About This Site
It was relatively common for close relatives to marry in times when people did not travel far and towns were small. We have encountered a number of closely intertwined family relations, which explains something. I'm not sure what.
My Wife is My Cousin
Rebecca Phelps is the sixth great grandmother of Sharla Kay Morgan, my wife. We have not yet been able to establish Rebecca Phelps' ancestry. She is said to have been born in Virginia or Georgia in about 1750. From the notes of one John Bates, "It is thought that Rebecca's father's name was Aaron Phelps." In the 1820 Census she was living with her son Uriah in Jackson Co., Georgia.
The Aunt Who Married Her Nephew
My fifth great-grandparents, Aaron Phelps and Rachel Bagg, were first cousins who grew up alongside each other in Westfield, Massachusetts. Aaron Phelps' father Isaac Phelps and Rachel Bagg's mother Hannah Phelps were siblings. Aaron Phelps was seven years older than Rachel. They married on 26 Jun 1729 when she was 27 years old. Almost a spinster by standards of the time.
Their grandson Ronald Aaron Noble Phelps, whose maternal grandfather was Moses Noble, married his second cousin, Clarissa Root. Her maternal grandfather was Jacob Noble, Moses' brother.
First Cousins are Married
Periously close on the apple tree were first cousins and husband and wife Thomas J. Claggett and Columbia Claggett. Their common ancestors are their grandparents Dr. Samuel Claggett II and Amey Jane Ramey.
One-quarter First Cousins?
My great-grandfather Luther Sanford Beasley was married to both is first and his second cousin at the same time: Ruth Matella Claggett.
Luther and his wife Ruth were—what do you call this relationship—"Quarter-first cousins?"
Its a wondor I cn reed and wrte.
Royal Intermarriage
A few generations before that, long enough not to account for any missing words in my vocabulary, John Robertson married Lady Margaret Chrichton, his second cousin once removed. They were also interrelated seven other ways.
- As sixth and as seventh cousins, both are descendants of Robert the Bruce King of Scotland.
- As eighth and ninth cousins, they are both descended from Robert "The Competitor" Bruce.
- As ninth cousins, their common ancestors are Walter Stewart Third High Steward of Scotland and Beatrix de Angus.
