A Tree Grew in Oakland

Bob Barker, 8th cousin, twice removed, yes, my dog has been neutered.  The pedigree chart provided by We’re Related has not!   All entries are filled in — both lines.  My line traces to my proven 6th great grandfather, Moses Hitchcock (1717-1768).  Then 3 more generations to be investigated to our MRCA, Samuel Chapin (1598-1675).  This time, I have direct line clues, Moses → Nathaniel Hitchcock (1677-1761), his father → Hannah Chapin (1644-1719), Nathaniel’s mother → Samuel Chapin, Hannah’s father and Bob and my MRCA.  The To Do list is appended and there will either be Truth or Consequences to the search.  Hopefully, the Price Is Right.

I received the notice that John Quincy Adams was my 4th cousin, seven times removed and I thought, “Well about time!”.   JQA was the 292nd notification from We’re Related.  His father, Pres. John Adams, was the 3rd notification.  I then looked at the pedigree chart presented for the son versus that of the father and they are of different lines of descent.  John Adams goes up my Botsford line to MRCA, Henry Adams (1583-1646).  John Quincy Adams also goes up my Botsford line, but to MRCA, Samuel Bass (1600-1694).  And, even though he appear as PRIVATE MALE in the role of JQA’s father,  John Adams is also a descendant of Samuel Bass.  This makes them doubles.   That is, if I can actually find the backup evidence.

With Johns Hopkins as my 5th cousin, five times removed, I should be able to garner some priority in a medical emergency. Shouldn’t I?  And, yes, his parents decided that his name should be JOHNS not JOHN.  He inherited it from his great grandmother, Margaret Johns, who also had named his grandfather Johns Hopkins.  As far as my pedigree from We’re Related goes, it is a bit suspect.  There is a PRIVATE FEMALE that leads to a female names Presocia that leads to the MRCA, Thomas Sparrow (1620-1717) — I wonder if Capt. Jack Sparrow will appear in a future notification.  Looks a bit shady.  The Hopkins line is fairly clean up to the MRCA.  So, possibly, with a lot of work, this too can be fleshed out.

Who would not want a world renowned brain surgeon as their 6th cousin?  Even 4 times removed?  I can confirm in my pedigree up to my 6th great grandfather, Moses Hitchcock (1717-1768). We’re Related goes three more generations with the MRCA being defined as PRIVATE (xxxx-xxxx)!  I may start with G’pa Moses and see if the next two generations pan out and then see if I can find the elusive and secret PRIVATE.  I do have a clue since the daughter on both lines carries the surname Filley.

Schuyler Colfax, possibly my 7th cousin, 4 times removed, is one of the cleanest pedigree charts presented by We’re Related in a long time.  Not a single PRIVATE in either line.  Our MRCA, William Morgan (1560-1653) is only two generations beyond my furthest documented ancestor on that line, my 8th great grandfather, Thomas Stevens (1630-1685).   So, this goes into the actual TO DO pile for further research.

Elias Howe is reported to be my 6th cousin, four times removed, through our MRCA, Mary Parmenter (1610-1690).  Mary would be my 9th great grandmother.  There is a one generation jump from my 7th great grandmother, Abigail Bellows (1661-1726) through a PRIVATE mother of Abigail, daughter of Mary to complete the connection.    The people line in Elias’ pedigree are unbroken up to Mary.  All in all, this is pretty complete.  But, still, I wonder, if Private is the known daughter of Mary (probably with the surname of Wood since that this the surname of the next generation on Elias’ chart)  and the mother of Abigail, why the secret?    Another item in the great vacuum bag of mysteries to be solved.

Julia Boggs Dent Grant, wife of President Ulysses S Grant, reported as my 6th cousin, 4 times removed.   First look at the pedigree looks good.  There is a full line to the MRCA, Naomi Hughes (1616-1645) in my line.   That is encouraging.  Then to Mrs. Grant’s line,  Three generations leading to Naomi Hughes are PRIVATE.  As far as I am concerned, that removes this from my TO DO list of persons to research.