Are You Related to Any One Famous?

Have you been told that you had a famous relative?  Who was the relative?  What did they do to be famous?  How close was your relationship?  Did you personally meet the famous relative?  Have you read any stories about your relative?  

I grew up thinking I wasn't related to anyone famous.  My parents told me that I had a great grandparent who was a leader in our church.  That was as close as I came to feeling related to somebody famous.  I just found out that at www.familysearch.org you can find out if you are related to famous people.  I counted that I am related to 30 of the United States Presidents.  I'm also related to Marie Antionette, Winston Churchill, Queen Victoria, and Princess Diana.  I am related to Sir Isaac Newton, Samuel Morse, and the Wright Brothers.  I am related to William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, John Wayne, Jane Austen, Shirley Temple, Bing Crosby, and Charles Dickens.  I am related to 32 passengers from the Mayflower.  I will have to take the

time to find out how I am related.  How far back do I need to go to find a common ancestor?  What were their lives like?  There is much to learn from this information.

If you have an account at familysearch.org, go check out your famous ancestors.  If you don't have an account, create one.  There is no cost in creating an account.  Just think of all the things you might learn about your ancestors. 

My paternal grandmother's great grandparents and their children have been written about in a series of books.  The information in the books was based on facts taken from diaries and journals and on accounts written about the places they lived and the things that happened when they lived there.  Some things were added to make the story interesting, but the facts were kept and only things that were logical to assume happened were added.  I am so grateful to my cousins who choose to write these books.  It truly made these ancestors feel more real to me.  They are not just names in a family tree, but they were real people who had joyful times and sad times in their lives.  What they learned was passed down to me and has affected my life.

Include any stories you know about your famous ancestors in your life story.  What our ancestors experienced in their lives has probably been passed down to us and has affected our lives.  Learning more about your ancestors broadens your view of the world.  Share what you learn with your family. 

Four Generation Family Tree Gold Border Faux Canvas Print
by storykeeper