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How are we related to distant relatives?
The relationship between our direct ancestors, parents and grandparents and ourselves, is straight forward. Easy and familiar.
It's the low hanging branches that get a tad confusing and it’s a common question, at family gatherings, just how one person is related to another.
My own family tree is pretty confusing. How are we related to an uncle 3 x removed?
What is 3 x removed?
It's a mine field out there.
Let me attempt to show you how a few names on a family tree can have you running in circles.
My great grandmother, Esther Alice Longworth, married John Joseph Helme, my great grandfather in January 1883 at St Peter’s Church in Belmont Lancashire.
Esther Alice Longworth is the daughter of Mary Haslam and Adam Longworth, great granddaughter of Ann Brindle and Joseph Helme and 2 x great granddaughter of Adam Brindle and Jane Worsley, and Benjamin Helme and Mary Warbutton.
John Joseph Helme is the son of Mary Crook and Adam Helme, the great grandson of Betty Brindle (sister to Ann, above) and Benjamin Helme (brother to Joseph above) and is the 2 x great grandson of Adam Brindle and Jane Worsley, and Benjamin Helme and Mary Warbutton.
This all shows that Esther Alice Longworth and John Joseph Helme share common ancestors, 2 x great grandparents, Adam Brindle and Jane Worsley and also Benjamin Helme and Mary Warbutton. They were not only husband and wife, but also 3rd cousins.
Scratching your head yet?
But I'm not done yet with the head scratching.
Oh no. Let's go another round!
We're going to follow Jane Helme's (Esther Alice Longworth's grandmother) relationship to John Joseph Helme (Esther Alice's husband). But this time we're going to move along on John Joseph's side.
You see, Jane Helme was also the granddaughter of Mary Warbutton and Benjamin Helme. John Joseph was the 2 x great grandson of Mary Warbutton and Benjamin Helme. Making Jane Helme not only John Joseph Helme's mother-in-law's mother, but closer to home, his 1st cousin, twice removed.
Yup... I can hear your head explode.
And this is when I jumped from my chair, screamed like a banshee, and frightened the neighbours.
