# Do you have any cool ancestors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 11, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828 "2005-06-11T02:28:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![serious\_lark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@serious\_lark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/serious_lark)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/101 "2005-06-14T04:45:04Z")
My maternal grandmother was the first woman doctor (trained & graduated in Western medicine, not Ayurvedic) in southern India. She worked as an OB/GYNE and as a result delivered my paternal grandmother of her later to be son-in-law (my dad). ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2005, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/102 "2005-06-14T18:02:36Z")
> [@Pixisis](#): > > removals come into play if there is a difference in the number of generations away from the siblings. My grandchild is my cousin’s child’s second cousin once removed. By the same token, “second”, “fifth”, or whatever cousins have nothing to do with the generational difference. The first cousin of your grandparent is also _your_ first cousin…only twice removed. If you have an ancestor who came to America on the Mayflower, then that ancestor’s first cousin is also your first cousin, removed however many times there are generations between you. ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/103 "2005-06-14T22:27:03Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > By the same token, “second”, “fifth”, or whatever cousins have nothing to do with the generational difference. The first cousin of your grandparent is also _your_ first cousin…only twice removed. If you have an ancestor who came to America on the Mayflower, then that ancestor’s first cousin is also your first cousin, removed however many times there are generations between you. You’re right about my grandparent’s first cousin being my first cousin twice removed … **but** my eight cousin and I are BOTH 9 generations from the common ancestor (or 8 from the sibs) or to put it another way … my great-great grandkids and my brother’s great-great grandkids will be 4th cousins. so, generations DO give you “second” “fifth” etc. the number (th) to describe the cousin pair is always the closest generational steps from the sibs, and then the “removals” tell you how many **additional** generations there are between the cousins being discussed. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/104 "2005-06-14T23:33:45Z")
My 3ggf on my Mom’s side is [Martin Harris](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Harris), the man who financed the first printing of _The Book Of Mormon_ and was one of the Three Witnesses to the book. ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/105 "2005-06-15T05:46:30Z")
My GGGGGFather was a convict, transported to Australia in 1798 (along with all the Irish Rebels) for the heinous crime of stealing a Beavercoat worth 21 shillings, a decent sum. Only got seven years for it, which was pretty lenient. Worked as a convict labourer and nailor in New South Wales, finished his sentence and decided to stay in Oz and was granted a large parcel of land as a reward. He married my GGGGGMother, who was also convicted of stealing clothing, this time from her employer. Her goods (some cotton shifts) were worth 3 1/2 pence. She got seven years as well. 😕 Bit of a disparity in sentencing in them days, I reckon. I only found this out recently because for a long time there was a stigma attached to being the descendent of a convict. Strange, I know. Around the time of the Bicentennial people became real interested in this stuff and suddenly were proud of their criminal routes. I’m not sure which I should be. Neither, probably. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/106 "2005-06-15T09:05:28Z")
My grandfather was a Filipino farmer and sometime militiaman during World War II. He had a nasty scar on his neck that he used to tell me was from Japanese shrapnel, but after he died my dad said it was from some more mundane accident. My stepfather (who wasn’t actually much younger than my grandfather) was a Nazi sympathizer in the years before the war, but rejected that once the horrors of the Holocaust became known. He turned 18 a few years after the end of the war, joined the Army, got stationed in a supply depot in West Germany, and secretly helped smuggle people across from East Germany. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/107 "2005-06-15T12:48:40Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > My great-grandfather was in the cricket team that played on the first Test match between England and Austraila in the 1880s. This does not mean that I understand cricket, however. Small world. My great-great uncle was [C. B Fry](http://content.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/141256.html) who played for England in the Test matches in the 1890’s and beyond. Alas, I do not understand cricket either. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/108 "2005-06-15T18:54:43Z")
Anyone else feel like their family tree is a little less filled out than the posters here? I never even saw a picture of my paternal grandmother until I was in my upper twenties! My great grandfather killed a man in Mexico, came to the US and changed his name to avoid the law. That’s pretty much all I know. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/109 "2005-06-15T20:33:13Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Small world. My great-great uncle was [C. B Fry](http://content.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/141256.html) who played for England in the Test matches in the 1890’s and beyond. > > Alas, I do not understand cricket either. 😛 Well, here’s [great-greanddad](http://content.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/15046.html). Maybe we can work out what all those stats mean together. ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/110 "2005-06-15T21:06:56Z")
> [@Captain Lance Murdoch](#): > > My great grandfather killed a man in Mexico, came to the US and changed his name to avoid the law. That’s pretty much all I know. Well, that’s pretty cool. Unless the guy from Mexico whose great grandfather got killed comes along. Then you’re on your own. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/111 "2005-06-15T21:16:41Z")
