# What's an Indirect Descendant? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 23, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897 "2003-02-23T03:16:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rillian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rillian)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/1 "2003-02-23T03:16:25Z")
In genealogy, the phrase “direct descendant” is used regularly. Isn’t that redundant? Either you are a descendant of a particular person or you’re not. Some genealogy reference books attempt to define indirect descendant as “descended from a common ancestor but through different lines” which, in my opinion, means you are potentially distant cousins, but you are still each (direct) descendants of a common ancestor. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/2 "2003-02-23T03:17:54Z")
You’re an indirect descendant of Ben Franklin if you’re a direct descendant of his sister. It’s an imprecise term, and I avoid it in my genealogical discussions, but lots of others employ it. ---
**Author:** ![Rillian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rillian)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/3 "2003-02-23T03:29:34Z")
If I’m a descendant of Ben Franklin’s sister, I am a descedant of their father, but am I not a decesdant of Ben, at least not in a biological sense. Sounds like “indirect descendant” is way for some people to try to claim a relationship that doesn’t exist - e.g. I’m an (indirect) descendant of George Washington. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/4 "2003-02-23T03:46:20Z")
Oh, the relationship exists, all right. It’s one of collateral relations. And kingships have turned on such things. How do you think the German-speaking George I ended up King of England? I also posit that “indirect descendant” sounds better to a lot of people than claiming Ben Franklin as a “cousin”. He would be one, something like first cousin 7 times removed. Personally, I’d opt for cousin. Heck, Prince William of England is 27th cousin, 9 times removed. ---
**Author:** ![Broadway\_Danny\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@Broadway\_Danny\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broadway_Danny_Rose)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/5 "2003-02-23T07:03:16Z")
George W Bush is an indirest descendant of Franklin Pierce the 14th President of the United States through his mother Barbra Pierce (Bush). ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/6 "2003-02-23T13:11:28Z")
Ah, but George I got the nod because he was a direct descendant of the Electress Sophia (his mum), who in turn was a direct descendant of James I & VI (her grandfather). ---
**Author:** ![Rillian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rillian)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/7 "2003-02-23T20:14:58Z")
Consider the following three sentences: A. I am a descendant of George Washington. B. I am a direct descendant of George Washington. C. I am an indirect descendant of George Washington. B = A, therefore “direct” is redundant and can be left out. For C, if George is a great-great-…-parent, then it is the same as A. If I am related to George through a sister, cousin, brother, etc., then I am not **his** descendant, but we are, of course, relations. What’s wrong with just being cousins or a grand-grand-…-nephew? Why the rush to claim descendancy from someone who isn’t your ancestor? ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/8 "2003-02-23T20:17:42Z")
Of course, since George Washington had no children, no one is his direct descendant… 🙂 Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Rillian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rillian)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/9 "2003-02-23T20:40:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > Of course, since George Washington had no children, no one is his direct descendant… No. No one is his descendant. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/10 "2003-02-23T21:02:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rillian \* > \*\*No. No one is his descendant. 😉 \*\* While I agree with you, we are now faced with semantics. Some people recognize indirect descent to mean what was described. I know what they’re talking about when the term is used, even if I think it’s silly. But so far they’ve refused to change for my benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Rillian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rillian)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/11 "2003-02-23T21:08:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*While I agree with you, we are now faced with semantics. \*\* I agree. Since my OP asked what an “indirect descendant” is, I think you have answered the question. Direct Descendant: a biological descendant of a person. Indirect Descendant: a blood relation, but not a biological descendant of a person. Used by some people because it sounds better than “third cousin, twice removed” or similar relationships. Thanks everyone. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-indirect-descendant/156897/12 "2003-02-23T21:28:22Z")
Well, then we’ll just have to agree to… um, agree, I guess.