G2G: Play this week's Women Writers Connection Checkers game!

Question

We're celebrating remarkable women writers to mark Women's History Month in this week's Connection Checkers game.

To play, first see which of these authors is closest to you on our Big Tree: 

• Mona Anderson, a popular author in New Zealand during the 1960s and 1970s
• Emily Brontë, one of several talented Brontë siblings known for their writing skills; Emily's best known work being Wuthering Heights
• Octavia Butler, African-American writer of science fiction like The Parable of the Sower
• Dr. Nancy Cato, known for works like All the Rivers Run
• Dame Agatha Christie, the "Queen of Crime," and one of the best-selling authors of all time
• Barbara Kingsolver, Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, essayist, and poet with roots in Appalachia
• Antonine Maillet, known as the "soul of contemporary Acadian Literature" for her work which reflects the "dialect and heritage of the Acadian people"
• Margaret Mitchell, whose signature work is one of the best selling novels of all time, Gone With The Wind
• Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of many books, including the Anne of Green Gables series
• Flannery O'Connor, Southern Gothic author and recently featured in the biopic "Wildcat"
• George Sand,(Aurore Dupin de Francueil) the only 19th century French female author to live off her works
• Sigrid Undset, renowned Norwegian writer and Nobel Prize winner

Second, attempt to verify your connection to one of them. In seven days (March 11), three players will be declared the winners and entered in the Connection Checkers Hall of Fame:

1. The player who has the shortest verified path to one of the connections.
2. The player who has the longest verified path to one of the connections.
3. The player who verifies the most individual connection steps for themselves and by helping others. [current scores]

Please join us, even if you don't know where to begin. Start by simply posting an answer below saying which connection you'll try to verify. Then post updates as comments on your answer. If you get stuck, ask a question and others may be able to help. [more information]

P.S. Help us prepare for next week's Irish notables feature.

Comments

Here are the winners for last week's Floral Connection Checkers Game:

1. Shortest path verified: Jean (Hannaford) Paradis to  Sir Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau KCMG QC (14 Steps)
2. Longest path verified:  Kari (Nilsen) Undbekken to Peter Edward (Pete) "Charlie Hustle" Rose Sr   (28 Steps)
3. Most steps verified:  Kari (Nilsen) Undbekken  (92 Steps)

Running a bit behind this week. 

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With the exception of Agatha Christie and Emily Bronte, I have to admit that the women writers on the list - I've never heard of.

One new one that has gained popularity for her animal/Search and Rescue stories is Sharolyn Sievert who has just recently added another to her list of published books;  Check her out on www.K9SearchBooks.com

Answer 1

Happy Tuesday! I know we've moved on from flowers, but I am pleased to share that, as of yesterday, my daffodils have pushed up about an inch from their bed. Here are my potential connections to this week's women writers:

13 degrees from Antonine Maillet

16 degrees from Maud Macdonald

17 degrees from Agatha Christie

18 degrees from Flannery O’Connor

20 degrees from Barbara Kingsolver

21 degrees from Mona Anderson

21 degrees from Margaret Marsh

23 degrees from Emily Brontë

23 degrees from Nancy Cato

23 degrees from Aurore Dupin de Francueil

25 degrees from Sigrid Undset

38 degrees from Octavia Butler

I will work on my closest four, not sure in which order.

Comments

Here is one of several 15-degree fully Verified paths from Antonine Maillet to me. (The 13-degree is likely correct, but cannot be verified due to lack of records.)

0: Antonine Maillet

1: ↑ Virginie Cormier (her mother)

2: ↑ Célina Goguen (her mother)

3: ↑ Madeleine Bourque (her mother)

4: ↑ Madeleine Hebert (her mother)

5: ↑ Paul Hébert (her father)

6: ↔ Joseph Hebert (his brother)

7: ↓ Etienne Hébert (his son)

8: = Marie Parenteau (his wife)

9: ↓ Benoni Lalancette (her son)

10: ↓ Esdras Lalancette (his son)

11: ↓ Amanda Lalancette (his daughter)

12: ↓ Rose Courchesne (her daughter)

13: ↓ Rita Dumais (her daughter)

14: ↓ Anonymous Paradis (her son)

15: = Jean Hannaford (his wife)

Answer 2

14° Margaret Marsh - 14th cousin 1xR
16° Maud Macdonald - 10th cousin 8xR
16° Barbara Kingsolver - 9th cousin 2xR
20° Flannery O'Connor
20°  Agatha Christie - 20th cousin 2xR
21° Antonine Maillet
22° Emily Bronte
23° Nancy Cato
23° Mona Anderson
24° Aurore Dupin de Francueil - 10th cousin 8xR
26° Sigrid Undset
36° Octavia Butler

Excited to add Barbara Kingsolver to my tree if the verification pans out. Already have George Sand, but will need to re-verify. I think I already have Margaret Mitchell in my tree, but will need to check. Agatha Christie, at 20th cousin, won't make it to my tree, but I may try to verify just for fun. I must, unhappily, admit that I never read Anne of Green Gables. I jumped right over to Anya Seton and read Katherine.

