A Tree Grew in Oakland

OK, John Edwards, the fallen politician from North Carolina is reported to be my 9th cousin, once removed.  We’re Related provided an almost clean pedigree for both sides — right up to the MRCA who they claim is PRIVATE (xxxx-xxxx).  This would be the mother of my 7th great grandfather, Isaac Lawrence (1652-1731).   In earlier proposals, We’re Related suggested she was Elizabeth Cooke (1611-1663).  Cousin John’s line goes from the MRCA down, starting with John Lawrence (1635-1672).   Now, other than the implication that Elizabeth must have been having children across a 17 year period (1635 → 1652), ending at the age of 41, this is not impossible.  It will be a clue to investigate.   And, who doesn’t love to claim a nationally known political scandal as one of their own?

How cool would it be to claim Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as a 5th cousin, 6 times removed?  Well, We’re Related actually presented a pedigree line for me with only one Private Male and that was a documented person in my line.  So, I have people with names and dates up to the MRCA, Thomas Smith (1565-1625).  Yes, SMITH!  Now, I have painstakingly gone up through my 5th great grandmother, Mary Smith (1737-1787) → Jacob Smith (1706-1797), her father → Joseph Smith (1680-1734), his father → Edward Smith (1636-1693) END.  We’re Related adds two more Smith generations and then links to Meriwether’s Smiths.  This could take a very long time to confirm.  There really are a lot of Smiths and I have seen just too much unqualified connecting by We’re Related.  But, it might be worth while to stick this one in the TO DO pile.

We’re Related felt that Nathan Hale being my 5th cousin, five times removed was so important, they needed to repeat it.  The time before was about 3 months ago.  When I first saw this, I thought that this would indicate a double — that he was related along two separate lines.  But, no, it is the same line, with some exceptions.  Three months ago, they proposed that the mother of my 7th great grandfather, Isaac Lawrence (1652-1731) was Elizabeth Cooke (1611-1663) and her mother was Elizabeth Charde (1589-1643).  This last member was the MRCA with Nathan Hale.  In this most recent notification, the two Elizabeths have been reduced to PRIVATE.    I guess We’re Related forgot they had already spilled the beans.   Anyway, Cousin Nathan is on my To Do list in trying to connect the two Elizabeths, or disproving them, whichever comes first.

Tom, as my 8th cousin, twice removed, might impress my grandchildren, but the pedigree chart provided by We’re Related has a couple of issues.  First, an entire generation that was reported when detailing the same lineage for a “cousin-hood” to Kristen Bell was completely dropped.  Second, the MRCA chosen, Joseph White (1645-1724) as the father of Nathaniel White (1695-1725) is WRONG — I have research evidence that this was Thomas White (1686-1730).    It is nice to see a pedigree with NO PRIVATE entiries, but, unfortunately, there were other issues.

Sgt. Alvin York is my 9th cousin, twice removed.  And this time the pedigrees look to be correct!  It helps that my line to our MRCA, Isabel Harding (1582-1633), goes through my extremely well documented Botsford and Baldwin lines and then down the Baldwin line to Cousin Alvin.  So, well done!

Charles Goodyear, 6th cousin, 5 times removed, or is he?  In my pedigree I am presented with two plug-ins of PRIVATE before the jump to who is supposed to be our MRCA, my 10th great grandmother, Elizabeth Bunckom (1569-1596).  And the linkage for Charles Goodyear to the same MRCA is the hidden PRIVATE.  By now it is obvious that a pet peeve is persons whose identities are hidden who are long DEAD.   I mean really, the late 16th century or early 17th century at the latest?  This one is only in the pile in hopes that it might get me a family discount on a new set of tires sometime in the future.