Which signer of the Declaration of Independence are you most closely connected to?

Question

This week we're featuring signers of the US Declaration of Independence in the Connection Finder, starting with John Hancock, the first signer.

Featured alongside him are other signers:

• Francis Lightfoot Lee
• Mary Katharine Goddard
• Benjamin Franklin
• Matthew Thornton
• Francis Lewis
• John Witherspoon
• Thomas McKean
• Charles Carroll
• Roger Sherman
• Thomas Jefferson

Who are you most closely connected to? If you're one of the 22,900,000 of us who are connected to each other on our big tree you can check with the Connection Finder.

You can check for shared ancestors with the Relationship Finder. Are you a cousin to any of them? Your Relationship Finder Quick Links page (see your profile pull-down menu under "Relationships") has quick links for several notable groups.

Let us know below! If you want to share your connection on social media with cousins and friends, click the "get shareable image" below the results, e.g. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Then just upload it along with the URL of your direct connection. (Please refrain from sharing your connection on the featured profiles, though. It clutters conversations on research and collaboration. Thanks!)

P.S. Help us choose and improve profiles for next week's feature: Inventors!

Comments

Do you know how the British ended slavery in the British Empire? They paid the slave OWNERS off to free their slaves and, the taxes for that were finally paid off in 2015.

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When someone says: "the American Founding Fathers were hypocrites because the wrote that all men are created equal but most of them owned slaves" are misunderstanding history. First, they were not addressing slavery, they were addressing the divine right of kings, which gave the king and nobles the right to rule because God selected them. Second, Washington, Jefferson and Adams were perhaps the most progressive, liberal thinkers on earth in 1776. They grew up in a world where slavery was common and viewed as necessary. Slavery had existed for thousands of years in nearly every culture in the world, including the native people of Africa and the Americas. The American Founding Fathers were the first people who dared to question the morality of slavery. They were the very people who started us down the path of ending slavery. When we project our modern views onto them, we are ignoring the place where they started. Our type of thinking didn't exist yet....the very concept of a world without slavery was revolutionary and they had to take us to the starting point. Demanding that dead people in the past meet our values today, is as ridiculous as demanding that when the Montgolfier brothers invented the hot air balloon in 1783, that they should have built a 747 passenger jet instead.

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Well explained.  Thank you Carolyn.

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Frances L. Lee 10th cousin 6x removed/14 degree Conn.
Mary C. Goddard 7 cousin 9x removed/  17 degree Conn.
John Witherspoon 7 cousin 9x/14 degree Conn.
Charles Carroll  6th cousin 8x/  16 degree Connections
Roger Sherman 6 cousin 8x/   15 degree Conn
Thomas Jefferson 8 cousin 7x/ 12 degree Conn

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What a thoughtful, intelligent approach to the challenging subject of early America and the attitudes and actions of our "founding fathers." It's not about assessing blame, nor is it about excusing slave ownership. I can't imagine that Washington, Jefferson, Adams did not suffer conflicts of conscience. Nor can I imagine our history without their significant contributions. I only became acutely aware of the racial injustice that existed in my world when the first African-American students arrived at my high school in 1956(?). The young girl who took a seat across from me looked terrified. I remember as if it were yesterday thinking "Is that what all the fuss is about? She is a a young, vulnerable girl who could not possibly cause anyone here any harm." Did I take any steps to make her feel comfortable other than a smile when she finally summoned the courage to look around? No....I did not. Have I made it a life-long struggle to speak out against bigotry and do what little I can to fight prejudice? Yes. A decade later, when teaching in a far-north, far-right, far-white school in Dallas, the first black teachers were hired. I sought out the company of one of these new-comers who told me that she was so terrified to even enter this school that she drove around the block several times before summoning the courage to park and come in. Is there a point I want to make? Only that we each "started" from different places. We can only be grateful that our more "modern views" will lead us to a better world.

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Thomas Jefferson:  1st cousin (7x removed), 10 degrees.  During his lifetime, my 6-great grandmother was his aunt.

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Very well said, Carolynn.  Some people will say anything to try to make their misguided point when they themselves are misguided.