Margaret Mitchell for the win! Did a direct relationship that brought it to 31°. Verified. 

0: Margaret Mitchell
1: ↑ Eugene Mitchell (her father)
2: ↑ Russell Mitchell (his father)
3: ↑ Isaac Mitchell (his father)
4: ↑ William Mitchell (his father)
5: ↑ Mary Barnett (his mother)
6: ↑ William Barnett (her father)
7: ↑ John Barnett (his father)
8: ↑ John Barnett (his father)
9: ↑ Katherine Vance (his mother)
10: ↑ John Vance (her father)
11: ↑ John Vans (his father)
12: ↑ Margaret MacDowall Of Garthland (his mother)
13: ↑ Margaret Stewart (her mother)
14: ↑ Janet Stewart (her mother)
15: ↑ Janet Campbell (her mother)
16: ↓ John Stewart (her son)
17: ↓ Barbara Stewart (his daughter)
18: ↓ Alexander Menzies (her son)
19: ↓ William Menzies (his son)
20: ↓ Robert Menzies (his son)
21: ↓ Duncan Menzies (his son)
22: ↓ Elizabeth Menzies (his daughter)
23: ↓ Margrate Stewart (her daughter)
24: ↓ William Caraway (her son)
25: ↓ Robert Caraway (his son)
26: ↓ John Caraway (his son)
27: ↓ Mary Caraway (his daughter)
28: ↓ Oscar Bryan (her son)
29: ↓ Marie Bryan (his daughter/my grandmother)
30: ↓ Mac Adams (her son/my father)
31: ↓ Debra Adams (his daughter/me)

Went with George Sand next. What an interesting woman she was; especially, for her time. Did a direct connection bringing her to 31°. All verified.

0: Aurore Dupin
1: ↑ Maurice Dupin (her father)
2: ↑ Marie-Aurore de Saxe (his mother)
3: ↑ Maurice von Sachsen (her father)
4: ↑ August II Wettin (his father)
5: ↑ Anna Sophie Oldenburg (his mother)
6: ↑ Frederik Oldenburg (her father)
7: ↑ Christian IV Oldenburg (his father)
8: ↑ Frederik II Oldenburg (his father)
9: ↑ Christian III Oldenburg (his father)
10: ↑ Frederik I Oldenburg (his father)
11: ↑ Dorothea Brandenburg-Kulmbach (his mother)
12: ↓ Margaret Oldenburg (her daughter)
13: ↓ James IV Stewart (her son)
14: ↓ Joan Stewart (his daughter)
15: ↓ Margaret Fleming (her daughter)
16: ↓ Janet Stewart (her daughter)
17: ↓ Robert Campbell (her son)
18: ↓ John Campbell (his son)
19: ↓ Agnes Campbell (his daughter)
20: ↓ Robert Menzies (her son)
21: ↓ Margaret Menzies (his daughter)
22: ↓ Elizabeth Menzies (her daughter)
23: ↓ Margrate Stewart (her daughter)
24: ↓ William Caraway (her son)
25: ↓ Robert Caraway (his son)
26: ↓ John Caraway (his son)
27: ↓ Mary Caraway (his daughter)
28: ↓ Oscar Bryan (her son)
29: ↓ Marie Bryan (his daughter/my grandmother)
30: ↓ Mac Adams (her son/my father)
31: ↓ Debra Adams (his daughter/me)

Did the shorter connection to Margaret Mitchell. Couldn't get the verifications for 14°, but did manage 16°. All verified.

0: Margaret Mitchell
1: = Berrien Upshaw (her husband)
2: ↔ Nancy Upshaw (his sister)
3: = Courtney Egerton (her husband)
4: ↑ Mary Bradley (his mother)
5: ↑ Rufus Bradley (her father)
6: ↑ Mary Reese (his mother)
7: ↑ Rivers Reese (her father)
8: ↑ Randolph Reese (his father)
9: ↔ Celia Reese (his sister)
10: ↓ David Adams (her son)
11: ↓ Carter Adams (his son)
12: ↓ Bettie Adams (his daughter)
13: ↓ Mary Fincher (her daughter)
14: ↓ Harry Collier (her son/my grandfather)
15: ↓ Carol Collier (his daughter/my mother)
16: ↓ Debra Adams (her daughter/me)

Comments

We share the same line from number 13 up for George Sand. I also did her through my direct line. We also match from number 14 up for Margaret Mitchell who I also did through my direct line.

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Shonda: Looks like we're 10th cousins. Probably through some of those same lines.

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I also descend from Janet (Joan) Stewart, but my Margaret Stewart line (her half sister) was shorter by one so it took me through Margaret. Margaret had a child (also named Margaret Stewart) through her cousin, Alexander Stewart, Bishop of Moray, son of Prince Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany who was the uncle of James IV. They couldn't marry due to close kinship. But they did have Margaret, my ancestor.

