Our Noteworthy Kin

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Genealogists must be somewhat skeptical when studying potential links to famous ancestors. The common trap is to make leaps of assumptions, because the natural inclination is to want to connect to them. Nowhere is this more evident than on Ancestry.com, where you can find dozens of family trees showing our Lewis Franklin connecting to the famous Benjamin Franklin, which is completely false. Nevertheless, the myth is perpetuated by un-documented trees and the desire to connect to famous people.

There are a select few connections (in the overall database) that are theoretical, and in those cases the individuals are connected for the purposes of testing a theory while searching for evidence. In those instances, the theoretical connection is always noted. For example, Lewis Franklin is connected as a grandson of Michael Pearson, with a placeholder individual for the unknown generation between Lewis and Michael. The relationship between Lewis and Michael is known from the DNA test results, but the search is on-going for evidence to know which of Michael's sons is the father of Lewis.

In compiling the following list of "noteworthy" individuals, all persons shown are well-documented in their connection to our family - not purely theoretical.

Mini-biographies are not yet written for these individuals, so this is a work in progress.

Charlemagne (742 - 814)
Relationship to author: 37x great grandfather
Note: ancestry is confirmed by "Order of the Crown of Charlemagne," a genealogical and research organization dedicated to study of Charlemagne. Descent from Charlemagne implies relation to a myriad other ancient royalty, but there isn't enough space here to list them all...

Coit, Lillie Hitchcock (1843 - 1929)
Relationship to author: 1st cousin, 4x removed

Henry, Patrick (1736 - 1799)
Relationship to author: Husband of grand aunt-in-law of 2nd cousin, 5x removed

Hunter, Mary Kate (1866 - 1945)
Relationship to author: great grand aunt

Hunter, Robert Mercer Taliaferro (1809 - 1887)
Relationship to author: 2nd cousin, 5x removed
Note: see remarks below

Lee, Robert E (1807 - 1870)
Relationship to author: 4th cousin, 7x removed

Lincoln, Abraham (1809 - 1865)
Relationship to author: 3rd cousin, 5x removed

Madison, James (1751 - 1836)
Relationship to author: 2nd cousin, 4x removed

Pocahontus, Matoaka (1595 - 1617)
Relationship to author: 3rd great grandmother of sister-in-law of 1st cousin, 8x removed

Spotswood, Alexander (1676 - 1740)
Relationship to author: 2nd great grandfather of wife of 2nd cousin, 5x removed

Washington, George (1732 - 1799)
Relationship to author #1: 4th cousin, 6x removed
Relationship to author #2: husband of 1st cousin, 9x removed

Remarks:
Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter is just one example of a US Congressman from our very large, extended network of families in Virginia. There were at least 10 United States Congressmen that came out of the complex web of prominent, wealthy individuals in 17th to 19th century Virginia. Many of them were the largest landowners in their area and served local government positions.

The large Virginia network of ancestors is linked to us through both the Hunter lineage and Allensworth lineage. It also crosses paths with our Virginia Franklins on several occasions. The most frequent and prominent surnames to occur from this group (that are closely related to us) are:
Taliaferro, Garnett, Mercer, Slaughter, Hunter, Catlett, Muscoe, and Thornton.

Other surnames that intersect with us, though less frequently, and were prominent in Virginia include the following:
Smith, Rowzee/Rowzie, Baytop, Roy, Fenton, Grymes, and Townley.