You just can't look away!

Ancestry.com is on a marketing binge!  Their new app "We're Related" has been out for a while now. At first I just laughed as some of the ludicrous leaps that were made to show how I was related to celebrities of all shapes and sizes.  Most, up until recently, I could discount right away as they are plugging in mother connections for several generations that just don't vibe.  I just could not find proof of any connection.  Not a good marketing tool for Ancestry credibility.  But, I tried to look through the muck and see if anything vibed.

When they started to get a bit closer in cousin connections I started to do some investigating.  Right here and now I'll say I'm not too happy😞.  Ok...I was happy with Elvis, Jimmy Carter, James Dean, Brad Pitt, and Kate Blanchett, all of whom seem to line up with my research, yet distant relations.

I grew up in the south so I prepared myself, somewhat, for what surprise "ding" I would get.  There it was.....Newt Gingrich and Ann Coulter.  Crap!  That just cannot be.  Then, I reminded myself that ideology is not necessarily inherited or passed down😩.  My immediate family, for the most part, were conservative republicans, except for Pappa, my step great grandfather.  Somehow, even though I was raised by my grandparents, I ended up mostly a radical, liberal, socialist, etc... I hate labels, so if you must...pick one.  My bio mom was progressive to say the least, which gave her mother great consternation.  I'm still grappling with her extreme IQ and mental illness and just how wrong her life has been treated.  I digress....

So, Newtie isn't Newt.  Turns out he changed his name and he's possibly my 6th cousin, 2xs removed on my mother's father's German side.😮  One of my projects, that I need to jump into more now, is on a Civil War Union soldier from PA, my 2nd great grandfather, and his wife who was a nurse in the Civil War in PA.  My connection to Newt is through this nurse's mother, Sarah Follmer.  Her great grand father Hans Michael Follmer/Vollmar married Ragina Magdalena (last name unknown) my 7th great grandmother.  Magdalena was used often in German heritage.
Ragina/Regina was born 18 Jun 1730 in Tulpehocken, Berks Co., PA and died 18 Aug 1813 in Milton, Northumberland Co., PA.
Regina Magdalena Follmer

Ragina/Regina and Hans Michael Follmer had Elizabeth Follmer (Newt's supposed 4th great grandmother) and Adam Follmer (my 6th great grandfather, thus 2xs removed).  Elizabeth and Adam were brother and sister.

Now, Newt's real name is Newton⁵ (Newton Searles⁴, Clarence Newton³, James Silverwood², William¹) McPherson.  From there his connection to me is through William McPherson's maternal line.  

Ann Coulter is my direct 5th cousin.  Deep breath....runs out of room screaming😖😒😱
My maternal grandmother's, who raised me as her own child, paternal grandmother was Amanda Nance.

Ann Coulter's mother was Nell Husbands Martin.  Her mother was Nell Warner, who's mother was Nellie Nance, and our mutual Nance line begins.  

Nellie Nance was the daughter of Joseph Monroe Nance who's father was Clement Nance.  
Clement was the brother of Daniel Nance, my 3rd great grandfather.  Making Ann Coulter and I direct 5th cousins.  I need a drink....

My Cousin Elvis is NOT a Presley! Well...yes he's a Presley, but he's also a Wallace.

So, my 7th cousin, Elvis is not a Presley!  WHAT???

It turns out that Elvis may have two Native American lines in his genealogy.  One is also my Tapp/Taptico line from the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia, see my previous post on this line:  DNA detective work and Advantages of knowing your past

Here's why Elvis is not really a Presley, but a Wallace!

Elvis Aaron Presley born 8 Jan 1935 and died 16 Aug 1977 in Tupelo, Lee County, MS.
Father:  Vernon Elvis Presley born 10 Apr 1916 and died 26 Jun 1979 in Fulton, MS.
Grandfather:  Jessie D. McDowell Presley born 9 Apr 1896 and died 19 Apr 1973.

Here's where the family tree diverges **Great Grandfather:  John Henry Wallace born about Aug 1853 and died about Nov 1935 in Itawamba County, MS, had several children with Rosella Elizabeth Presley born 16 Feb 1861 and died 30 Jul 1924 in Fulton County, MS.  The details of why these children took on the name of their mother is unclear and can be left for another bit of detail work later.

John Henry Wallace's mother, Elvis' great, great grandmother was Lydia Gideon.  The marriage of Lydia Gideon and Hugh Henry Berry Wallace was 6 Oct 1852 in Itawamba, MS.

Lydia's mother was Elizabeth Tapp Gideon, Elvis' 3rd great grandmother (married John Gideon) born about 1794 and died about 1850.  *This connection will involve more research on my part to find definitive proof, but the circumstantial evidence is compelling.

Elizabeth Tapp Gideon was the daughter of Moses Tapp, Elvis' 4th great grandfather, born about 1758 in Culpepper, VA and died about 1825 in Spartanburg, SC.

Moses Tapp was the son of Vincent Tapp (part of the DNA tested direct Taptico line), Elvis' 5th great grandfather, and Mary "Molly" Jett.

Vincent Tapp, the brother of my 5th great grandfather William Tapp IV, was the son of William Tapp III, Elvis and my 6th great grandfather!

William Tapp III was the son of the last Wicocomico Tribal chief, William Taptico II, named changed to Tapp on his will (well documented and now in history books, see previous post connections above).

This line is through my father's lineage.  "Thank you!  Thank you very much!"