A Tree Grew in Oakland

In notification # 368. We’re Related tells me that Abigail Powers Fillmore, wife of President Millard Fillmore, is my 4th cousin, 6 times removed through our MRCA, Abigail Harvey (1665-1734), the grandmother of Abigail Crossman (1690-1767), my 7 times great grandmother and the furthest documented ancestor I have in that particular lineage.    Earlier, in notification # 151, I was told cousin Abigail was my 5th cousin, 6 times removed through our MRCA Robert Fletcher (1592-1677), the father of John Fletcher (1606-1683), the furthest documented ancestor I have in that particular lineage.  For Mrs. Fillmore, the two lineages cross at her parents, #368 is her mother, Abigail Newland (1758-1850) and # 151 is her father Lemuel Powers (1756-1800).  Using # 151, if I can document 1 more generation, I can claim another FLOTUS!!

In report # 367, We’re Related informed me that Dr. Benjamin Spock was my 8th cousin, twice removed, through our MRCA, Elder John White (1600-1713), the three times great grandfather of Esther Clark, my four times great grandmother and the furthest documented ancestor I have in that lineage.  Earlier, in report # 144, again as 8th cousin, twice removed, only this time through our MRCA, Elizabeth ______ Baker (1612-1666), the great grandmother of Dinah Harris (1702-1796), my 6th great grandmother and furthest documented ancestor I have in that lineage. Both go through Dr. Spock’s mother, Mildred Louise Stroughton (1876-1968) and join at Dr. Spock’s maternal grandparents: #367 – Charles Bradley Stroughton 1841-1898) and #144 – Ada Ripley Hooper (1847-1917).  From my generation, I am not sure for which Dr. Spock is most famous, his baby book that all our mothers used to toilet train us or his anti-war protests during the Vietnam war in the 1960s.  The former, I still blame my attention to detail upon.

President George Washington was in report # 366 as my 6th cousin, 7 times removed through our MRCA, Johun Waters (1524-1556), the grandfather of Henry Peck (1649-1732), my 9th great grandfather and the furthest documented ancestor I have in that line.   The lineage for cousin George goes through his father, Augustine.  But, this is the second report I have had of President Washington.  In report # 29, he was reported to be my 3rd cousin, 9 times removed, through our MRCA, William Ball (1573-1647), the great great grandfather of Lois Pond (1690-1730), my 7th great grandmother and the furthest ancestor documented in that lineage.  This match goes through, Mary Ball, George’s mother.  I guess the worst part is that it means I must be a cousin to that woman on the Ancestry commercials as well …..

George Lucas was reported as my 8th cousin, once removed in # 362 through our MRCA, Valentin Ahl (1645-1700) – this is way deep in German research — 4 generations beyond my furthest documented ancestor, Magdalena Dockstader.   In report # 5 he is my 7th cousin, twice removed, through our MRCA  Anna Elizabeth Meyer (1680-1740), the grandmother of the same Magdalena Dockstader.  The difference is that #362 goes through her mother’s lineage, # 5 goes through her father’s lineage.   For George, #362 goes through his mother, Dorothy Ellinore Bomberger; #5 goes through his father, George Walton Lucas, Sr.  If I track, I will start with # 5.