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).
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.
My 3ggf on my Mom’s side is Martin Harris, the man who financed the first printing of The Book Of Mormon and was one of the Three Witnesses to the book.
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.
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.
Small world. My great-great uncle was C. B Fry who played for England in the Test matches in the 1890’s and beyond.
Alas, I do not understand cricket either. 
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.
Well, here’s great-greanddad. Maybe we can work out what all those stats mean together.
Well, that’s pretty cool.
Unless the guy from Mexico whose great grandfather got killed comes along. Then you’re on your own.
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.
My grandfather helped develop the postal ZIP code
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.
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.
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.
My great-great grandfather was a pacific explorer who was one of the first Europeans to visit New Zealand.
Oh, yeah? Well all of my great-great grandfathers were farmers!
(Sorry. I know it’s a cheap shot. Snarkiness runs in my family.)
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).
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.
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.