Connecting model Chrissy Teigen and singer John Legend to the Global Family Reunion

Question

Hi GFRers!

A few months ago AJ met model Chrissy Teigen and posed for a photo with her. Now Buzzfeed wants to use a bunch of his celebrity cousin photos for an upcoming article about the GFR, but she isn't connected to AJ on WikiTree yet. 

What her Wikipedia article has to say about her family is that her mother is from Thailand, and her father is Norwegian. She is also married to singer John Legend, who was featured on an episode of Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s "Finding Your Roots" on PBS. (Kyle Dane started a thread in G2G about John Legend, which includes a link to the episode for anyone interested). One of John's ancestors was a man named Peyton Polly/Polley/Pauley who became a free man in 1847.

We have a deadline of Saturday night to get Chrissy connected to the tree. Who's in and wants to get started connecting people through Chrissy or John? Post here or send me a message, and I'll add you to their trusted lists.

Comments

I sent a message to "Finding Your Roots" on PBS to see if they would be willing to release some of the information they discovered when they profiled John Legend, but I haven't heard back yet.

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Thanks, Kyle!

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I watched the show and the lowest ancestor that I can see is James A. Ryder and Bessie Underwood.  http://www.miles-shute-kouns-families.com/getperson.php?personID=I305&tree=Polley

However, I'm not sure how they connect.  The show says that Payton Polly was John's paternal 5th GGF.  Which would make James Ryder his 2nd GGF, giving us 3 possible paths.  The child of James and Bessie, seems to be either Ronald's (John's father) paternal grandmother, or either maternal grandparent.

As of yet, the only child I've found for James Ryder and Bessie Underwood is Ruth Bernice Mcneil who wed Caleb Skelton.  https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3GM-JKC

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There's a thread on the AfriGeneas forum about the episode, and the original poster, Art Thomas, has a tree for Peyton Polley on his website. He cites a few sources, too, so this would be a good place to start checking connections and research. Apparently Bessie's full name was Bethinia.

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Walter Ryder is another child of James and Bessie, born 18 Feb 1897.  He married Louisa Gethers, daughter of William Geethers and Louisa Summons.  This per Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980 on ancestry

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Nice! Ron Stephens -> Marjorie Smith -> Esther Rider -> James.

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Jeff, I ran into the same problem after watching the episode - I couldn't tell who was connected to whom.

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I added Chrissy Teigan's parents and norweigan grandfather. Does anyone have access to ancestry world or a scandanavian genealogy site? Let me know if anyone needs access to the trusted list of people I added.

Answer 1

Part 1:

 

David Polley 

Born 1765 Halifax Co. VA  

White, slave owner, Pike Co., Kentucky

Gender Male 

Died 1847 Pike Co., KY  

Will 18 Jan 1847 Pike Co., KY  

David wrote his will dated 7 Nov. 7, 1839 freeing his 7 slaves.

 

Will of David Polley probated 1847. 

Slaves Dug, Peyton, William, Jude, Mariah, John and Spencer be free and liberated from all servitude.

David names wife Elizabeth but does not mention his children. 

 

.................................................................................................... .................................................................................................... .................

 

THE POLLY NEGRO FAMILYSubmitted by: Sharon Kouns

Lawrence County USGenweb

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Ironton Register, February 2, 1860

The following is a copy of Gov. Dennison's Message relating the Polly Negro Family, kidnapped from this county in 1851, passage (or message) in answer to a resolution offered in the House by Representative Nigh, of this county:

STATE OF OHIO EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT }Jan. 24th, 1860}

To The House of Representatives:

  I have received a copy of a resolution, passed by your honorable body, requesting the Governor to transmit to you "all information in his possession, relating to the Polly negroes kidnapped from the county of Lawrence, and now held in slavery in the State of Virginia or elsewhere, together with the amount of all sums of money expended in the prosecution of suits for their reclamation, and for other purposes connected therewith, when and to whom paid," etc. I

  have the honor to state that on the 27th of February, 1851, the General Assembly passed a preamble and resolution in these words: "WHEREAS, It has been represented to this General Assembly that on the night of the sixth of January last, seven of the children and one of the grand-children of Peyton Polly, all said to be free colored persons, residing in Lawrence county, in this State were forcibly seized and carried into Kentucky, and are therein now held in slavery contrary to law