Answer 3

Hi to you all from Norway. (very long connections this week).

l am 18 degrees from Aurore  Dupin de Francueil (my 17th cousins 6 times removed).

23 degrees from Antonine Maillet.

24 degrees from Flannery O' Connor.

24 degrees from Sigrid Unset.

25 degrees from Agatha Christie (my 27th cousins).

25 degrees from Mona Anderson.

25 degrees from Nancy Cato.

25 degrees from Barbara Kingsolver (my 27th cousins twice removed).

25 degrees from Margaret March (my 25th cousins once removed).

25 degrees from Moud Macdonald (my 25th cousinstwice removed).

28 degrees from Emily Bronte.

42 degrees from Octavia Butler.

Comments

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This time i will start verify my longest connection this week, as is Octavia Butler - 42 degrees from me.

0. Octivia Estelle Butler (1947 2006).

1. her mother: Octavia Margaret (Guy) Butler (914 - 1996).

2. her brother: Clarence Hampton Guy (1915 - 1982).

3. his wife: Emma (Davis) Guy (1918 - ).

4. her mother: Carrie (Warren) Davis (ca.1902 - ).

5. her mother: Lillie Clark (ca.1882 - 1939).

6. her brother: Howard Clarence Clark (1894 - 1962).

7. his wife: Harriet Alnita (Robinson) Clark (ca.1899 - 1934).

8. her brother: Dillard Robinson Jr. (1914 - 1952).

9. his wife: Adele (Orange) Robinson (1908 - 1953).

10. her brother: George William Orange (1911 - 1999).

11. his daughter: Lillian Beatrice (Orange) Franklin (1934 - 2012).

12. her husband: Granville French Franklin (1926 - 1998).

13. his brother: Charles William Nelson (Taylor) Franklin (1909 - 1972).

14. his wife: Leola Cornelia (West) Franklin (1910 - 2002).

15. her daughter: Bertha (West) Clark (1920s - 1980s).

16. her husband: James Clark Sr. (1920s - 1970s) (my 27th cousins once removed).

17. his father: James Campbell Clarke (1907 - 1979) (my 27th cousins).

18. his father: James H. Clarce (1833 - 1963) (my 26th cousins once removed).

19. his father: Henry Morris Clarce (1863 - ) (my 25th cousins twice removed).

20. his father: Robert A. Hawthorne Jr. (1835 - 1862) (my 24th cousins three times removed).

21. his mother: Pricilla (Gibson) Hawthorne (1813 - 1893) (my 26th cousins twice removed).

22. her father: Stephen Gibson Sr. (1764 - 1833) (my 25th cousins three times removed).

23. his mother: Judith (Napier) Gibson (1729 - 1783) (my 24th cousins four times removed).

24. her mother: Mary Tarleton (Hughes) Napier (ca.1697 - 1755).

25. her brother: Stephen Hughes  (ca.1688 - bef. 1753).

26. his daughter: Elisabeth (Hughes) Woodson (ca.1725 - 1807).

27. her daughter: Elisabeth Hughes (Woodson) Kennon (ca.1762 - ca.1793).

28. her son: Robert L. Kennon (1789 - 1838) (my 23rd cousins four times removed).

29. his daughter: Mary (Kennon) Evans (1824 - 1915) (my 24th cousins three times removed).

30. her son: Robert Kannon Evans (1852 - 1926) (my 25th cousins twice removed).

31. his son: Hornsby  Evans (1833 - 1932) (my 26th cousins once removed).

32. his wife: Madeline Smythe (McKisick) Evans (1878 - 1942) (my 23rd cousins).

33. her husband: Peter Sather Bruguiere (1875 - 1967) (my third cousins twice removed).

34. his mother: Josephine Frederikke Sather( 1845 - 1915) (my second cousins three times removed).

35. her father: Peder (Pedersen) Sather (1810 - 1886) (my first cousins four times removed).

36. his father: Peder (Larsen) Sæter (1768 - 1817) (l am his third great grand niece).

37. his brother: Lars Larsen (Sæter) Vettal (1774 - 1840) (my third great grandfather).

38. his daughter: Anne (Vettal) (1799 - 1875) (my second great grandmother).

39. her son: Anton Gunerius Gulbrandsen (my great grandfather).

40. his daughter: Thea (my grandmother)

41. her son: Odd (my father).

42. his daughter:  Me           Kari (Nilsen-785) U

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Then l want to verify my 18 Degrees connection from Aurora Dupin de Francueil

0. Amantine Aurora Lucie Dupin de Francueil (1840 - 1876)  (my 17th coucins 6 times removed).

1. her father: Maurice Francois Elisabet Dupin de Francueil (1778 - 1801) (my 16th cousins 7 times removed).

2. his mother: Marie Aurora (de Saxe) Dupin de Francueil (1748 - 1821) (my 15th cousins 8 times removed).

