Famous, or slightly known about, Ancestors

[L'Oiseau Noir]

I thought I'd make a thread that'd give us g.netters some time to flaunt our well-known (or little known but still occasionally heard of) ancestors. I was inspired to do this after watching a special on pirates, as the ancestor I'm about to gloat about was one.

My little-known, but sometimes heard about, ancestor is Lancelot Blackburne, who was supposedly a pirate as well as one of the Archbishops of York. He also was good friends with Queen Elizabeth from what I understand, and one of his close friends was Horace Warpole, the man who, basically, established the Gothic novel.

This is what Warpole was quoted about saying about my ancestor:

He was perfectly a fine gentleman to the last, to eighty-four; his favourite author was Waller, whom he frequently quoted… I often dined with him, his mistress, Mrs. Conwys, sat at the head of the table, and Hayter, his natural son by another woman, and very like him, at the bottom, as chaplain: he was afterwards Bishop of London. I have heard, but do not affirm it, that Mrs. Blackbourne, before she died, complained of Mrs. Conwys being brought under the same roof. To his clergy he was, I have heard, very imperious. One story I recollect, which showed how much he was a man of this world: and which the Queen herself repeated to my father. On the King's last journey to Hanover, before Lady Yarmouth came over, the Archbishop being With her Majesty, said to her, "Madam, I have been with your minister Walpole, and he tells me that you are a wise woman, and do not mind your husband's having a mistress."

Yeah, he was a drunken lout, as well as a "man about town." They say when he died every prostitute in London was in mourning.

He also, allegedly, hired Dick Turpin, a famous murderer, as his butler.

Here's a picture of him:

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...mageID=7911853

Yeah, he is ugly. xD

So now it's your turn! Flaunt that ancestor! I'm interested to read about 'em, or gawk over the ones I've heard of.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Originally Posted by L'Oiseau Noir

Lancelot Blackburne, who was supposedly a pirate as well as one of the Archbishops of York.

Now that's an awesome life!
I'm somehow related to a contemporary latin poet. Don't even know which one.

[Stormtrooper of Death]

My Dad's half of the family was from Poland, our last name is "bread" in Polish. Klebba, Kleb is bread in polish.

My Mom's side was from Prussia, late 1700s.

That's all I know.

[ForgetThisLostLenore]

I believe I'm related to one of the "Beard" pirates, perhaps Yellowbeard or something like that. My mom's side was a bunch of dirt farmers, so there's nothing there.

[Duane]

The family on my dads side was in Russia before coming to America. They were from some part of germany. I know no more... can one of you people give me a link to a site I could use to learn my families ancestry?

[Wednesday Friday Addams]

I am related to a rather nasty Nazi I would rather not name.

[Pantherlette086]

I wish I knew who mine are.

[KontanKarite]

My sister is a modern day celebrity.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Originally Posted by Wednesday Friday Addams

I am related to a rather nasty Nazi I would rather not name.

COMPLETELY unrelated question, but is your last name Hitler?

[Duane]

Possibly one of the admirals, or high ranking officers? That one dude nicknamed desert fox, or something like that?

[Wednesday Friday Addams]

Rommel. He was a field marshal.
And my last name isn't Hitler..or so you think.

[Duane]

So, well, that's not that bad. From what I remember, he was pretty chilvarious, treated any prisoners, or enemies humanely. He also ignored orders to kill any jewish prisoners, from what I remember, I don't know my memory is fuzzy.

[Wednesday Friday Addams]

Yeah he was pretty cool.

[Duane]

So, no one knows any good sites I could use to learn my families ancestry?

[Wednesday Friday Addams]

My family killed your family hero. XC

[Duane]

Actually, my dad's family left Germany when WWII started, I think, that's what he said. To Russia... ugh, for all I know... Ivan the Terrible could be my great great uncle, or something... man, I need to find out about my families ancestry...

[Wednesday Friday Addams]

Oh wait I thought you were saying you were related to Rommel.

[Duane]

No, ... ugh... I think I'll just ask my parents.

[Wednesday Friday Addams]

Silly me sorry for misreading that.

[Solumina]

I am related to some people who came over on the Mayflower which is kind of odd cuz that side of my family is Irish Catholic. There have also been a few war heroes and such in the family but nothing too major.

Oh and I don't really know the family history on my mom's side (other than the fact that my mom herself has done some fairly ground breaking things in her life but none of which really makes her widely heard of)

[L'Oiseau Noir]

Originally Posted by KontanKarite

My sister is a modern day celebrity.

Who's your sister? If it's not any of my business, that's cool.

[AngelikDemonik]

Uhmmm...no one really famous or heroic or anything.

My cousin is married to a guy that is a retired World Champion boxer (Tarik Salamassi). He was on that one boxing reality-show a few years ago.

Maurice Taylor, was an NBA player. His last team I THINK was the Sacramento Kings.

Not related to him, but my grandfather was stationed with Elvis in Germany when he was in the Army.

[KontanKarite]

Originally Posted by L'Oiseau Noir

Who's your sister? If it's not any of my business, that's cool.

Tara Conner, the Miss USA that was busted for drug abuse. She is now a recovering addict and a public speaker against drugs and alcohol. She's been sober for over a year. She's a complete badass.

She has also modeled for a handful of major fashion labels.

I guess she would be somewhat what Paris Hilton is, except cooler and more underground.

[Renatus]

Unfortunately all research into my mother's side of the family died with who knows how many brain cells back when my grandfather fell and suffered a major head trauma. On my father's side however there was research done into my grandmother's side. I hate repeating things over and over again since it gets annoying for both me and the people who are listening but for the purpose of this thread I suppose a summary would be best. Unfortunately none of them are famous but they are slightly known about(as in very slightly).

This is all off the top of my head and is all that we currently know
In the best possible chonological order:
-My grandmother's last name means in german "get off my cherry tree"
-during the revolutionary war one of my relatives fought against the Americans as a Hessian mercenary serving the British.
-I've had relatives on both sides of WW2
-I share a last name with the top U-boat captain who sank the most tonnage of anyone during WW2, though if there is any relation is unknown
-and finaly I have an odd relative who is very close friends with George Lucas, though no one has heard anything of him in awhile.

[raggedyanne]

Let's see. On my dad's side; a few revolutionary war heroes and one slave trader who will not be named. On my mom's side, nothing much except one Finnish poet and, very distantly, Atilla the Hun.