Which American Founder are you most closely connected to?

Question

With the upcoming Independence Day holiday in the US, we're looking at some of the men and women who were instrumental in the founding of the nation in the Connection Finder this week. We start with Benjamin Franklin.

Here are other patriots to check your connection to:

• Abigail Adams, first lady and activist
• Ethan Allen, politician and war hero
• London Atus, war hero
• Josiah Bartlett, signer of the Declaration of Independence and New Hampshire governor
• Nathanael Greene, war hero
• Patrick Henry, delegate to the Continental Congresses and governor of Virginia
• Thomas Jefferson, US President and primary author of the Declaration of Independence
• Edmund Pendleton, delegate to First Continental Congress
• Deborah Sampson, war hero
• Roger Sherman, only Founding Father to have signed all four major revolutionary documents

Which one of these founders is closest to you on our single family tree? If you're one of the 29.8 million of us who are connected to each other on our big tree, you can check with the Connection Finder.

In addition to the above and our many Featured Connections, you can check your connections to any category on WikiTree, such as American Founding Fathers and Signers of the United States Constitution. Click the green MyConnections button in the upper right hand corner of the category page.

Let us know how you're related 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. JRR Tolkien and Benjamin Franklin. Then just upload it along with the URL of your direct connection. (Please refrain from sharing your connection on the featured profiles themselves, though. It clutters conversations on research and collaboration. Thanks!)

Help us find and improve the profiles for next week's Notable Kentuckians feature.

Comments

11 degrees from Ben Franklin
11 degrees from Nathanael Greene
12 degrees from Edmund Pendleton
14 degrees from Ethan Allen
14 degrees from Patrick Henry
14 degrees from Roger Sherman
15 degrees from Josiah Bartlett
15 degrees from Thomas Jefferson
15 degrees from Deborah Gannett
17 degrees from London Atus
17 degrees from Sharon Haynes

The joys of ancestors from New England, and Rhode Island, in particular.

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I do believe [[Mason-2505|George Mason IV]] has been left off the Founding Fathers list. That will never do!  For one thing he co-authored the Bill of Rights. True he pitched a fit and went home before signing the Constitution he helped write - truly an American thing to do - because the other FF's wouldn't agree to stop importing slaves - but he is still a Founding Father. And he is my 8th great-granddaddy! Bless him. 

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In time for the next July 4th (the one after the up coming), George Mason is most definitely deserving of note!

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Hello!  He is also a relative: 12C, 5x removed.  Our CA is Robert (Cralle) de Cralle (my 16th GGF).

Answer 1

I am most closely connected to Ethan Allen, Josiah Bartlett and Roger Sherman at 19 degrees.

Answer 2

WOW. This list has the highest number of closest (lowest number) connections I have ever had... Until I was rudely jolted back to the truth.  

6 of these connections are true for me - connected through my own family!! They are as follows....

19 degrees from Abigail Adams

19 degrees from London Atus

16 degrees from Patrick Henry

20 degrees from Thomas Jefferson

19 degrees from Edmund Pendleton

18 degrees from Roger Sherman 

The remaining 5 connections are all through my French Canadian spouse. 

Answer 3

My closest relation is Abigail Adams who is my 11^th cousin, 6x removed, and my closest connections are Edmund Pendleton and Patrick Henry at 13 degrees.

Ancestors and Cousins

• 13 degrees from Edmund Pendleton – 13th cousin, 7x removed.
• 14 degrees from Thomas Jefferson – 12th cousin, 6x removed.
• 16 degrees from Deborah Sampson – 15th cousin, 5x removed.
• 16 degrees from Roger Sherman – 12th cousin, 7x removed.
• 17 degrees from Abigail Adams  – 11th cousin, 6x removed.

 Connections

• 13 degrees from Patrick Henry – 3 branches (2-9-3)
• 14 degrees from Ethan Allen – 3 branches (3-4-8)
• 14 degrees from Benjamin Franklin – 3 branches (2-10-3)
• 16 degrees from Josiah Bartlett – 3 branches (4-2-11)
• 16 degrees from Nathanael Greene – 3 branches (3-11-3)
• 19 degrees from London Atus – 4 branches (1-3-4-12)

 

Answer 4

I am closest to Edmund Pendelton 1c8r then Thomas Jefferson at 7c8r

Answer 5

9 degrees from Patrick Henry. 9th cousin 10 times removed of his 2nd wife, Dorothea Spotswood (Dandridge) Winston. MRCA Joan (Beaufort), Queen Dowager of Scots (d. abt 15 July 1445).

