Comparing relationships-How does this make sense?

Question

Comparing Stewart-588 and a few of his children to Fulford-387. He is said to be my 17th great grandfather. His daughters Stewart-1163 and -2306 say great aunt and 16th great grandmother. So how can his son-and their brother- Stewart-2313 be my 3rd cousin 14x removed? Your great grandfathers child is not your 3rd cousin. I have been out working in the sun but...?

Answer 1

Hello Samuel.

That is because "Relationship Finder" looks for the MRCA shared by both people.

1. Relationship between you and Stewart-1163

Your MRCA is your 17th great grandfather James IV Stewart.

2. Relationship between you and Stewart-2313

Your MRCA is your 16th great grandmother Margaret (Beauchamp) Welles (one generation closer to you than James IV Stewart).

Stewart-1163 and Steward-2313 are father-only siblings, their mothers are different. Relationship 1 is through your mother (to Stewart-1163's father).

Relationship 2 is through your father and Stewart-2313's mother. If you (temporarilly) detach your father's profile from you, relationship 2 will show exactly the same path shown in relationship 1.

Comments

The relationship between your mother and Stewart-1163 and the relationship between your mother and Stewart-2313 are exactly the same, your mother is the 15th great grandniece of both of them.

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Correct. I am 16th great grand nephew of Stewart-2313. I should not show up as his 3rd cousin...his sister is my 16 great grandmother Stewart-2306. Margaret Stewart Drummond. Thus my confusion about 3rd cousin being deemed closer than great uncle

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Ruben, thank you for looking into my family with me. I appreciate it.

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You are welcome, Samuel.

Answer 2

It's because it gives the closest relationship to you if there is more than one way you are related to that person. You are related to Stewart-2313 in many ways. If you look at the box below on the left where it says "Explore more" it gives a list of 320 common ancestors including his father James IV Stewart (Stewart-588) where that relationship would be 16th great grand uncle to yourself. (Although as it says in the box "Note that the relationship name will not change.")

Comments

It should say the closest relationship. Of course he is also a third cousin-but the closest relationship is great uncle if his sister is my grandmother. His father, Stewart-588 is my 17th great grandfather. Uncle is closer than cousin

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The relationship not changing is the part that threw me. It does change-from cousin to uncle. Also the word closeness. Fewest steps is not always closest relationship