George Herbert Walker Bush, our 41st President

This past week we all watched the inauguration of this countries forty-fifth President; Donald John Trump.  Also in the news was George Herbert Walker Bush, our 41st President, and his wife; Barbara Bush.  Both of whom are in my family tree.  They are both my eighth cousins.

George Herbert Walker Bush

It was announced this past week, that both George & Barbara Bush were in a hospital in Houston Texas. I wish my cousins both a speedy recovery to good health.  Obviously we don't know each other, but here we are, both living in this same, great big State of TEXAS with our roots in Massachusetts.  I know for a fact that the DNA results for President's, and other celebrities who may have taken a DNA test are kept private and confidential.  So, if you are asking, no, he would never just show up as a DNA match to me.  However, I have found them both in the branches of my family tree. Through genealogy, I have been able to link to both George and Barbara Bush.  We are eighth cousins.

Our shared bloodline, aka DNA connection is Nathaniel Richardson, and his wife Abigail (Reed) Richardson. Our 7th Great Grand Parents from Boston Massachusetts.  Nathaniel Richardson was born, August 27, 1673.  He married Abigail Reed in Boston on, September 18, 1694.  They are listed in many books written about the first settlers of New England. 

They are both buried, and have their final resting place at Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Mass.

Their headstones stand today!  Click on the photo to enlarge.

Nathaniel Richardson (1673 - 1729) Boston Massachusetts

Barbara (Pierce) Bush is also one of my many 8th cousins.  Both Barbara and President George H.W. Bush are related to me, on our paternal family lines. 

Barbara (Pierce) Bush b. June 8th, 1925

The former fist lady and I are related through Captain Thomas Thayer (1664 - 1738) and Mary (Poole) Thayer (1668 - 1745).  Our seventh great grandparents were originally from Weymouth Massachusetts.  They got married in Milton, MA.  The same place where President George H.W. Bush was born.   Both the Thayer family and the Poole family are listed in many books written of early New England families.  Thinking briefly again about a DNA match.  While both I share with two sets of seventh great grand parents.  I most likely share in common more DNA with Barbara Pierce. As I mentioned earlier, she is on my paternal line.  However, from Helen Desdemonia Rider on back, she follows the mtDNA.  Past down from mother to daughter. This goes all the way back to Mary Poole.  I won't give a DNA lesson here.

All the family lines above have too many wonderful stories to tell in just one post to my blog. They have many similar strong ties to the American Revolution, and the Mayflower.  There are Clergy and political leaders.

The moral to this story?  What you find in the bush stays in the bush?  Or, It is okay to marry your cousin? 

A short post, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway.

Thank you for reading!

Richard Howie