9 degrees from Edmund Pendleton. 6th great grand Uncle.

11 degrees from Thomas Jefferson. 10th cousin 7 times removed. MRCA Edward Neville (abt 1412 - 1476).

13 degrees from Ben Franklin.

14 degrees from Nathaniel Greene. 3rd cousin 7 times removed. MRCA Adam Mott (bef 1594 - bef 1661).

15 degrees from Roger Sherman. 10th cousin 7 times removed. MRCA Elizabeth (FitzAlan) Usflete (abt 1371 - 1425).

16 degrees from Josiah Bartlett.

16 degrees from Deborah Gannett. 14th cousin 3 times removed. MRCA Margery (Cotton) Venables (abt 1345 - 1398).

17 degrees from Ethan Allen.

18 degrees from Abigail Adams. 11th cousin 6 times removed. MRCA Efa (ferch Morgan) Gammage (b. abt 1400).

18 degrees from London Atus. 12th cousin 7 times removed of his wife, Eunice (Foss) Atus. MRCA Mary (Talbott) Tempest (abt 1336 - abt 1380).

Answer 6

• 14 degrees - Ethan Allen
• 15 degrees - Roger Sherman
  • 14C14R -- MRCA - Rohesia Blount (abt. 1207 - 1271) and Robert (Valoines) de Valoignes (abt. 1198 - 1263)
• 16 degrees - Josiah Bartlett 
• 17 degrees - Nathanael Greene
• 18 degrees - London Atus
• 18 degrees - Patrick Henry
• 18 degrees - Thomas Jefferson
  • 14C12R -- MRCA - Joan Valoignes and Robert (Grey) de Grey (abt. 1246 - bef. 1295)
• 18 degrees - Edmund Pendleton
  • 13C9R -- MRCA - Joane (Holand) Radcliffe (abt. 1287 - abt. 1347)
• 18 degrees - Deborah Sampson
  • 18C6R -- MRCA - Philippa Standon (1220 - aft. 1294) and Thomas (Dutton) de Dutton (1214 - 1272)
• 19 degrees - Abigail Adams
  • 13C10R -- MRCA - Katherine Bretton (1317 - 1342) and Thomas Quartermain (abt. 1290 - 1342)

Comments

Wow, Joel Zummak, you are my 12 cousin!  (I just had to check since our relatives are the same in this list).  Fun! :)

Answer 7

I am 20 degrees from Nathanael Greene

21 degrees from Elhan Allen

21 degrees from Deborah Gannett (23rd Cousins once removed)

22 degrees from Ben Franklin

22 degrees from Patrick Henry

22 degrees from Edmund Pendleton (19th cousins four times removed)

23 degrees from Josiah Bartlett

23 degrees from Thomas Jefferson (20th cousins three times removed)

23 degrees from Roger Sherman (19th cousins four times removed)

24 degrees fom Abigail Adams (20th cousins three times removed)

25 degrees from London Atus

28 degrees from Sharon Haynes (23rd cousins four times removed)

Comments

Thanks for reporting, Kari. Given that these people are mostly of British extraction, it is interesting to see how close these "connections" can be for a person whose ancestry is primarily in Norway.

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Hei Ellen

So nice to have a comment from you. My common cousin mentioned here, they all, exept one descend from Ryska Piast Slaska (Piast-12), who married 1st to Alfonso Vll of Castilie and Leon - Married 2nd Raymond Berenger ll of Provence, and 3 time with Albrecht of Everstein. The one exept was Sharon Haynes, we have common ancestry in Sweden, and goes all the way down to Magnus Bengtsson (Bengtsson-804), called Magnus Minnesköld.

Regards from Kari L.U

Answer 8

• 13 Degrees to Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) 5C 9xR
• 13 Degrees to Ethan Allen (1738 - 1789)
• 14 Degrees to Roger Sherman (1721 - 1793) - (4C 9xR)
• 15 Degrees to Josiah Bartlett (1729 - 1795)
• 15 Degrees to Nathanael Greene (1742 - 1786) - (3c 8xR) 
• 15 Degrees to Patrick Henry (1736 - 1799)
• 15 Degrees to Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826) - (9C 8xR Uncertain) 
• 15 Degrees to Deborah (Sampson) Gannett (1760 - 1827) - (15C 3xR)
• 16 Degrees to Edmund Pendleton (1721 - 1803) - (12C 10xR Uncertain)
• 16 Degrees to London Atus (abt. 1759 - 1843)
• 17 Degrees to Abigail Quincy (Smith) Adams (1744 - 1818) - (11C 6xR)

