What actually determines that you can claim a connection to royalty?

Question

I am connected to three persons on the list at this website.

Elizabeth Alsop Baldwin is the mother of Mary Alsop Baldwin Nichols.  She is the wife of Isaac Nichols, my 7th great grand uncle.

Rev Charles Chauncey is the father of Rev Israel Chauncey, husband of Mary Nichols Chauncey, my 7th great grand aunt.

May Launce Sherman is the wife of Rev John Sherman, my 8th great grand uncle.

Do these connections allow me to claim a connection to royalty?

Rich Nichols

Comments

We cannot see your part of the tree Richard so it would be difficult for anyone to give you a serious answer to your question. You may be connected to royalty if you have well sourced profiles connecting you back, or there may be gaps or errors that disprove your theory. If you log in with your Wikitree profile someone will be able to review your connection.

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Linda,

Here is my direct line back to Francis Nichols (immigrant).  This is confirmed by DNA and the family bible of Jon Nichols (now deceased).

Richard Joseph Nichols, 1910-1979 (father)

Joseph Bernard Nichols, born 27 Dec 1878, Dallas, TX; died 24 Feb 1913, Bronx, NY; married Anna E S R Kohl in 1905, NYC

Joseph Humphrey Nichols, born Feb 1838 (no baptismal record found) most likely Fairfield County, CT; died 24 Feb 1886, Birmingham, Jefferson, AL.  Married Sarah (Sadie) E Todzwer in Feb 1874, Algiers, Orleans, LA.

Joseph Chitsey Nichols, born 22 Jul 1800, Fairfield County, CT; died 29 Jun 1844, Bridgeport, Fairfield,CT; married Adeline Amelia Strong, born on 27 Jun 1836, Hebron, Tolland, CT.

Silas Augustus Nichols, born 24 Jan 1771, Fairfield, Fairfield, CT; died 18 May 1811, Derby, New Haven, CT; Married Freelove Chitsey on 24 Sep 1795, Gilead, Tolland, CT.  Freelove born 20 May 1772, Guilford, New Haven, CT

Hezekiah Nichols, born 25 Jan 1743/44, Fairfield, Fairfield, CT; died 19 Mar 1819, Fairfield, Fairfield, CT.  Married Ann(a) Penfield on 24 Sep 1795.  Ann born 12 Jul 1745, Fairfield, CT.

Ephraim Nichols, born c 1711, Stratford, Fairfield, CT; died 1782, Fairfield, Fairfield, CT.  Married Rebecca Gold on 5 Jul 1741.  Rebecca born abt 4 Oct 1724, Fairfield, CT.

Ignatius Nichols, born 17 Dec 1683, Fairfield, CT; died 17 Dec 1758, Greenfield, Fairfield, CT.  Married Abigail Staples c 1710.  Abigail born at 1689, Fairfield, CT.

Ephraim Nichols, born 16 Dec 1657, Stratford, Fairfield, CT.; died 16 mar 1690, Fairfield, CT.  Married Hester Ward on 17 Oct 1682.  Hester born 18 Apr 1660, Woodbury, Litchfield, CT.

Isaac Nichols, born abt 27 Dec 1617, Sedgeberrow, Worcestershire, ENG; died 1695, Stratford, Fairfield, CT.  Married Margaret (Margery) Washburn 17 Oct 1682.  Margaret born 1620, Evesham, Worcestershire, ENG.

Francis Nichols, immigrant, born abt 25 May 1575, Sedgeberrow, Worcestershire, ENG.; died about 1650, Stratford, Fairfield, CT.  Married (1) Frances Wimarke on 24 Jan 1599, Sedgeberrow, Worcestershire,ENG.  Frances born abt 2 Nov 1577, Sedgeberrow.  Francis married (2) Ann Wines.

This is my direct line back to Francis.  Any connection to royalty that I have is by way of allied families. We all know that the marriage pool was very limited to those first immigrants and that many of these immigrants produced large families.  My question about royalty was more of a query than actually having to prove it.  Quite frankly as Rhett would say " I don't give a d..n!  I do know that I am connected to Princess Diana via her mother's American lines that go back to the Strong family; and also to Winston Churchill through his mother, Jenny Jerome.  As you look over the early lines - my grandfather and great grandfather and second great grandfather, you will note that all these men die young.  These early deaths resulted in no heritage passed down.  I have been doing research for almost forty years and there was some early research done in the first half of the last century.  Our brick wall was Joseph Humphrey Nichols, which was not uncovered until I submitted my DNA.  Hope this answers any questions.

Rich Nchols

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Then since you have so much information I would recommend that you begin developing the appropriate line with sourced Wikitree profiles. We currently have no basis for assessing the connections.

Answer 1

Connected to or related to? These terms are often confused. Just because the tool shows a connection or relationship does not mean it is correct. You need to evaluate the sources at each step and determine if they are real sources and support the connection.

“Sources” are too often unsourced internet family trees. There are lineages, such as the Lyon lineage to Scotland, which is unsupported by data, and are on WikiTree.