3. her father: Hermann Moritz (von sachsen) de Saxe (1696 - 1750) (my 14th cousins 9 times removed).

4. his father: Friedrich August ll (Wettin) von Sachsen (1670 - 1733) (my 13th cousins 10 times removed).

5. his mother: Anna Sophie (Oldenburg) of Danmark (1647 - 1717) (my 12th cousins  11 times removed).

6. her brother: Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve (1638 - 1704) (my 12th cousins 11 times removed).

7. his son: Wilhelm Ulriksøn von Ulrichsdal (1692 - 1765) (my 13th cousins 10 times removed).

8. his daughter: Maria Elisabeth (Wilhelmsdatter) von Ulrichsdal (1725 - 1765) (my 14th cousins 9 times removed).

9. her daughter: Susanne Marie (Joachimsdatter) Vagel (1748 - 1820) (my 15th cousins 8 times removed).

10. her daughter: Hedevig Marie Elisabeth (Joachimsdatter) Wessel (1773 - 1816) (my 16th cousins 7 times removed).

11. her son: Nils Joachim Wessel-Berg  (1807 - 1868) (my 17th cousins 6 times removed).

12. his son: Christian August Wessel-Berg (1841 - 1916) (my 18th cousins five times removed).

13. his son: Nils Joachim Wessel-Berg (1879 - 1965) (my 6th cousins three times removed).

14. his son: Sven Wessel-Berg (my fourth cousins once removed).

15. his wife: Laila (Hovin) Wesse-Berg (my first cousins, she is the fourth cousins of her husband).

16. her mother: Borghild Marie (my aunt ).

17.her sister: Karen Solveig (my mother).

18. her daughter:  Me          (Kari (Nilsen-785) u.

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Hei Kari! Jeg ser at du er 24 grader unna Sigrid Undset (Jeg er 27 unna). Hennes CC7 er bare 171. Jeg vil prøve å legge til flere. :-)

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Thank you Jeffery .

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My two big favorites are Sigrid Undset and Agatha Chrictie, here is my verifying of 24 degrees connection from Sigrid.

0. Sigrid Undset  (1882 - 1949)

1. her mother: Anna Maria Nicoline Charlotte (Gyth) Undset (1855 - 1939)-

2. her brother: Wilhelm Adolf Leopol Gyth (1860 - 1929)

3. his daughter: Clara Kirstine Undset Gyth (1900 - 1987?)

4. her daughter: Nina Magdalene ( Møller) van Pallandt (1932 - 2010).

5. her husband: Frederik Jan Gustav Floris (Pallandt) van Pallandt (1934 - 1994) (my 26th cousins )

6. his mother: Else Dagmar Hanina (Blücher) von Blücer (1907 - 1972) (my 25th cousins once removed).

7. her mother: Magna Clara Rothe (1881 - 1943) (my 24th cousins twice removed).

8. her father: William Charlton Rothe (1852 - 1926) (my 23rd cousins three times removed).

9. his father: Louis Rothe (1811 - 1871) (my 22nd cousins four times removed).

10. his sister: Karen Rothe (1815 - 1877) (my 22nd cousins four times removed).

11. her husband: Frederik Marcus Knuth - Knuthenborg (1813 - 1856). (my 11th cousins three times removed).

12. his father: Eggert Christopher Knuth - Knuthenborg (1786 - 1813).

13. his brother: Frederik Christian Julius Knuth (1787 - 1952).

14. his wife: Catherine Frederikke (von Haxthausen) Knuth (1800 - 1877).

15. her sister: Juliana Marie (von Haxthausen) Berg (1784 - 1847).

16. her husband: Jens Christian (Nielsen) Berg (1775 - 1852).

17. Nils Joachim Wessel-Berg (1807 - 1868) (my 17th cousins 6 times removed).

18. his son: Christian August (Wessel-Berg (1841 - 1916) (my 18th cousins 5 times removed).

19. his son: Nils Joachim Wessel-Berg (1879 - 1965) (my 6th cousins three times removed).

20. his son: Sven Wessel-Berg) (my fourth cousins once removed).

21. his wife: Laila Hovin (my first cousin, and her husband's fourth cousins).

22. her mother: Borghild Marie (my aunt).

23. her sister: Karen Solveig (my mother).

24. her daughter:  Me          - Kari (nilsen-785) U.

2.

Answer 4

my connections are -

Agatha Christie 23 degrees

Mona Anderson 20 (*closest)

Emily Bronte 26

Octavia Butler 41

Nancy Cato 23

Barbara Kingsolver 24

Antonine Maillot 24

Margaret Marsh 22

Maud Macdonald 20 (*closest)

Flannery O'Connor 26

Aurore Dupin de Franceuil 23

Sigrid Undset 26

I will try to verify my closer connections.

