I've traced my father's family tree back to 1462 in Essex, UK (documented) and back to 1274 in Wiltshire (undocumented and sketchy).
But my grandfather's dad on my mother's side apparently never existed. No records, no one ever spoke of him ever. Ghost.
He must have been a real piece of work. I'll never know.
Mom used to say she was related to the Dixon from the mason-Dixon line surveyors, but I've proved that not to be true. At least not directly descended. But she is related to Harry Reasoner from 60 minutes fame.
On dad's side there's Willie Nelson and manbearpig (documented) I'm super serial, and a couple barons and ka-niggits (knights for people who are M. python-challenged).
And a London mayor, sheriff, and a couple aldermen way back in the day. No mention of Sherwood forest tho.
First decedent to set foot in this country was around 1630.
There was talk that we were descended from one of the guys from the original Jamestown colony, but research proved he died in the first two years, wasn't married, and didn't have any kids. So that pretty much rules that out. Still could be a cousin 200- times removed
