What Notables Are YOU Researching?

Question

Hello All!

After stepping up to assist as one of the leaders of the Notables Project, I thought it would be a good idea to start a discussion on... well, Notables! So please share who you've recently been working on - who you're currently working on - and maybe even who you're thinking about working on soon!

I'll start off with the ones I've had my hands on recently. If you see one you want to help out on, please, feel free.

Recent Notables: Blake Lively (Brown-34438), Ryan Reynolds (Reynolds-6655), Scarlett Johansson (Johansson-2017), Herbert Marshall (Marshall-9075), Boots Mallory (Mallory-1020), Jimmy Cagney (Cagney-240), just to name a few.

Current Notables: Nichelle Nichols (Nichols-4268) and Jerry Lewis (Levitch-5).

Future? Between revisiting some of my recent ones and working my current ones... I haven't decided yet.

So who are you working on?

Comments

I am currently researching the ancestry of James Maitland "Jimmy" Stewart with a particular emphasis on his Kelly ancestors and relatives who were among the earliest settlers of Indiana County, Pennsylvania and were active participants in the American Revolutionary War.

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I HAVE ADDED EZEKIEL SMITH TO MY TREE WITH HIS BIOGRAPHY WHICH EXPLAINS WHY I THINK HE IS A NOTABLE IN TEXAS.  WILLIAMS-37976

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Exciting to see, but I got my connection completed to Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johanssen. And unfortunately, not so lucky with Nichelle Nichols. She's now up there in my Star Trek HOF along with Leonard Nimoy for challenges in getting them connected. Oh well... I find if I get away from them for a little bit, something new always seems to pop up.

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Just started on Guy Clark. Texas troubadour, deeply admired and respected songwriter. Died in Nashville today. Still gathering a few more links for the profile I just made.

Don't know a lot beyond that yet. Born West Texas, 1941. (Just missed the 1940 Census.) Father in the Army, mother worked. Spent much of childhood with his grandmother who ran a hotel (the hotel?) in Monahans, county seat of Ward County. Some of his songs were inspired by hotel residents. No names, don't know if it's maternal or paternal grandmother, even. But it's something to start with, anyhow.

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And, somehow, I've added and connected author Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Brokeback Mountain, Hud) and his son, musician James McMurtry instead. McMurtry, Sr. married writer and Merry Prankster Ken Kesey's widow Norma "Faye", and Kesey is connected to the tree.

I read how Guy Clark's daughter in law is Krista McMurtry. Except I haven't found that she's connected to the author yet. (Did I really read that James was an only child?) If I can confirm she's the author's daughter, I'm already done, making this a relatively easy connection.

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Nice work, Elizabeth!

I'm going back to my unconnected ones and trying to find a way to get them off my list. High up on the list is Walter Brennan (3 time Academy Award Winner), Alan Rickman (who recently passed away), and Theodore Cassidy (Lurch from the Addams family). I've also got Louis Braille (inventor of the Braille method for the blind), so I suppose I'll have to dig up some additional research on him.

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Turns out James McMurtry IS an only child, and I found a birth record for Krista from Landstuhl, Germany US Army hospital. So - different McMurtry family. But I have made the connection now, through Clark's late wife. She was born in 1939, making her relatively easy to get started on, since she was in the 1940 Census. So, that one's done. I have Guy's parents' names from his 1972 marriage record, so I can probably take that back at least a bit, too.

Answer 1

I'm working on Guinn Williams, Sr  (Williams-39624) a TX and US Senator and his son Guinn Williams, Jr (Williams-39800) an actor.

Future? To tie in with the Gibson County TN OPS I'm working on, I thought I would create a profile for Col John H Gibson for which the county was named; and he served with Andrew Jackson on the Natchez Expedition among others.   I don't see him on here and though he should be.

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I remember seeing this G2G question come up. The profiles look very nice! Looking forward to seeing how the profile for Col Gibson is coming along once you get things started. Let me know if you need anything specific on the Williams' profiles and I'll see what I can do.

Answer 2

Well, I've done some work on the science fiction writer Robert Heinlein, and some other people have also done some work on his profile.  But I have a lot of other information I'd to enter when I have time.  There's also a General Devers from WWII time I need to work on more.  And I have a connection with President George W Bush which connection I need to source.  but I don't know when I'll have time to work on any of them.

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Heinlein is one of my favorite Science Fiction writers. I remember putting a couple items together for that profile awhile back. Glad to hear it's in good hands now. I also added one of my favorite Science Fiction authors, Roger Zelazny, awhile back. Had a bear of a time finding a way to get him connected to the tree - but in the end, I found a way to connect him through his family. I also believe that Ray Bradbury's profile is around somewhere if you're interested in giving that one a look too. Isaac Asimov also.

Answer 3

Currently working on the profiles and families of Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada (who was an orphan I adopted, which is what led me into the project) and Therese Martin.  When I get those a little more set, there are some other religious notables for whom I don't find profiles.  Plus, for a change of pace, one of my favorite actors doesn't seem to be represented on WikiTree.

Comments

I'll have to admit ignorance here - I'm not familiar with Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada (other than I recognize the translation of Teresa of Cepeda and Ahumada, which likely defines her parents). Can you tell me who Teresa is and why she's notable?

And the same with Therese Martin. My specialty (as you've probably figured out already) tends to run around Hollywood a bit, but I'm always interested to hear about other Notables in other areas and enjoy pitching in if I can to help out.