Answer 5

17 degrees from Margaret Marsh
19 degrees from Agatha Christie
19 degrees from Barbara Kingsolver
20 degrees from Maud Macdonald
20 degrees from Flannery O’Connor
21 degrees from Antonine Maillet
23 degrees from Nancy Cato
24 degrees from Emily Brontë
24 degrees from Aurore Dupin de Francueil
24 degrees from Sigrid Undset
25 degrees from Mona Anderson
37 degrees from Octavia Butler

I may start with Margaret.

Answer 6

Well, this week we have Range.

16    Barbara Kingsolver [Grace Pickering Lupton]
18    Lucy Maud Montgomery [Mercy Vincent Freeman]
18    Dame Agatha Christie [Zeruiah Rudd]
19    Antonine Maillet [Pierre Mercier]
19    Margaret Mitchell [Thomas McCracken]
20    Flannery O'Connor [Jemima Huff Jones]
22    Mona Anderson [Harriet Hauser]
23    Emily Brontë [William Powers]
23    Dr. Nancy Cato [James Saunders]
25    George Sand (Aurore Dupin de Francueil) [Rhoda Merrithew Morey]
25    Sigrid Undset [Enos Ellis]
38    Octavia Butler
 

Comments

I run mine out to second cousins, and a couple of generations up and down from many of the people. It makes for a lot of potential connections - if I can ever get it entered!

Answer 7

My shortest this week is Lucy Maud Montgomery at 15º.  My longest is 36º using an MRCA to George Sand.  No idea where I'll start (or how much I'll get done with RootsTech this weekend.)

I have verified the following:

Agatha Christie at 18º
Margaret Marsh at 19º
George Sand at 36º

Answer 8

15 degrees from Barbara Kingsolver. 8C1XsR.

15 degrees from Margaret Marsh. 9C1XsR.

19 degrees from Nancy Cato.

19 degrees from Antonine Mallet.

19 degrees from Flannery O'Conner,

20 degrees from Agatha Christie. 12C5XsR.

20 degrees from Maud MacDonald. 13C7XsR.

21 degrees from Emily Bronte.

24 degrees from Mona Anderson.

24 degrees from George Sand.

26 degrees from Sigrid Undset.

Comments

0. Maud Montgomery..

1. Hugh Montgomery (her father)

2. Ann Murray (his mother)

3. George Murray (her brother)

4. Elizabeth Murray (his daughter)

5. George Strang (her son)

6. Sarah Burgan (his wife)

7. James Burgan (her father)

8. Isaac Burgan (his father)

9. James Burgin (his brother)

10. Lavina Burgin (his daughter)

11. Arthur Blankenship (her husband)

12. Norvell Blankenship (his father)

13. Hudson Blankenship (his brother)

14. Hezekiah Blankenship (his son)

15. Josiah Blankenship (his son)

16. Richard Blankenship (his son)

17. James Blankenship (his son)

18. Carl Blankenship (his son)

19. Marvin Blankenship (his son)

20. Frank Blankenship (his son)

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0. Barbara Kingsolver.

1. Windell Kingsolver (her father)

2. Roy Kingsolver (his father)

3. Fannie Sanders (his mother)

4. Martha Jane Ivey (her mother)

5. Susannah Wells (her mother)

6. Frank Wells (her brother)

7. Tamsie Wells (his daughter)

8. Zachariah Stultz (her son)

9. Adelaide Griggs (his wife)

10. Peter Griggs (her father)

11. Lewis Griggs (his brother)

12. Mary Griggs (his daughter)

13. Lucille Gregory (her daughter)

14. Irene Blair (her daughter)

15. Frank Blankenship (her son)

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0. Margaret Marsh

1. Eugene Mitchell (her father)

2. Robert Mitchell (his father)

3. Mary Dudley (his mother)

4. James Dudley (her brother)

5. Mary Hendricks (his wife)

6. Lucy Ellington (her mother)

7. Enoch Ellington (her father)

8. Martha Ellington (his sister)

9. David Motley (her son)

10. Joseph Motley (his son)

11. Daniel Edward Motley (his son)

12. Emily Motley (his daughter)

13. John Blair (her son)

14. Irene Blair (his daughter)

15. Frank Blankenship (her son)

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0. Flannery O'Conner

1. Regina Cline (her mother)

2. Margaret Treanor (her mother)

3. Edward Treanor (her brother)

4. Katie Taylor (his wife)

5. Richard Taylor (her father)

6. Elizabeth Deloney (his mother)

7. William Deloney (her father)

8. Henry Delony (his father)

9. Frances Jefferson (his wife)

10. Peter Jefferson (her brother)

11. Alexander Jefferson (his son)

12. Mary Mahan (his wife)

13. Abner Mahan (her brother)

14. Mary Mahan (his daughter)

15. John Blair (her husband)

16. Samuel Blair (his brother)

17. John Blair (his son)

18. Irene Blair (his daughter)

19. Frank Blankenship (her son)

Answer 9

Ancestors and Cousins:

16 degrees - Margaret Mitchell - 15C, 1xR
18 degrees - Dame Agatha Christie - 7C, 3xR
18 degrees - Barbara Kingsolver - 10C
18 degrees - Lucy Maud Montgomery - 11C, 5xR
23 degrees - George Sand - 10C, 7xR

Connections:

17 degrees - Antonine Maillet
21 degrees - Flannery O'Connor
22 degrees - Mona Anderson
23 degrees - Emily Brontë
24 degrees - Dr. Nancy Cato
27 degrees - Sigrid Undset
37 degrees - Octavia Butler

Comments

Margaret Mitchell - verified - 34 degrees (through a common ancestor)

0. Margaret Mitchell		15C, 1xR
1. ↑ Eugene Mitchell	her father	14C, 2xR
2. ↑ Russell Mitchell	his father	13C, 3xR
3. ↑ Isaac Mitchell	his father	12C, 4xR
4. ↑ William Mitchell	his father	11C, 5xR
5. ↑ Mary Barnett	his mother	10C, 6xR
6. ↑ William Barnett	her father	9C, 7xR
7. ↑ John Barnett	his father	8C, 8xR
8. ↑ John Barnett	his father	7C, 9xR
9. ↑ Katherine Vance	his mother	6C, 10xR
10. ↑ John Vance	her father	5C, 11xR
11. ↑ John Vans	his father	4C, 12xR
12. ↑ Margaret MacDowall of Garthland	his mother	3C, 13xR
13. ↑ Margaret Stewart	her mother	2C, 14xR
14. ↑ Janet Stewart	her mother	1C, 15xR
15. ↑ John Stewart	her father	14th great granduncle
16. ↑ Eleanor Sinclair	his mother	14th great grandaunt
17. ↑ William Sinclair	her father	15th great grandfather
18. ↓ Catherine Sinclair	his daughter	14th great grandmother
19. ↓ Prince Alexander Stewart, Bishop of Moray	her son	13th great grandfather
20. ↓ Margaret Stewart	his daughter	12th great grandmother
21. ↓ Sibilla Drummond	her daughter	11th great grandmother
22. ↓ Master John Ogilvy of Powrie	her son	10th great grandfather
23. ↓ Sibilla Ogilvy	his daughter	9th great grandmother
24. ↓ David Falconar	her son	8th great grandfather
25. ↓ Alexander Falconer	his son	7th great grandfather
26. ↓ Alexander Falconar	his son	6th great grandfather
27. ↓ Charity Falconar	his daughter	5th great grandmother
28. ↓ Nancy Barnes	her daughter	4th great grandmother
29. ↓ Eliza Mount	her daughter	3rd great grandmother
30. ↓ Arthur Howell	her son	2nd great grandfather
31. ↓ James Howell	his son	great grandfather
32. ↓ Elmer Sayers-Howell	his son	grandfather
33. ↓ Larry Sayers-Howell	his son	father
34. ↓ Shonda Sayers-Howell	his daughter	me

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Aurore Dupin (George Sand) - verified - 29 degrees (through a common ancestor)

0. Aurore Dupin		10C, 7xR
1. ↑ Maurice Dupin	her father	9C, 8xR
2. ↑ Marie-Aurore de Saxe	his mother	8C, 9xR
3. ↑ Maurice von Sachsen	her father	7C, 10xR
4. ↑ August II von Polski (Wettin)	his father	6C, 11xR
5. ↑ Anna Sophie af Danmark (Oldenburg)	his mother	5C, 12xR
6. ↑ Frederik III af Danmark (Oldenburg)	her father	4C, 13xR
7. ↑ Christian IV af Danmark (Oldenburg)	his father	3C, 14xR
8. ↑ Frederik II af Danmark (Oldenburg)	his father	2C, 15xR
9. ↑ Christian III af Danmark (Oldenburg)	his father	1C, 16xR
10. ↑ Frederik I af Danmark (Oldenburg)	his father	15th great granduncle
11. ↑ Dorothea Brandenburg-Kulmbach	his mother	16th great grandmother
12. ↓ Margaret af Danmark (Oldenburg)	her daughter	15th great grandmother
13. ↓ James IV of Scotland (Stewart)	her son	14th great grandfather
14. ↓ Margaret Stewart, Lady Gordon	his daughter	13th great grandmother
15. ↓ Margaret Stewart	her daughter	12th great grandmother
16. ↓ Sibilla Drummond	her daughter	11th great grandmother
17. ↓ Master John Ogilvy of Powrie	her son	10th great grandfather
18. ↓ Sibilla Ogilvy	his daughter	9th great grandmother
19. ↓ David Falconar	her son	8th great grandfather
20. ↓ Alexander Falconer	his son	7th great grandfather
21. ↓ Alexander Falconar	his son	6th great grandfather
22. ↓ Charity Falconar	his daughter	5th great grandmother
23. ↓ Nancy Barnes	her daughter	4th great grandmother
24. ↓ Eliza Mount	her daughter	3rd great grandmother
25. ↓ Arthur Howell	her son	2nd great grandfather
26. ↓ James Howell	his son	great grandfather
27. ↓ Elmer Sayers-Howell	his son	grandfather
28. ↓ Larry Sayers-Howell	his son	father
29. ↓ Shonda Sayers-Howell	his daughter	me

