Possible Relatives – Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Blake Lively

We’re Related – Third Look

Famous Friday
by Don Taylor

My third look at possible relatives using “We’re Related” showed many potential new cousins.  I decided I would look at the three of the closest “famous relatives” that “We’re Related” is proposing are cousins — Johnny Cash, Jimmy Hendrix, and Blake Lively. All three are at 9 degrees of separation (8^th cousins or 7^th cousin once removed).

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash – 7th Cousin 1x Removed?

The late Johnny Cash is certainly one of the most famous country music singer-songwriters ever. He was born in Kingsland, Arkansas in 1932. Supposedly Johnny is a 7^th cousin, once removed.  The relationship follows the Roberts line:

• Hugh Eugene Roberts
• Bert Allen Roberts
• Hugh Ellis Roberts
• Asa Ellis Roberts
• Elizabeth Blackwell – Same ancestor I might share with Carrie Fisher
  • Sarah Harris – I have seen her name before but I haven’t confirmed it.
  • Robert Harris – Unknown to me.
  • Robert Harris – Unknown to me.
  • Temperance Overton – Supposed Common Ancestor.

I have seen other researchers indicate that Elizabeth Blackwell’s mother was Sarah Harris, I have not had a chance to confirm that information yet. This line definitely needs additional research by me. My relationship with Johnny Cash is possible.

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix – 8th Cousin?

The late Jimi Hendrix was a very influential guitarist during the late 1960s until his death in 1970. He was born in Seattle, Washington in 1942. He would be an 8^th cousin. His relationship follows the Roberts line exactly the same as Johnny Cash does to Temperance Overton.

My relationship with Jimi Hendrix is possible

Blake Lively

Blake Lively – 7th Cousin 1x Removed ?

I’m showing my age again, but I said “who?” when I heard the name, Blake Lively.  Blake is an actress famous for her role in the CW show, Gossip Girl (which I’ve not watched). I’ve seen a couple of the movies she has been in such as Green Lantern and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She was born in Tarzana, California in1987. She and I are supposedly 7^th cousins, 1x removed. The relationship follows the Roberts line:

• Hugh Eugene Roberts
• Bert Allen Roberts
• Hugh Ellis Roberts
• Asa Ellis Roberts
• Elizabeth Blackwell – Same ancestor I might share with Carrie Fisher
  • Sarah Harris – I have seen her name before but I haven’t confirmed it.
  • Lucretia Brown – Unknown to me.
  • Benjamin Brown – Supposed Common Ancestor.

My relationship with Blake Lively is possible.

I was amazed to learn that the stumbling block for all three of these possible famous cousins was the same person – Elizabeth Blackwell’s mother.

Carlton Ross

Scarborough Museum

Carl, as I know him by, is a friend at the Scarborough Museum where I volunteer. He is a native to Maine and supposedly an 8th cousin.

• Hugh Eugene Roberts
• Essie Pansy Barnes
• Joel Clinton Barns
• Mercy Eliza Taft – Same ancestor I might share with Walt Disney
  • Joel Cruff Taft 
  • Sarah Whitney
  • John Whitney
  • Phoebe Day
  • Joseph Day

My relationship with Carl is possible. This is really kind of cool because, if correct, it would mean I have an old, long-time, connection to Maine that I didn’t know about.

Updated chart of Relationships to Famous People

Conclusion

“We’re Related” is fun to look at possibilities. It makes me think about key relationships in my tree and has the potential of providing clues into further research.  It appears that Ancestry may have improved its algorithms as, again, none of the matches this time were unlikely or impossible. That is twice in a row.

I need to bring my Blackwell research to the forefront and see if I can close the gap between my research and the “We’re Related” suggestions.

*Relationship Table

Unlikely = There is something in the family tree going up to the common ancestor that I disagree with.  There might be another path to a common ancestor; however, according to my research, the path “We’re Related” is suggesting is not possible.

Possible = “We’re Related” has added additional ancestors to my tree to reach a potential common ancestor.  I need to do more research to agree with the Common Ancestor.

Probable = “We’re Related” indicates a common ancestor that I agree is an ancestor of mine. I need to research the descendants of that ancestor to assure the connection.

Certain = Well as certain as you can get in Genealogy. “We’re Related” indicates a pathway up to a common ancestor and down to the famous person that I am in agreement with.