  And "WHEREAS:

 

It is represented that said Peyton Polly is poor and unable to raise the pecuniary means necessary to procure counsel to test in a Court of law the right of his said children to their liberty. Therefore. Resolved, That the Governor be, and he is hereby authorized to inquire into the facts of said alleged seizure and abduction, and if, on such inquiry, he shall become satisfied that said representations are probably true, that he shall employ counsel and adopt such other measures as shall conduce most especially to restore said persons to their liberty, and that the cost and expenses thereof shall be paid from his contingent fund."

Comments

Part 2:

  Under this resolution Gov. Wood appointed Joel W. Wilson, of Seneca county, as the agent of the State to take the case in hand. The family, it appeared, were originally slaves in Kentucky, and were owned by one David Campbell, of Pike co., in that State. -- On the 20th Jan. 1849, Campbell and his wife executed their bill of sale to Douglas Polly one black woman named Violet, aged 38 years, one black boy named Dugel, aged 15 years, one black boy named Dayton, aged 13 years, one black boy named Harrison, aged 10 years, one black boy named Nelson, aged 8 years, one named Aaron, aged 4 years, one black girl, aged 6 years, and one black girl, aged 2 years.

 

The Douglas Polly to whom the sale was made was a free man of color, who had been a slave of David Polly, but was duly emancipated and set free by his last will and testament, so entered of record in Pike county, Kentucky. These slaves were sold to him for the purpose of being brought to Ohio and emancipated. It appears also that after the sale the former owner removed from Kentucky to Virginia, leaving them in the possession of the said Douglas.

 

The creditors of the former owner instituted proceedings against said Douglas to set aside said sale on the ground that it was made to defraud creditors, and subject said negroes to the payment of their former owner's debts. Whereupon the said Douglas, who has acquired some $1,500, paid off all the claims against them, and was permitted to remove them personably to Ohio, where he brought them and set them free.

 

  Sometime after they were brought to this State and set free, their former owner executed another bill of sale, for them, to a man named Justice, who resided in Lawrence county, Kentucky, which said bill of sale expressed as a consideration the sum of one thousand dollars; but it was supposed that was paid, and that said Justice was to have a part of them if he succeeded in getting them. Upon said second bill of sale being executed to said Justice, he came into Ohio to reclaim them as fugitive slaves, but did not succeed.

 

  The matter rested in this way until 1850, when a body of armed men came into this State in the night, and kidnapped all of the children, leaving the father and mother behind. One of said children, thus kidnapped was an infant, born in the state of Ohio.

 

 

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Part 3:

--- Messrs. Loughborough and Ballard of Louisville, and James Harlan, of Frankfort, were employed by Mr. Wilson as attorney and counsel in Kentucky, and after protracted litigation in various courts of that State, four of the negroes were declared free by the Court of Appeal in 1853, and returned to their friends in Ohio.

 

The other four had been sold into Virginia before process could be served in Kentucky. One has since died, and to one of the survivors a child has been born, making the number in Virginia still four.

 

In behalf of these, Messrs. McComas and Samuels of Barboursville; and Mr. Fry of Wheeling, and Mr. Laidly, of Guyandott, were employed as attorney and counsel, and after a similar litigation they were declared free by the court of Cabell county.

 

This judgment, however, was reversed by the court of appeals, on the ground that Wayne county being the actual residence of the defendants, Cabell county had no jurisdiction in the case. Here follows a statement of the items of expense incurred in the prosecution of these suits, amounting, in the aggregate to $3,257.75.

 

  The Message concludes as follows:

"The litigation had been renewed in Wayne county, and when my predecessor addressed a letter in March, 1856, to Mr. Laidly, who had been represented to him as well qualified in all respects for the conduct of the case, inquiring into its condition and the probable expenses of prosecuting it to a conclusion, Mr. Laidly replied that no additional counsel would be thereafter required, that all future expenses, including the expenses of taking deposition and compensation for his own services would not exceed two hundred dollars, and that a favorable decision might be expected the following August.