Comments

Hey Jennifer...you are my 20th cousin, 1X removed...(check it out!) :)

Answer 9

13 degrees from Roger Sherman (1721 - 1793), Sherman-395, 13th cousin seven times removed MRCA Matilda (Lovel) la Zouche (abt. 1280 - bef. 1346), Lovel-25, Bartholomew (Badlesmere de Badlesmere (abt. 1275 - 1322, Badlesmere-16

13 degrees from Josiah Bartlett (1729 - 1795)

14 degrees from Edmund Pendleton (1721 - 1803), Pendleton-666, 12th cousin seven times removed MRCA Alice (Audley) de Neville (abt. 1300- 1374), Audley-21, Ralph (Neville) de Neville (abt. 1291 - 1367), Neville-59

14 degrees from Ethan Allen (1738 -1789),

14 degrees from Abigail Adams (1744 -1818), Smith-69, 12th cousin six times removed MRCA Maud (Percy) Neville (abt. 1340 - bef. 1379), Percy-15, John (Neville) de Neville KG (abt. 1329. - 1388), Neville-58

15 degrees from Thomas Jefferson (1743 -1826), Jefferson-1, 11th cousin five times removed MRCA Margaret Mallory (abt. 1392 - 1439), Mallory-9, Roger Wentworth (abt. 1395 - 1452), Wentworth-8

15 degrees from Nathanael Greene (1742 - 1786), his wife, Catharine (Littlefield) Miller (1755 - 1814), Littlefield-430, 14th cousin five times removed MRCA Hugh (Venables) de Venables (abt. 1256 - 1311), Venables-92, Agatha (Vernon) Hulgreve (1280 -aft. 1350), Vernon-110

15 degrees from Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

16 degrees from Deborah (Sampson) Gannett (1760 -1827), Sampson-307, 12th cousin four times removed MRCA Margery (Despenser) Wentworth (abt. 1398 - 1478), Despenser-26, Roger Wentworth (abt. 1395 - 1452), Wentworth-8

16 degrees from Patrick Henry (1736 - 1799)

16 degrees from London Atus (abt. 1759 - 1843), his wife, Eunice (Foss) Atus (1766 - 1854), Foss-600, 15th cousin six times removed MRCA Elizabeth (Samlesbury) de Holand, Samlesbury-7, Robert (Holand) de Holland (abt. 1253 - 1305), Holand-70

Comments

Hey Mildred Gillet, you are my 18th cousin!!  We share 2 Common Ancestors (check it out!) :)

Answer 10

Abigail Adams - 11th cousin 7x removed

Nathaniel Greene - 3rd cousin 7x removed

Thomas Jefferson - 9th cousin 8x removed

Edmund Pendleton - 12th cousin 9x removed

Deborah Sampson - 12th cousin 5x removed

Roger Sherman - 4th cousin 9x removed

The Jefferson and Pendleton connections contain some noted uncertainties.

Answer 11

Closest connection is to Nathanael Greene at 11 Degrees

Closest Relationships are all 3rd Cousins (8R):

Josiah Bartlett 

Abigail Adams

Deborah Sampson

Quite an impressive list of individuals!

Answer 12

I am most closely related to Patrick Henry, at 11 degrees

Answer 13

Lots of low numbers this week.  Ethan Allen and Patrick Henry are closest at 13 degrees.  All of the rest are between 14 and 16 degrees.

The closest cousin is Thomas Jefferson, a 10th cousin 5 times removed.

Answer 14

Well that surprised me! 12 degrees from Abigail Adams, via the Boylstons and Hallowells.

Answer 15

*Abigail Quincy (Smith) Adams - 11th cousin 5xR

*Thomas Jefferson - 12th cousin 5xR

*Edmond Pendleton - 11th cousin 7xR

*Deborah (Sampson) Gannett - 12 cousin 4xR

Roger Sherman- 5th cousin 7xR

Comments

Hi Mary Ann, we are related to the same people, just different relationships.  We must also be related at some point.  Sherman- 3rd cousin, 8xr, Pendleton-11th cousin, 7xr;(same) Jefferson- 12th cousin, 7xr; Adams - 13th cousin, xr; and Gannet - 16th cousin, 8x removed.

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Hi Sharon,
Yes - we are 9th cousins! I see that you also have a Mayflower ancestor. My Mayflower ancestors are Resolved White, Susana Jackson Winslow. I'm uncertain if this line has been sufficiently proven to follow through with an official membership into the Mayflower group. How about you?