Answer 10

Antonine Maillet - fourth cousins four times removed

Barbara Kingsolver - 12th cousins twice removed

Aurore Dupin - 14th cousins 9 times removed

L. M. Montgomery - 19th cousins 7 times removed

Margaret Marsh - 22nd cousins three times removed

Agatha Marsh - 22nd cousins four times removed

Answer 11

21 degrees from Mona Anderson

25 from Emily Brontë

39 from Octavia Butler

25 from Nancy Cato

22nd cousin twice removed from Agatha Christie

22nd cousin once removed from Barbara Kingsolver

6th cousin once removed from Antonine Maillet

22nd cousin once removed from Margaret Mitchell

19th cousin 5 times removed from Lucy Maud Montgomery

25 degrees from Flannery O'Connor

14th cousin 7 times removed from George Sand

27 degrees from Sigrid Undset

Interesting list, some of these authors I have never heard of.  Will have to see what I can discover of their work.

Answer 12

14 degrees from Barbara Kingsolver - 2 branches (4-11) 7th cousin 2x removed

17 degrees from Antonine Maillet - 3 branches (8-2-8)

18 degrees from Lucy Maud Montgomery - 3 branches (7-5-7) 19th cousin 6x removed

19 degrees from Dame Agatha Christie - 3 branches (9-7-4) 20th cousin 6x removed

20 degrees from Margaret Mitchell - 2 branches (6-15) 20th cousin 3x removed

20 degrees from Flannery O'Connor - 4 branches (4-5-3-9)

22 degrees from Emily Brontë - 5 branches (4-4-8-4-3)

24 degrees from Mona Anderson - 4 branches (10-7-4-4)

24 degrees from Dr. Nancy Cato - 7 branches (4-4-2-2-4-3-6)

25 degrees from George Sand - 4 branches (7-3-7-9) 15th cousin 9x removed

26 degrees from Sigrid Undset - 6 branches (4-6-7-1-5-4)

44 degrees from Octavia Butler - 10 branches (3-4-2-3-2-2-10-2-4-5)

Answer 13

I'm excited to share that my Canadian cousin Antonine Maillet is my 6th cousin 4 times removed as well as 12 degrees away.

0: Antonine Maillet

1: ↑ Léonide Maillet (her father)

2: ↑ Thaddé Maillet (his father)

3: ↑ Marie-Blanche Bourque (his mother)

4: ↔ Pierre Bourque (her brother)

5: ↓ Euphrosine Bourque (his daughter)

6: ↓ Ferdinand LeBlanc (her son)

7: ↓ Aurelie LeBlanc (his daughter)

8: = Ernest Fredette (her husband)

9: ↔ J. Alfred Fredette (his brother)

10: ↓ Bernadette Fredette (his daughter)

11: ↓ Al Stutz (her son)

12: ↓ Judi Stutz (his daughter)

Answer 14

I've been going down a rabbit hole and am adding to the CC7 for Sigrid Undset. She was at 171 and is now at 217 and I found two more connections to the main tree. There are so many people to add to improve her CC7 I may not find time to actually verify my link to her before we move on to the next set of people selected for Connection Checkers.

Comments

Roped in others in the Nordic Project and we now have her CC7 at 248 and have made several new connections to the tree so people may be getting closer connections to Sigrid now!

Update: CC7 for Sigrid is now at 455 and several new connections to the main tree have been made!

Answer 15

5 blood connections this challenge

19 degrees Agatha Christie 20th C 2x removed

16 degrees Barbara Kingsolver 8th C

19 degrees Margaret Mitchell 16 C 1x removed

19 degrees Lucy Maud Montgomery 11 C 6x removed

25 degrees Aurore Dupin De Francueil 14 C 6x removed

Comments

working on Barbara Kingsolver, my closest relative.

all eight of my ancestors are confident

• me, daughter of:
• Edgar McCollum, son of:
• Otis McCollum, son of:
• Isaac Jacob McCollum, son of:
• Rachel Baker, daughter of:
• Andrew Jackson Baker, son of:
• Esther Robertson Baker, daughter of: 
• Elizabeth Harris Robertson, daughter of:
• Christopher Overton Harris, son of: 
• Mourning (Glenn) Harris

but two of Barbara's are unknown and I don't know how to verify them.

They are: Joseph Juett, son of William George Juett. 

Mourning (Glenn) Harris, daughter of Mourning (Glenn) Jouett.