 

  The sum of one hundred dollars was accordingly remitted to him on account, but the litigation was not brought to the expected termination. Subsequently other letters were received from Laidly, asking a further remittance, and asking the employment of additional counsel; and finally, in November last, a letter was addressed by direction of the Governor, to Mr. Leete, of Ironton, proposing to pay his expenses if he would go to Virginia and ascertain the exact condition of the case, and the probabilities of success in its further prosecution.

 

  To this letter Mr. Leete replied on the 25th of November, stating that he would, at his earliest convenience, go to Barboursville and collect the facts, and report them for information of the Executive. He also expressed the opinion that some additional counsel should be employed in it. He suggested that Geo. W. Summers, of Kanawha, be retained. Since this letter from Mr. Leete nothing further has been heard from him in regard to the case.

 

This appears to be a well sourced tree showing Peyton Polley (1834-1917)

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That's great. Do you know where this family connects to John Legend's family?

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I don't. I can check when my internet gets fixed. Right  now I am on myy laptop at McDonalds. LOL Tech comes Tues, and then  I can help :

Answer 2

David Zuckerman posted in the G+ group that he has found the links between AJ to John Legend. He hasn't checked it for sources or accuracy so I'll post the list, and a series of comments about where we need to focus our attention, or add profiles to WikiTree. 

AJ’s mother is Ellen Jacobs.

Her sister Jane Kheel.

Her husband Mr. Stanley.

His father Everett Stanley.

His father John Stanley.

His father Wyatt Stanley.

His father John Stanley.

His father Mahlon Stanley.

His father Micajah Stanley.

His mother Catherine Hutchins.

Her mother Mary Hutchins.

Her sister Rachel Woodson.

Her husband Robert Woodson Jr.

His daughter Sarah Woodson.

Her son Richard Parsons.

His son Joseph Parsons.

His wife Sarah Adkins.

Her sister Agnes Polly.

Her son David Polley.

His son Peyton Polley.

His son John Polley.

His daughter is Athefer Alice “Alfair” Polley.

Her son James Ryder.

His daughter Esther Ryder.

Her daughter is Marjorie Ryder.

Her son is Ron Stephens.

His son is John Legend.

 

Comments

Starting from John Legend's end, we have his ancestry added up to Esther Hargo, aka Esther Ryder. Her mother is definitely Bethinia "Bessie" Underwood, but her father is a bit confusing. Esther's marriage certificate says Esther Hargo, her death certificate says her maiden name was Hargo and her mother's name was Underwood Ryder, and her daughter's marriage registration says "Esther Ryder." Bessie Underwood married James Rider in 1900, and according to Art Thomas' tree, Bessie married George Hargo in 1905. Esther was born in 1914, but in the 1920 census her mother and sisters were using Ryder as a surname. For now I think we should leave Esther without a father, but link James Ryder as a husband of Bessie Underwood. Thoughts?

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Going up through the Polley family, I noticed that this list has David Polley listed as the father of Peyton Polley. A quick google search brings up some sites that state that David Polley had owned Peyton and his brother Douglas, and since Douglas became a free man, David Polly sold Peyton to Douglas. Some trees  like this one conejcture that David Polley may have fathered these slaves, and that is why he freed them. There isn't anything firm stating that David Polley is Peyton's father, so unless someone can find something, we can't use that connection. 

Answer 3

Do we have any Mayflower or Colonial America enthusiasts watching this thread? I've found a connection between John Legend and abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass:  John's granduncle Jonathan Bass married Maggie Taliaferro. Maggie's great grand uncle, David Weaver married Estelle Sprague, Frederick Douglass' granddaughter. According to an unsourced snippet in the Wikipedia article for Frederick's second wife, Helen Pitts was descended from John Alden and Priscilla Mullins of the Mayflower. I've started a second thread for anyone who wants to discuss this and prove or disprove it.