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It is nice to know that I have cousins on this site.  Yes I have Mayflower ancestors through my paternal grandmother but haven't tried to join as yet, it is quite expensive.  My Mayflower ancestors are:  Elizabeth Tilly and her mother Joan Tilly  and through them to John Howland, who married Elizabeth after they landed.  I have another one but haven't worked that one out as yet.  Maybe one day I will be able to join.  Sharon  (sloruby@comcast.net)

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Fun!  I'm related to both of you :)  MaryAnn, your my 17th cousin, 1X removed, and Sharon, you are my 17 cousin, 2X removed :)

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Hi Elizabeth, Wow, another cousin. I wonder how many others are also related to us.  I have found that most of my relationships are through my maternal side of the  family (Coleman, Geiger) but I also have some through my paternal side as well, (LaFond, Fox).  I live in Florida, where are you and Mary Ann located?  Sharon

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We're in Texas, right next door to all my Louisiana first cousins (39!! - thought not all live in Louisiana anymore.)

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While I'm originally from Savannah, GA, I've moved (quite a a bit!) ...I now live in Tacoma, WA, and love it!  It's green as the East Coast, without the intense humidity...and it stays lighter later in the day in the summer. :)

Answer 16

My closest is Deborah Gannett at 12 degrees.  She and I are 2nd cousins, 7 times removed.

Answer 17

 13 degrees from Ben Franklin

15 degrees from Abigail Adams -8th cousin, 8X removed

13 degrees from Ethan Allen

16 degrees from London Atus

13 degrees from Josiah Bartlett

15 degrees from Nathanael Greene

 14 degrees from Patrick Henry

15 degrees from Thomas Jefferson -8th cousin, 7x removed 

14 degrees from Edmund Pendleton -10th cousin, 10x removed 

14 degrees from Deborah Gannett -11th cousin, 5x removed

13 degrees from Roger Sherman -8th cousin, 9x removed 

Answer 18

14 degrees from Deborah Gannett (13th cousins, 7x removed)
14 degrees from Roger Sherman (4th cousins, 10x removed)
14 degrees from Ben Franklin
14 degrees from Ethan Allen
15 degrees from Josiah Bartlett
15 degrees from Nathanael Greene
15 degrees from Patrick Henry
15 degrees from Thomas Jefferson (12th cousins, 7x removed)
15 degrees from Edmund Pendleton (8th cousins, 10x removed)
16 degrees from Abigail Adams (9th cousins, 7x removed)
17 degrees from London Atus

Answer 19

Benjamin Franklin is the husband of my 7th cousin 7 times removed according to FS.

Thomas Jefferson is my 8th cousin 6 times removed.

Roger Sherman is my 9th cousin 8 times removed.

Abigail Quincy (Smith) Adams is my 11th cousin 8 times removed.

Deborah (Sampson) Gannett is my 12th cousin 5 times removed.

Edmund Pendleton is my 12th cousin 8 times removed.

Comments

Thomas Jefferson is also MY 8th cousin 6 times removed.

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Nice to know Peggy, just wondering if we are connected? I'll check. Interesting, Ancestry.com has me as his 5th cousin 8 times removed!

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Just checked Peggy. We are connected, you are my 18th cousin, through your father, Richard Wilkins. Our descendant is Robert Howard.

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Many thanks Earlene.

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Hey cousin!

Answer 20

I am most closely connected to Patrick Henry at 12 degrees of separation.

Cousins:

• 14 degrees from Edmund Pendleton (10C 9R)
• 16 degrees from Thomas Jefferson (10C 7R)
• 17 degrees from Roger Sherman (10C 9R)
• 19 degrees from Abigail Adams (10C 8R)
• 19 degrees from Deborah Gannett (11C 7R)

No Relationship Found:

• 12 degrees from Patrick Henry
• 16 degrees from Ethan Allen
• 17 degrees from Nathanael Greene
• 18 degrees from Josiah Bartlett
• 18 degrees from Ben Franklin
• 20 degrees from London Atus

Comments

I’m a DNA connection with Benjamin Franklin according to 23andme when I tested 10 years ago.

I’ve recently also found the Blakiston Surname on my Fathers side and that arm of the tree is rapidly filling backwards to John Blakiston Esquire his Father Thomas, Lady Elizabeth Bowes; Marmaduke Blakiston; Sir Richard James, lady Margaret Caldwell, Sir Thomas Alexander Caldwell, etc etc.  I wasn’t even going to do this side of the tree as I’ve got enough with the other three but this has come at me like an avalanche.

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Is your maternal haplogroup V? I am V6 and it says that I am related to him as well, but I'm not sure where in the V haplogroup he is. Nonetheless, still related!