Most famous relative/ancestor

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I'm supposedly related to American Civil War General George B. McClellan...

though in hindsight, that may not be a good thing...

Nobody famous. Farmers in an unimportant European border region, whaddya expect? Several interesting stories though. Like an maternal ancestor of mine who was sentenced to execution for beating up his stepfather, but had his punishment changed to several years of penal labour at the Bohus fortress. According to court records, both he and his son were incredibly violent/had some serious anger problems, and were trusted by nobody. My mother suspect that it's an early case of ADHD..

It is a very common misconception that people who were burned at the stake were accused witches. Depending on where she was from, she could have been a religious heretic. For example, the English hanged their "witches", and burned their religious "heretics." If she was one of the four people executed for witchcraft in Ireland, then she would have been burned. If she was in parts of Europe she could have either been a witch or a heretic, it's hard to tell.

I know quite a bit about this subject, and would be happy to look into your relative's case, if you're interested.

Oh... one of my ancestors was involved in the gunpowder plot.

I had a distant cousin born in 1901 (died in late 80's) who was a relatively famous writer in this region of our country where we live. There's a museum devoted to him in the village he lived in when young (my grandparents also lived in it), which once was the house he was born in. I was never inside. I never heard he was abnormal in any way - just an ordinary guy like everyone else.

My mum thinks we are related to L S Lowry the artist. I'm not sure if we really are, but it is quite possible. My mother's surname was Lowry before she was married and she thinks that Lowry was a cousin or something of her dad's. I'd like to think we are related and I think it's very likely he was on the autistic spectrum.

Some woman who worked in a biscuit factory and some guy who lit gas lamps in Manchester. A bunch of West country farm labourers who for some inexplicable reason went North. Some Scottish people who did tradesman stuff like tailoring, engraving and glass roofing. I am of humble origins. My dad traced the family tree back to the 18th century and it's so common. I would make the most boring episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' ever

I like to imagine one of my very distant ancestors was a bad-ass druid, to make up for this.

Last edited by puddingmouse on 08 Nov 2010, 3:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Nah, people always expect a lot of you if you're vaguely intelligent or educated. If you do the same thing as your parents, you've let them down.

You have to watch these things unless you unwitingly give your real identity away. Sorry to spoil the fun.

I am directly related to English royalty. One of the King Henrys (I forget which, but definitely not the VIII) had a daughter whom he disowned, and I am directly related to that blood line. Apparently the Tudor kings all had strange personalities, and perhaps one or more of them could have had Asperger's, but not enough was written about them to make that determination.

I am also directly related to the brother of William the Conqueror. (Or so my grandfather's genealogy postulates. This may not be entirely accurate.) Now I know where my wild behavior comes from. - LJS

I have several ancestors who were horse thieves and rustlers. Which is why I am so high strung.

ruveyn

Oh, some of mine survived the Jamestown Massacre of 1622. Some of my other ancestors were the attackers. Funny how that works out.

Three, most recent to oldest.

1. John A. MacDonald - First Prime Minister of Canada

2. Henry VIII of England - King of England (21 April 1509 – 28 January 1547)

3. Somerled - Lord of the Isles (Scotland)

Edward Doty who was a passenger on the Mayflower is a direct descendent (a 10x great-grandfather) of mine on my mother's side. Not sure about the 10x, it may be more or less. My great-grandma's maiden name was still Doty. From what I've been able to find out (and I have AS so I've REALLY tried!) E. Doty wasn't a Puritan but was probably an indentured servant.

You and I are related. My mom's descended from King James IV of Scotland and he and Henry VIII had common ancestors. What up, cuz.

Genghis Khan.

Just kidding.

I think I have a 6 degrees of separation between me and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It's more like two degrees. That is when you can trace that person back through people you know, who know another person before you land at a certain famous person's name.

I may possibly be related to Arundhati Roy, but that will take me a long time to figure out.
I've got indigenous Assamese Indian in me and English/Welsh.