Elle Fanning — Looks like a match

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Pat Shaul

ElleFanning

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 — I have not verified Elle’s pedigree chart as presented.   In any case, it will be interesting to see how long before Ancestry / We’re Related gets around to telling me that Dakota Fanning is also my 9th cousin, once removed.   If nothing else, my grandchildren will be impressed with this link!

 

 

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Grover Cleveland – iffy?

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Pat Shaul

GroverCleveland

Grover Cleveland is my 5th cousin 4 times removed only if the MRCA is PRIVATE, the parent of PRIVATE.  Seems like the Secret Service is taking things to the extreme since these PRIVATE folks all died in the 1700s.   Oh, well, Grover, I’ll split off some time and research and see if I can connect to your split apart Presidential holdings.

 

 

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Richard Branson – no cigar

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Pat Shaul

RichardBranson

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 Hannah Lewis (1662-1717).    Well, Hannah’s father was Thomas Lewis (1633-1709).  Now George may well have been Thomas’ brother and both could have been siblings of Richard’s ancestor, John Lewis (1637-1735).  Which would all tie to a MRCA, George Lewis (1600-1664).    But, that will take a bit of research and untangling.   So. no free air fare in the near future……

 

 

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Robin Williams – or maybe Mork from Ork

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Pat Shaul

RobinWilliams.jpg

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 a lot of shade on your report!  Things go well through my 5th great grandfather, Samuel Lane (1736-1812), even though Ancestry thinks his existence  should remain private, but the next two levels beyond are PRIVATE which make them look just like place holders to make it work.   Cannot add this to my database without a lot more information.  Nano Nano.

 

 

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Jack London – SCORE!

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Pat Shaul

JackLondon

 

Cousin Jack London is my 6th cousin, once removed.   Pedigree supplied by Ancestry for me all the way to the MRCA, Elizabeth White (1643-1707), my 8th great grandmother has been verified!  There are NO PRIVATE entries in the pedigree for Jack London all the way up to Grandmother White.  It looks like Score One for Ancestry’s We’re Related.

 

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

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Pat Shaul

LutherBurbank

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 to a MRCA, Elizabeth Cooke (1605-1674).  That plus they added five generations to what I have documented evidence to support in my line with no back up to support the next steps.  SIGH!     One clue about PRIVATE — Ancestry would only signify as parent of the next generation, John Walton (1685-1774) — that since they claim in my line the daughter of Elizabeth Cooke was Elizabeth Walton (1629-1674), it looks like PRIVATE might very well be male.  But then again, might not.

 

 

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Robert Boyle – short of a chemical reaction.

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Pat Shaul

RobertBoyle

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 — male, then female, to reach Samuel Chapman.  The father of Grandpa Moses was previously identified as Nathaniel Hitchcock (1677-1761), so I do not know why it is now a secret.  And then the PRIVATE leap to his maternal grandfather, Samuel, leaves questions. But, the line to the proposed MRCA, Cecilia Nevill (1488-1573) is still not clean with linkage child of Cecilia to the maternal grandfather of Samuel being defined as PRIVATE.  A person born in the EARLY 16th century being classed as PRIVATE is concerning.  It is like saying, “we don’t know, but there should be a person here to connect it all”

 

 

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Andrew Johnson – an impeachable cousin

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Pat Shaul

AndrewJohnson

 

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 can get to John is my 8th great grandfather Samuel Thrasher (1663-1692).   That leave me with 4 generations to lock down sanguine relationship to one of the two men who have been impeached as President.  Not sure the honor is worth the effort.

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Kevin Spacey – the star aligns

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Pat Shaul

KevinSpacey

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 called out.   For a change, “Cousin Kevin” has no PRIVATE entries in his pedigree line!.  So, why didn’t I get an invite to the 2017 Tony’s?

 

 

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Randolph Scott — very PRIVATE

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Pat Shaul

RandolphScott

Well, there were a couple of problems with the report on 9th cousin, twice removed, Randolph Scott.  First, in my pedigree chart, there was a leap of three generations of PRIVATE entries between the proposed grandfather of my known 4 times great grandmother, Esther Clark, and the MRCA, Elizabeth Ward (1613-1700).   This does not build confidence in the structure being presented.  Then, in “Cousin Randolph’s” line, they have our MRCA giving birth to her daughter, Deborah Ward, at age 10.  I really do not think anyone gave this one the smell test.

 

 

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