A Tree Grew in Oakland

The latest notice (#388) tells me that Matthew McConaughey is my 9th cousin through our MRCA, Thomas Deane (1639-1697), the proposed father of my 7 times great grandmother Lydia Dean (1679-1726), the furthest documented ancestor I have in this lineage.  We’re Related reports that Grandmother Lydia had a sister, Hannah Dean (1673-xxxx) who is the connector to the lineage of Matthew.   So, TO DO:  Did Lydia have a sister, Hannah?  Was the father of Lydia Thomas Deane?  Alright, Alright, Alright. I will add it to the list!

William Blake is reported to be my 5th cousin, six time removed, through MRCA William Lane (1580-1654), the proposed grandfather of Hannah Baker (1638-1717), my 8 times great grandmother and the furthest documented ancestor I have in that lineage.  So, added to the TO DO list from yesterday, I need two more generations to prove out in Jolly Old England.   I had better start saving for a long research trip!

For the second time, We’re Related has told me that President Calvin Coolidge is a cousin.  In Report # 385 he is my 7th cousin, 3 times removed, through MRCA Dolour Davis (1602-1673), the proposed grandfather of Hannah Lewis (1659-1717), my 7 times great grandmother and not the furthest documented in that lineage.   Hannah’s mother, Hannah Baker (1638-1717) is the furthest documented ancestor in that lineage.  In the lineage presented in # 385, Mary Davis (1631-1687) is proposed as her mother.   I see a conflict here.  Now in the earlier report, # 49, Cal is reported as my 8th cousin, once removed, through MRCA Elizabeth Cooke (1611-1663), the proposed mother of Isaac Lawrence (1652-1731), my 7 times great grandfather.  As a research project, I think I will opt to look for the mother of Isaac proposed in # 49 instead of spending time trying to resolve the undocumented conflict proposed in # 385.

Notice # 382 has Alfred as my 7th cousin, three times removed, through MRCA Luke Hitchcock (1614-1659), the projected great grandfather of Moses Hitchcock (1717-1768), my 6 times great grandfather and the furthest documented ancestor I have in the Hitchcock lineage.  Just a couple of weeks ago, We’re Related, in Notice # 369, said Alfred was also my 7th cousin, three times removed, but through MRCA Cicely Penny (1601-1683).  In that report, as in this one, Nathaniel Hitchcock (1677-1777) appears in both of our lineages – same name, same dates.  In # 369, both Nathaniel entries have the same mother, Hannah Chapin (1644-1719).  In # 382, the lines have different fathers: mine has John Hancock (1642-1712); Alfred has Calvin Hitchcock (1642-1712).  Off hand, I would venture, Ancestry grabbed some personal trees that were made public and mashed them together.  This is the result.  Are the two Nathaniels the same person?  Are John and Calvin the same person called by different names?  What a pile of spaghetti!  Well, Alfred was the master of suspense.  So I guess I’ll add this to my TO DO list and try to unscramble it!

Flash back to the 70’s – Janis Joplin as my 9th cousin, once removed, though our MRCA, William Macomber (1610-1670), the great grandfather (proposed) of Nathaniel White (1700-1764), my 6 times great grandfather and the furthest documented ancestor in that lineage.  This is notice # 381 from We’re Related.  Many months ago, in notice # 10, I was also informed of the connection to Janis as 9th cousins through our MRCAs Mary Jane Wilkerson (1685-1758) and her husband Nicholas Corbin (1650-1697).  They were the great great grandparents of my 4 times great grandfather, Samuel Lane (1769-xxxx), the furthest documented in that lineage.  #10 follows the lineage of Janis’ father, Seth Ward Joplin; # 381 follows the lineage of Janis’ mother, Dorothy Bonita East.  OK, so my drink of choice is Southern Comfort, so there must be a genetic connection.  I had better put  cousin Janis on my TO DO list along both lines to develop a proper proof of connection!

Notice # 380 tells me that President Jimmy Carter is my 9th cousin, once removed, through our MRCA Elizabeth Walton (1629-1674), the theoretical great great grandmother of my 5 times great grandmother, Thankful Isham (1752-1834).  Now Grandmother Elizabeth is supposed to have given birth to two children that connected our lines: Nathanien Conant (1650-1732) and Mercy Mansfield (1642-1686).  I have two issues with this: 1. each child has a different surname (could be explained by separate fathers) and 2. Mercy was born when here mother was 13 years old.  Even for 1642, that might be considered young.   Now, in Notice # 147, cousin Jimmy is reported to be my 8th cousin, once removed, through our MRCA, Charity Sparrow (1640-1687), the reported great great grandmother of my 4 times great grandfather, Samuel Lane (1769-xxxx).  There do not seem to be the surname or age of giving birth questions in this pedigree.  For my lineage, #380 goes through my grandfather’s mother’s ancestry; # 147 goes through the same grandfather’s father’s ancestry.  For cousin Jimmy, #380 goes through his mother’s lineage (aka Miss Lillian’s folks); # 147 goes through his father’s lineage.