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As a black man, Thomas Sowell was taught to be a Marxist. No doubt a product of his environment. As he researched and learned, under Milton Freidman and others, he grew and came to believe in capitalism as the only path to a stable, growth oriented society. Before America, North America was governed by? I'm guessing native American---men. Not to be sexist it's just a fact  They were willing to fight and die for their people and their land. These men were usually the oldest and wisest. Whether in status or wealth, they were the richest members of their people. This goes for all people of the globe regardless of continent, country or ethnicity. Slavery, organized or otherwise, existed unchallenged for thousands of years if not since to the beginning of time. Shortly - in the context of time/history-immediately thereafter the founding of America, slavery was abolished throughout the free worlds while it lingered in Africa It still thrives in communist countries. If you consider human trafficing as slavery, it is still rampant worldwide today because it is profitable although illegal. It seems wise to move on from that we cannot change to something we can, even though it was made possible by "old, rich white guys" that everyone should be thankful for. For anyone that doesn't feel this way I would think they would be reading this at the airport on their way to a better life in another country. Anti-Americans held in foreign countries are "shocked" when their rights aren't read at the time of arrest. Let me apologize that they were never taught that those rights, like many others, are unique to America. History is like genealogy, the more you study it the clearer it becomes and the more we understand.

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There is still slavery in Africa.  The last time I visited, I stayed in an AirBnb that was run by the son of a man who was enslaved by an African chief.  The chief was a ladies man so he took a mistress who was the mother of the man who ran the AirBnb.  He told her that she could pick any of the slave boys to become her son, and thus he was freed from modern day slavery in Africa.  When the chief died, the mistress inherited the plantation and home, and she gave that to the man who runs the Airbnb.  He is free, but what about the other enslaved people in Africa today?  Perhaps African Americans who have the right skin color to minister there without being shamed for having "white savior complex" should go and set others free, as the white men who fought for the union in our nation fought to set them free. That perhaps would give them a sense of purpose greater than tearing down America.

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A bit misleading to say Mary Catherine Goddard was a signer of the DOI.  I find the women's rights movement interesting and wondered how it came to be a woman signed it.  While she is no doubt impressive for her era she was the publisher and her name appears on it but not as a signatory.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/mary-katharine-goddard-woman-whose-name-appears-declaration-independence-180970816/

Answer 1

30 degrees from Thomas Jefferson

30 degrees from Francis Lee

30 degrees from Thomas McKean

32 degrees from John Hancock

32 degrees from Charles Carrol

33 degrees from Ben Franklin

Answer 2

I am connected to John Adams, as 3rd cousin 8x removed.

Answer 3

14 degrees from Ben Franklin, who is my favorite historical figure.

Answer 4

I am 13 degrees from Thomas Jefferson through his mother to my mother.

Can someone tell me how that translates into cousins, aunts or uncle removed or not.

Thank you in advance.

Comments

James and Thomas are third cousins 6 times removed

James Brooks and Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) are both descendants of Elizabeth (Ryland) Randolph (1621-1669).

1. James is the son of Ruth (Brooks) Davis (1928-2002) DNA confirmed

2. Ruth is the daughter of Benjamin Hillery Brooks Sr. (1874-1941) [unknown confidence]

3. Benjamin is the son of William A. Brooks (1846-1882) [unknown confidence]

4. William is the son of James Mason Brooks (abt.1822-1891) [unknown confidence]

5. James is the son of John Zedoc Brooks (1796-1860) [unknown confidence]

6. John is the son of Elisabeth (Trayler) Brooks (abt.1760-) [unknown confidence]

7. Elisabeth is the daughter of William M. Traylor (1733-1791) [unknown confidence]

8. William is the son of Edward Traylor II (1670-1748) [unknown confidence]

9. Edward is the son of Margaret (Randolph) Traylor (1657-1726) [unknown confidence]

10. Margaret is the daughter of Elizabeth (Ryland) Randolph (1621-1669) [confident]

This makes Elizabeth the eighth great grandmother of James.