I forgot to add, my great grandfather was a construction worker on the San Francisco Bay Bridge. He immigrated from Czecheslovakia, but didn’t like to talk about his homeland for fear of persecution. ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/112 "2005-06-15T21:29:26Z")
My grandfather helped develop the postal ZIP code ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/113 "2005-06-15T21:36:14Z")
> [@Captain Lance Murdoch](#): > > Anyone else feel like their family tree is a little less filled out than the posters here? I never even saw a picture of my paternal grandmother until I was in my upper twenties! > > My great grandfather killed a man in Mexico, came to the US and changed his name to avoid the law. That’s pretty much all I know. That’s why you need my aunt in your family. We wouldn’t know anything about any of our relatives if she didn’t do the research for us. I have another couple cool people in my family tree. I’m a descendent (and I’m not sure exactly how) of a family whose parents died when the oldest of the 5 or 6 children was in his early 20’s and the youngest wasn’t even a “tween.” The kids took over the family homestead and became one of the wealthiest families in the state. My grandfather sang the national anthem for the Senators baseball games when they were still around. My mom’s cousin went on a date with Warren Beattie. My aunt has the POW papers for one of my descendents who was captured in the first few minutes of his very first battle during the Civil War. It describes him (height, blond hair, green eyes I think). He was on the Confederate side. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/114 "2005-06-15T22:34:44Z")
One of my ancestors helped design the water canals that used to run throughout Bangkok. Kinda sad they aren’t there any more. He’s now burried in Arlington National Cemetary, so I guess he was a member of the US army corps of engineers. But, he set up his family there, so my dad’s side speaks Thai. They came back to the states after a few generations. Another relative helped design mountain train tunnels in Europe and my dad is a civil engineer. My mom’s side has two lawyers and is brewing a third. When I graduate in 4 years, I’ll be a doctor. Guess we’re almost set. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/115 "2005-06-16T00:16:22Z")
> [@pohjonen](#): > > 1st cousin 6 times removed to William Clark of Lewis and Clark. Lewis is also a fifth cousin 5 times removed. > > More interesting though I thought was this Ragsdale ancestor: > > Potential Early Antecedents: There was a Ragsdale family in Virginia from the earliest times, the first arrival being a Godfrey Ragsdale, who came to Jamestown from Nottinghamshire and settled at Henricus Town (near present-day Richmond) Henricus was the inland settlement and was on the frontier of Indian territory. Chief Opecanough of the Powhatan Confederacy (uncle of Pocahontas) massacred the majority of the inhabitants in 1644, including Godfrey Ragsdale and his wife and family. The sole survivor of the family and one of the few survivors of the massacre was an infant, Godfrey Ragsdale, Jr. He is the progenitor of most of the Ragsdales in the US. > > The surviving infant was my 8th great grandfather. Guess I’m sorta lucky to be here (at least as who I am!) We must be related! My deceased uncle’s middle name was Ragsdale. I believe it was his (and therefore my mother’s) Grandmother’s maiden name. So she would have been my great-grandmother Mildred. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/116 "2005-06-16T00:17:51Z")
My great-great grandfather was a pacific explorer who was one of the first Europeans to visit New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/117 "2005-06-16T00:53:48Z")
Oh, yeah? Well _all_ of my great-great grandfathers were farmers! (Sorry. I know it’s a cheap shot. Snarkiness runs in my family.) ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/118 "2005-06-16T01:00:22Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > My great-grandfather was in the cricket team that played on the first Test match between England and Austraila in the 1880s. This does not mean that I understand cricket, however. > > He returned to London and was later found floating face-down in the Thames in 1906. Someone had robbed him for his pocketwatch. ☹ Sunspace, now you’ve given me a challenge. 😃 I have been trying to track down this mysterious ancestor of yours but - even after asking the question at an English cricket group- have been unable to identify who it may be. The first Test between Australia and England was in 1877. However, I can’t find any cricketer who died in 1906 and only a couple who ended up in the Thames (one who may have been Jack the Ripper- now that would be cool!). I know family histories and dates can often be a little unreliable- can you give me any other hints as to who it may be? (Like a surname would be great). 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Bluemule57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@Bluemule57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluemule57)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/119 "2015-12-31T17:09:43Z")
I’m replying to some posts from 2011 about being the youngest living grandchild. I’m 44 years old and my grandfather, Marcellus f. Wiley, fought for the confederates in the last two years of civil war, he was 17 at that time. Born 1847. He was 68 when he married Pearl K Burns in 1915. Grandma was 27. He was 72 when my father was born and dad was 52 when i was. Just wondering if I hold the record for youngest grandchild. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828/120 "2015-12-31T21:39:45Z")
I’m one of the descendants of John Howland, who fell off the Mayflower. I also had an ancestor who was a state senator in Vermont. There was a parade in his town that Teddy Roosevelt was marching in. My ancestor was so annoyed with him for running against Taft that just before Roosevelt passed his front porch, he turned his chair and had his back to TR as he marched by. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-any-cool-ancestors/307828.md?page=7)