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Scott, they're more commonly known as St. Teresa of Jesus and St. Therese of Lisieux.   Both very important and popular saints in the Roman (and I'm sure other rites) Catholic Church.

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Ah - can't say I'm familiar with them by those names either, but at least they sound a little familiar. Can't claim to any Catholic upbringing, so that might be why.

Answer 4

The following English profiles have had my attention recently:

The stage actress and third female member of parliament Mabel Russell Phillipson, The industrialist Jedediah Strutt who developed the rib stocking frame, the Derbyshire cricketer John Thomas Brown Dumelow Platts (who was the first fast bowler to cause the accidental death of a player).

I tend to give modern "celebrities" a wide birth.

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If it's one thing I've found about Notables in general, it's that there's always something new to be learned. I don't think I'd heard of any of these people, and it will be fascinating now to look them up and read more about their lives and see how their families are connected. Thanks for taking on the "less than modern" Notables!

And as for the modern ones, this is one of the perfect things about Notables in general - there's so many different types out there (scientific, historical, political, military, etc.) that you never reach a point that you've exhausted all possibilities or get stuck working on one you don't want to!

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Very true.
I think after this very exciting week for the city of Leicester, England whose football team are celebrating winning the league cup for the first time in their 126 year history, there might be a couple of contenders for notables in strikers Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, not to mention manager Claudio Ranieri and ex city player and sports pundit, Gary Lineker.

Championes!

Answer 5

I have been working on Newton Knight http://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Knight-6571&public=1  for a while most people don't really know who he is unless you are from Jones County MS but think that may change some once the movie on him comes out which is happening ? sometime this year. He is most definatly a notable character but wasn't sure what all tags to put him under. I found out about him when I was searching for information on confederate deserters to find out more about one of my ancestors when I came across him but it is a job to wade through the myth to find facts. am finding many articles written on him repeat a lot of the myth but he was still a very interesting character who had an influence on the Civil War , If anyone would like to check him out, add or tweak your more than welcome to

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I read through his profile, and you're right - I had never heard of him. But his story did need to be told and it's very interesting that they've decided to make a movie out of his life. I think you've done a great job of dividing fact from fiction on his bio, as I can clearly tell what is proven and what is a bit of speculation. I'll keep an eye out for the movie, although it might be a bit before anything is in theaters.

Answer 6

Working on the family of British Victorian Prime Minister, Benjmin Disraeli. I'm not paticularly interested in famous people as such but as I conduct tours of Disraeli's old home, Hughenden in Buckinghamshire this kind of dovetailed in. Ben or Dizzy, Britain's only Prime Minister of Jewish descent had no children of his own but his brother James had two illegitimate children with his housekeeper. I am attempting to do a kind of upside down genealogy to identify his descendants. Until recently illegitimate children were disregarded by genealogists but the world has changed and if James does have any living descendants (which seems very likely) then I think we should try to make it possible for them to discover this for themselves.

Given that the father's name on the relevant certificates are either blank or invented this is something they would not be able to do without assistance.  I am perhaps in a unique position to fill the gaps and allow these people (if indeed they exist) to discover a really interesting ancestral tree.

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Sounds like a pretty big challenge! Good luck!

I had to look it up, but I had thought there was a movie about him. Yup. I was right. 1929. Black and White era. Nice.

Answer 7

I'm doing preliminary research into Isabelle Eberhardt who was originally Swiss and became quite the character during her Arabian years…wrote a book about her life before her youthful death.

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I had to look her up before I could respond. They describe her as a Swiss explorer and writer. After reading the wiki article, I guess they didn't get it wrong, but that doesn't seem to really capture who she was or what she did, except at a very high level. She seems to have led a very interesting life.

Answer 8

Hello, I am working on actor/film maker Buster Keaton, art director Natacha Rambova, actor Jonathan Frid, photographer Dorothea Lange.

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Oooh... Jonathan Frid... BARNABAS COLLINS!! (at leats I think's that right...)

I'll be anxious to see that one once you've got him up and running! Very cool! And Buster Keaton deserves a nice profile, considering his role in film.

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Just starting on music star k.d. Lang. Having trouble finding her mother's maiden name.

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I did some hunting around and all I could find was first name - Audrey. There are some You Tube interviews where K.D. might have let it slip - it happens - Uncle so-and-so, for example - but I didn't stop and listen to all the interviews to find out.

I did check: wiki, IMDB, ethnicelebs, biography, and a general internet search with no luck.

Answer 9

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (yes I know there is a fully worked up profile courtesy of you guys), but I mean my personal connection.

Before today I had a connection which ran through her descendants, after today I discovered a connection through her forefathers.

As for other notables? Checking to see if there is a connection with one of my country's former Prime Ministers, additionally looking back in time to see in my bloodlines link up to any more of the big names of history...
(already know about my relation to the Stuarts/Tudors!)

Answer 10

I recently made a profile for Jeff Lynne of ELO and did some research on his ancestry.

Answer 11

I did find a profile out on WikiTree for George Brewer, aka George Bessolo, aka George Reeves - who was also known as Clark Kent or Superman when I was growing up. And I have to admit, I just HAD to connect him to the tree. Still a horrible tragic ending to this man's life.

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Brewer-3532

Answer 12

I'm not sure if I will be working his profile directly since he already has one, but I will be working in the aura of inventor/industrialist Eli Whitney.  Turns out his nephew Eli Whitney Blake is the ancestor of some fairly close cousins whose ancestry is a project of mine.