1. Thomas is the son of Jane (Randolph) Jefferson (1720-1776) [confident]

2. Jane is the daughter of Isham Randolph (1685-1742) [confident]

3. Isham is the son of William Randolph (bef.1650-1711) [confident]

4. William is the son of Elizabeth (Ryland) Randolph (1621-1669) [confident]

This makes Elizabeth the second great grandmother of Thomas.

If you simply scroll down on the connection finder and hit relationship finder you find the blood relationships.   BTW, we are 15th cousins once removed, James.

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Thank you Loretta, the reason I asked is now with the upgrade when I hit relation finder the page goes blank with a small vertical box in the upper left hand corner and nothing else, where it used to lay it out as you did. Hopefully it will straighten itself out.

Thank you again couz

James

Answer 5

What fun. Not as closely connected to Ben Franklin as I’d hoped, but an interesting path through Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket and the Buffums and Popes in Salem. I had several 7th & 8th cousins among them. My closest connection was Roger Sherman at 12 degrees, followed by Ben Franklin and John Hancock, both at 13 degrees.

Answer 6

Thomas Jefferson (8 Degrees)  I'm Thomas's fifth great grand-nephew. Does this mean that I'm older than dirt?

Answer 7

I am 9 degrees from John Hancock! He was my many times great uncle. The papers left from all the relitives trying to settle his massive (intestate) estate would fill volumes...

Answer 8

14 degrees: Charles Carroll (1737 - 1832) Maryland and Roger Sherman (1721 - 1793) Connecticut

15 degrees: John Hancock, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Francis Lightfoot Lee (VA), and Thomas McKean (DE)

Answer 9

I'm a first cousin, eight times removed (or 11 degrees) of Ben Franklin.

Answer 10

I hit the jackpot this week with Signers! The closest is Robert Sherman at 14 degrees and the furthest is Jason Grant at 20 degrees. In addition, seven of the twelve are related:

1) Roger Sherman; 14 degrees and 16th cousins 5X removed through MRCA Gilbert Pecche

2) John Hancock; 15 degrees and 13th cousins 7X removed through MRCA Robert de Pulford

3) Francis Lee; 17 degrees and 10th cousins 12X removed through MRCA Isabella (English) Harrington

4) Thomas Jefferson; 17 degrees and 14th cousins 9X removed through MRCA Ralph le Rouse

5) Mary Goddard; 17 degrees and 16th cousins 5X removed through MRCA Gilbert Pecche

6) Charles Carroll; 18 degrees and 12th cousins 10X removed through MRCA Nicholas Harrington

7) John Witherspoon; 18 degrees and 15th cousins 6X removed through MRCA Elizabeth (Samlesbury) de Holand

Other non-related Signers are:

8) Benjamin Franklin at 15 degrees

9) Matthew Thornton at 16 degrees

10) Thomas McKean at 17 degrees

11) Francis Lewis at 18 degrees

12) Jason Grant at 20 degrees

Answer 11

13 degrees from Roger Sherman, Sherman-395, 10th cousins eight times removed, MRCA Elizabeth (FitzAlan) Usflete, FitzAlan-633

14 degrees from John Hancock, Hancock-2, fifth cousins, six times removed, MRCA Olive (Irby) Bulkeley, Irby-1

15 degrees from Benjamin Franklin, Franklin-1

16 degrees from Francis Lewis, Lewis-12238

17 degrees from Thomas Jefferson, Jefferson-1, 11th cousins five times, MRCA Robert Corbet MP, Corbet-5

17 degrees from Charles Carroll, Carroll-2077, 10th cousins seven times removed, MRCA Elizabeth Eleanor (Brereton) Savage, Brereton-5

17 degrees from Mary Katharine Goddard, Goddard-1673, 11th cousins six times removed, MRCA Robert Fraunceys, Fraunceys-33

17 degrees from Francis Lightfoot Lee, Lee-536, 9th cousins five times removed, MRCA Elizabeth (Mainwaring) Charlton, Mainwaring-18

17 degrees from John Witherspoon, Witherspoon-160, 13th cousins seven times removed, MRCA Eleanor (Plantagenet) de Arundel, Plantagenet-48

18 degrees from Matthew Thornton, Thornton-1562

19 degrees from Thomas McKean, McKean-13

Answer 12

I'm related 8 cousins to John Handcock; 9 cousins to Mary Goddard; 7 cousins to Thomas Jefferson; 8 cousins to Charles Carroll; 10 cousins to Roger Sherman; and 8 cousins to John Witherspoon.

