Joseph Smith - Founder of Mormonism

I recently found a relation to Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormons.

I found this a few months ago, but was watching a show on History Channel called 10 Things You Didn't Know About and the subject was Mormons.  Joseph Smith, or actually Joseph Smith Jr, was my 4th cousin 6x removed.

The story of Joseph and the Mormons is quite interesting and disturbing that it happened in the United States.  The state of Missouri declaring war on the Mormons and they should be exterminated is crazy!  Illinois asking them to not only leave the state, but the country itself(the Utah territory was part of Mexico at the time.)  The real story behind polygamy, Brigham Young, President Buchanan declaring them treasonous and deploying the army on them, the Mormon attack at Mountain Meadow in 1857 are all fascinating stories.

King Edward IV of England

I was researching my 3rd great-grandmother tonight, Caroline Cranston (1832 - 1873), and found other people had her in their tree and a fact of significance was that King Edward IV of Englad was something like her 9th great-grandfather.  I've only gone back 4 generations from her, but will complete the line someday.

Samuel Adams(1722-1803)

So I found tonight that I'm distantly related to Samuel Adams.  Yes, that Samuel Adams!  Of course, he would be my 3rd cousin, 8x removed.  Just a cool one I found tonight.

Relation to the Salem "Witches"

I found an interesting discover over the weekend.  My 9th great-grand aunts were three of the accused "witches" of Salem, Massachusetts that were hung in 1692.

• Rebecca Towne Nurse, b. 21 Feb 1621, d. 19 Jul 1692
• Mary Towne Estey, b.24 Aug 1634, d. 22 Sep 1692
• Sarah Towne Bridges Cloyes(she was tried, but escaped execution)

All three were the daughters of William Towne(1598-1673), who was my 10th great-grandfather.