I have a few interesting connections, although no actual blood ties to anyone famous or illustrious (yet).
My maternal grandmother’s first cousin married a brother of bandleader Frank Chacksfield, who I understand was quite popular decades ago.
My paternal grandfather’s first cousin went into service and became a valet/butler – in 1939 he is living at Windsor Castle (Norman Tower) in the employ of Clive Wigram (Baron), lieutenant-governor of the castle and Personal Secretary to the Sovereign 1931-36. I’ve always wondered how Joseph Ford managed to get this job, but have found no resources to help.
My great-great-grandmother’s husband is living in Lambeth in 1851, listed as a potter’s lad, and I assume he worked at the Doulton factory, as in 1861 he is a groom in the household of Frederick Doulton in Camberwell, who later became an MP for that area. Most of his career was spent as a coachman or carman, but I don’t know how long he stayed with the Doultons.
I have recently, though DNA, found out which family my maternal grandfather belonged to and there is a Weston branch, and Canadians will know our famous Weston family of baker and grocery fame – their origins are in East Sussex, where my lot are from. Possibly the connection is generations ago, but probably somewhere along the line they are connected. I also have a Pankhurst in this line, but Emmeline Pankhurst was not one by birth and her husband was from London, but I would guess all Pankhursts descend from the same individual.
My children have a number of connections to nobility and royalty as a large number of their paternal ancestors were early New England settlers, one of them being Governor Thomas Dudley of Massachusetts who links back to early royal lines. He was the founder of Cambridge, Mass and his daughter, Anne Dudley Bradstreet, considered the first American female poet, is also their ancestor. Anne’s husband, Simon Bradstreet, also their ancestor, was a Governor of Massachusetts as well.
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