My closest by marriage is Benjamin Franklin 14 Degrees; and Roger Sherman 13 Degrees. Thomas Jefferson 15 Degrees

Someone mentioned Henry VIII, I'm 2 cousins and 18 Degrees from him.
Hal

Answer 13

I am connected through his Mother's Sister she is my 8th Great Grandmother Joanna (Folger) Coleman making his mother Abiah (Folger Franklin)  my 8th Great Aunt. my . Through her Benjamin Franklin is a 1st Cousin  9 times removed. .

Answer 14

Mine is Roger Sherman and Thomas McKean at 17 degrees

Answer 15

I am 4th cousins with Thomas Jefferson and 12th cousins with John Hancock.

Kelly Popp Kley

Answer 16

I am most closely connected to John Hancock (5th cousin 8 x removed)

• 13 degrees from John Hancock
• 15 degrees from Ben Franklin
• 15 degrees from Thomas Jefferson
• 16 degrees from Charles Carroll
• 17 degrees from Mary Goddard
• 16 degrees from Francis Lee
• 18 degrees from Francis Lewis
• 18 degrees from Thomas McKean
• 14 degrees from Roger Sherman
• 16 degrees from Matthew Thornton
• 15 degrees from John Witherspoon
• 18 degrees from Jason Grant

Answer 17

I am most closely connected to John Hancock (5th cousin 8 x removed)

• 13 degrees from John Hancock
• 15 degrees from Ben Franklin
• 15 degrees from Thomas Jefferson
• 16 degrees from Charles Carroll
• 17 degrees from Mary Goddard
• 16 degrees from Francis Lee
• 18 degrees from Francis Lewis
• 18 degrees from Thomas McKean
• 14 degrees from Roger Sherman
• 16 degrees from Matthew Thornton
• 15 degrees from John Witherspoon
• 18 degrees from Jason Grant

Answer 18

Thomas Jefferson and Francis Lee are my closest, both at 14 degrees.

• 14 degrees from Thomas Jefferson
• 14 degrees from Francis Lee

According to WikiTree, I also have a blood connection to both men. 

11C6R from Thomas Jefferson

8C10R from Francis Lee.

I allegedly have a blood connection to 8 out of the 12 who were listed.

I didn't know there was a female signer of the Declaration of Independence.  I didn't see Mary Goddard (14C8R) listed as a signer on the Archives.gov website, so I looked her up. Very interesting!

Comments

Mary Katherine Goddard may not have been a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but if you visit her profile page, you will find that while running her brother's print shop in Baltimore she published the first copy of the Declaration of Independence in the then colonies, making her presence among the signers relevant. On her profile page, in fact, there is posted a jpg of the Goddard Broadside of the Declaration of Independence for all to see.

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Thank you, Frank. Like I mentioned, I didn't know about her, so I looked her up and thought it was interesting. I thought it was interesting that she was a printer back in a time when I thought only men did that.  I don't think that I said anything about it was irrelevant, just that it was interesting.  We learn something new every day. I am glad that she was included in the list. Otherwise, I would have never known about her, nor would I have learned that she is my very distant cousin. :)

Answer 19

13 degrees from Francis Lightfoot Lee and Richard Henry Lee my 1C10R

Comments

Richard Henry Lee is my 5th great grandpa.

Answer 20

13 degrees from Benjamin Franklin…I didn’t know that!  I am also a direct descendant of signer Richard Stockton of NJ.  He is my 5th Great Grandfather.  His daughter Julia married Benjamin Rush so he is the husband of my 4th Great Aunt.  All of my parents lines have been in the US since the 1700’s!

Comments

Thank you for the post! And welcome to Wikitree btw, Medora.  I like your name