Who has a surprise connection to an historical figure?

[Ruskie]

I love this thread!     Just looking at your surname interests, rutht22000, I wonder if you have any connection to Dennis Sievers, the chap who recreated that wonderful household in Folgate Street, Spitalfields?   Do you know the one I mean?

That's Dennis Severs. He was an American.

His house is a real treasure. I could spend forever there.

I am the 5th cousin twice removed (or is is second cousin 5 times removed  ) of Thomas Spencer's (of Marks and Spencer) second wife.  I've always liked M&S, specially the bread and butter pudding. 

I have other grander possibilities but with a vital missing link. 

[andrewalston]

Because virtually everyone in the UK with a variant of a surname is descended from my ggg grandfather, searching for that name turns up all sorts of professionals.

Probably best known is a 4th cousin who retired from the army as a Brigadier, but there are also several senior medical professionals and even a Rugby League player.

On other lines, I too have a writer in Canada. My 3rd cousin is very much alive.

However, I also have links through both my mother and father to Peter Lee, who became a miners' leader and had a whole town named after him.

[Alexander.]

This is quite distant, but a blood relation all the same - I am a fifth cousin, several times removed, of Charles Darwin, through Charles's grandfather Josiah Wedgwood (of pottery fame).

A more interesting connection is my relative John Howard, a surgeon, who was deceived by Mary Toft when she gave birth to rabbits in 1726. I don't think it did much for his career - but it did get him in the history books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Toft

[DudleyWinchurch]

James Connolly made a whole speech about my Great-grandfather.

[Wharfrat]

My great great grandfather's brother married a girl called Eliza Bassett. Her dad George founded a sweet-making firm, who are quite well known 

[weste]

Coming over all bertie at that.   


I supposed to be related to john major according to someone else who has done some family history. I suspect it is the wrong line which has been followed.  I don't know whether i want to check!

[Winterbloom21]

[quote James Connolly made a whole speech about my Great-grandfather.

Did he?   Well, don't keep us in suspense now - what was it about?    Was it a funeral oration?   My son would be very jealous as James Connolly is one of his heroes.

[rnewfie]

Emma SMITH was aunt of husband of Augusta CHRISTIE.
Augusta CHRISTIE was my 17th cousin 4 times removed.
Emma SMITH was James Austen's (Jane Austen's brother) wife.
The Christie's are the family who founded Glyndebourne Opera House.

Here's a good one, Old King Coel (Ceneu ap COEL) was my great (x46) grandfather.
Have a look at this (www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~rnewfie/Family_History/), there are a few kings and queens in there.

[DudleyWinchurch]

[quote James Connolly made a whole speech about my Great-grandfather.

Did he?   Well, don't keep us in suspense now - what was it about?    Was it a funeral oration?   My son would be very jealous as James Connolly is one of his heroes.

Hi Winterbloom,
My Ggrandfather stood for election (for the Dublin City Council) representing the Irish Socialist Republican Party and Connolly made a speech about all the dirty tricks his opponents pulled to make sure that he didn't get elected.

- it was a very exciting find for me too.