Answer 16

Relatives:

Aurore Dupin du Francueil - 16 degrees (5C5R)

Agatha Christie - 18 degrees (18C2R)

Barbara Kingsolver - 19 degrees (13C1R)

Margaret Marsh - 19 degrees (18C1R)

Maud McDonald - 21 degrees (18C5R)

Connections:

Sigrid Unset - 17 degrees

Antonine Maillet - 20 degrees

Nancy Cato - 21 degrees

Flannery O'Connor - 22 degrees

Mona Anderson - 23 degrees

Emily Bronte - 24 degrees

Octavia Butler - 36 degrees

Answer 17

Agatha Christie = 20 degrees & 17th cousin 5 times removed

Mona Anderson = 23 degrees

Emily Bronte = 22 degrees

Octavia Butler = 35 degrees

Nancy Cato = 21 degrees

Barbara Kingsolver = 14 degrees & 14th cousin once removed

Antonine Maillet = 20 degrees

Margaret Mitchell = 19 degrees & 15th cousin 2 times removed

Maud Macdonald = 19 degrees & 12th cousin 6 times removed

Flannery O'Connor = 19 degrees

Aurore Dupin de Francuell = 23 degrees & 14 cousin 4 times removed

Sigrid Undset = 27 degrees

Comments

1st verified connection is shortest and easiest since she is Appalachian like me:

     0. Barbara Kingsolver

1. her father Wendell Kingsolver
2. his mother Louise Auxier
3. her brother Frederick Auxier
4. his wife Barbara Arlington
5. her mother Chloe Stevens
6. her brother Raymond Stevens
7. his wife Cinderella McLaughlin
8. her father Samuel McLaughlin
9. his sister Mary McLaughlin
10. her son Samuel Knox
11. his wife Margaret Trenner
12. her sister Nora Trenner
13. her daughter My Mom
14. her daughter ME

Answer 18

Cousins

• 20 degrees from Agatha Christie
  • 24C3R -- MRCA - Peter Goldington (abt.1135-bef.1194)
• 21 degrees from Barbara Kingsolver
  • 11C2R -- MRCA -  Alice Freeman (abt.1593-bef.1660), John Tompson (abt.1585-bef.1626)
• 21 degrees from Margaret Marsh
  • 21C2R -- MRCA -  Elizabeth Samlesbury (abt.1253-aft.1311), Robert de Holland (abt.1243-bef.1305)
• 23 degrees from Maud Macdonald
  • 21C10R -- MRCA - Hugh (Gernon) of Cyfeiliog (1147-1181), Ida (Toeni) le Bigod (aft.1160-1204)
• 23 degrees from Aurore Dupin de Francueil
  • 19C9R -- MRCA -  Ela Longespée (abt.1224-abt.1299), James de Audley (abt.1220-1272),  Rohesia Blount (abt.1207-1271), Robert de Valoignes (abt.1198-1263)

Connections

• 23 degrees from Nancy Cato
• 23 degrees from Antonine Maillet
• 24 degrees from Mona Anderson
• 24 degrees from Emily Brontë
• 25 degrees from Flannery O’Connor
• 26 degrees from Sigrid Undset 
• 38 degrees from Octavia Butler

Answer 19

This is my first time joining a challenge, still familiarising myself with the rules, but thought I would comment that I'm joining! According to WikiTree my current shortest and longest routes respectively are 21º to Margaret Marsh and 43º Octavia Butler, I will have a go at confirming them both!

Answer 20

Working now to verify my connection to Sigrid. Will update once the following connections are verified. 

0: Sigrid Undset

1: ↓ Hans Svarstad (her son) confirmed

2: = Christianne Neeraas (his wife) confirmed

3: ↑ Carl Gabriel Christian Neeraas (her father) confirmed

4: ↑ Emma Daae (his mother) confirmed

5: ↑ Hans Henrik Holch Daae (her father)

6: ↑ Ludvig Daae (his father) confirmed

7: ↔ Anders Daae (his brother) confirmed

8: = Anne Sofie Heiberg (his wife) confirmed

9: ↔ Mette Dorthea Heiberg (her sister) confirmed

10: = Johan Daniel Stub (her husband) confirmed

11: ↔ Anna Maria Stub (his sister) confirmed

12: ↓ Barbra Henriette Heiberg (her daughter) confirmed

13: ↓ Lars Stub Heiberg Landmark (her son) confirmed

14: ↓ Nils Landmark (his son) confirmed

15: ↓ Eva Marie Landmark (his daughter) confirmed

16: = Peder Olaus Olufsen (her husband) confirmed

17: ↑ Oluf Holthe (his father) confirmed

18: ↔ Baroline Pedersdatter (his sister) confirmed

19: ↓ Hanna Kristine Benjaminsdatter (her daughter) confirmed

20: ↓ Rector Wall (her son) confirmed

21: ↓ Sidney Wall (his son) confirmed

22: ↓ Gene Wall (his son) confirmed

23: ↓ Jeffrey Wall (his son/me) confirmed