710) as my 7th great grandfather, the father of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Genealogy, History, Pedigree Charts, We're Related | Leave a comment

Robin Williams – or maybe Mork from Ork

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Pat Shaul

An 8th Cousin, once removed, that I really wish Ancestry had gotten clean!  Such a great talent!  But, when the last three levels of the pedigree chart you provide for me, including the MRCA with Robin is PRIVATE, I throw … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, BadTrees, Genealogy, History, Pedigree Charts, We're Related | Leave a comment

Luther Burbank – botanist extraordinaire, but family tree not so much…

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Pat Shaul

Luther Burbank was planted by Ancestry as my 5th cousin, 6 times removed.  Unfortunately, they chose to use their favorite linkage method, PRIVATE, to connect what was documented of his pedigree to what they had documented of mine to link … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Genealogy, History, Pedigree Charts | Leave a comment

Robert Boyle – short of a chemical reaction.

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Pat Shaul

Robert Boyle, the father of modern chemistry, is supposed to be my 3rd cousin, 11 times removed (now that makes us close!).  The pedigree from Ancestry goes from my 6th great grandfather, Moses Hitchcock (1717-1768) to two levels of PRIVATE … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, BadTrees, Genealogy, History, Pedigree Charts | Leave a comment

Andrew Johnson – an impeachable cousin

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Pat Shaul

  Ancestry has Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, successor to the assassinated Abraham Lincoln, as my 7th cousin 6 times removed through a MRCA, John Phillips (1539-1626) who would be my 12th great grandfather.  As close as I … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Genealogy, History, Pedigree Charts | Leave a comment

Kevin Spacey – the star aligns

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Pat Shaul

Kevin Spacey appears to be my 10th cousin!  The pedigree supplied by Ancestry to our MRCA on my line contains one PRIVATE, but I have evidence as to who that is and it is consistent with the parent and child … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Genealogy, History, Pedigree Charts | Leave a comment