Being a genealogist and student of family history for over forty years; a short while back I got an email from FamilySearch(dot)Org that advertised, “SEE IF YOU’RE RELATED TO HISTORICAL FIGURES” SEE: https://www.familysearch.org/en/connect/famous
A few years earlier I’d connected with FamousKin(dot)com, and had located some pretty cool American ancestors including four of our earliest Presidents, SEE: https://famouskin.com/
So, being a fan of all things WESTERN, especially the America cowboy; I decide to do a deep dive into my family history to see if any of my cowboy heroes were lurking on distant branches of our tree.
Here are some of the coolest FAMOUS COWBOY KIN I’ve discovered so far…
OLIVER WINCHESTER CREATED THE WINCHESTER REPEATING RIFLE 1810–1880
BIRTH 30 NOV 1810 • Brookline, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States
DEATH 10 DEC 1880 • New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
1st cousin 3x removed of wife of 1st cousin 10x removed
The Winchester repeating rifle was a lever-action firearm created by Oliver Winchester and his company, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The rifle was a revolutionary design that allowed for repeated firings without reloading. It was used by many people during the American frontier era, including cowboys, Native Americans, outlaws, sheriffs, and President Theodore Roosevelt.
Oliver Winchester Winchester Repeating Rifle 1810-1880
1st cousin 3x removed of wife of 1st cousin 10x removed
Samuel Winchester 1757-1811
Father of Oliver Winchester Winchester Repeating Rifle
Jonathan Winchester
Father of Samuel Winchester
Sarah White 1680-1715
Mother of Jonathan Winchester
John White 1642-1695
Father of Sarah White
Benjamin White
Brother of John White
Ann White 1685-1772
Daughter of Benjamin White
Peter Boylston 1673-1743
Husband of Ann White
Dr. Thomas Boylston 1645-1695
Father of Peter Boylston
Elizabeth Boylston 1640-1665
Sister of Dr. Thomas Boylston
Elizabeth Fisher 1659-1694
Daughter of Elizabeth Boylston
Henry Plimpton 1684-1731
Son of Elizabeth Fisher
Capt. Job Plimpton 1718-1797
Son of Henry Plimpton
Job Jr. Plimpton DNA match 1746-1814
Son of Capt. Job Plimpton
Timothy Plimpton DNA match 1775-1824
Son of Job Jr. Plimpton DNA match
Calvin Plimpton 1815-1874
Son of Timothy Plimpton DNA match
Charles Henry Plympton 1845-1925
Son of Calvin Plimpton
Geneva (Neva) Plympton 1870-1939
Daughter of Charles Henry Plympton
Great grandma
JOHN BATTERSON STETSON CREATOR OF COWBOY HATS 1830–1906
BIRTH 05 MAY 1830 • Orange, Essex, New Jersey, USA
DEATH 18 FEB 1906 • Deland, Volusia, Florida, USA
6th cousin 5x removed
https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2023/04/john-batterson-stetson1830-1906.html
John Batterson Stetson Cowboy Hats 1830-1906
6th cousin 5x removed
Stephen Stetson 1796-1878
Father of John Batterson Stetson Cowboy Hats
Stephen Stetson 1773-1820
Father of Stephen Stetson
Stephen Stetson 1747-1777
Father of Stephen Stetson
Thankful Saunders 1712-1782
Mother of Stephen Stetson
Thankful Crandall 1690-1712
Mother of Thankful Saunders
Joseph Crandall 1661-1737
Father of Thankful Crandall
Jane Crandall 1653-1718
Sister of Joseph Crandall
Jane Babcock 1670-1730
Daughter of Jane Crandall
James Braman 1697-1739
Son of Jane Babcock
Soloman Braman 1723-1790
Son of James Braman
William Braman DNA match 1753-1804
Son of Soloman Braman
Waterman F Brayman 1786-1865
Son of William Braman DNA match
Elvira W. Brayman (Braman) 1822-1909
Daughter of Waterman F Brayman
Marcus Morton Pierce 1842-1882
Son of Elvira W. Brayman (Braman)
Lillian Amanda Pierce 1867-1957
Daughter of Marcus Morton Pierce
Great grandma
WILLIAM FREDERICK CODY aka ”BUFFALO BILL" 1846–1917
BIRTH 26 FEB 1846 • Le Claire, Scott, Iowa Territory, USA
DEATH 10 JAN 1917 • Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
3rd cousin 1x removed of husband of 7th cousin 4x removed
William Frederick Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, was a multifaceted American figure who wore many hats, including soldier, bison hunter, scout, guide, and showman. He became a global celebrity thanks to his Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World show, which featured cowboys, cowgirls, roping, bronco riding, and reenactments of Indian Wars.
William Frederick Cody "Buffalo Bill" 1846-1917
3rd cousin 1x removed of husband of 7th cousin 4x removed
Isaac Cody 1811-1857
Father of William Frederick Cody "Buffalo Bill"
Philip Josephine Cody Sr. 1771-1850
Father of Isaac Cody
Abigail Emerson 1732-1802
Mother of Philip Josephine Cody Sr.
Elizabeth Emerson 1686-1760
Sister of Abigail Emerson
Peter Taft
Son of Elizabeth Emerson
Aaron Taft 1743-1808
Son of Peter Taft
Peter (Rawson) Taft 1785-1867
Son of Aaron Taft
Alphonso Taft
Son of Peter (Rawson) Taft
Louisa Maria Torrey
Wife of Alphonso Taft
Susan Holman Waters
Mother of Louisa Maria Torrey
Asa Waters
Father of Susan Holman Waters
Sarah Goodale
Mother of Asa Waters
Silence Holbrook
Mother of Sarah Goodale
John Holbrook
Father of Silence Holbrook
Silence Wood
Mother of John Holbrook
Mary Daniel
Mother of Silence Wood
John Daniels 1648-1718
Brother of Mary Daniel
Sarah Daniels 1679-1770
Daughter of John Daniels
Heber Brainerd 1725-1803
Son of Sarah Daniels
Esther Brainerd 1747-1816
Daughter of Heber Brainerd
Esther Smith DNA match 1768-1810
Daughter of Esther Brainerd
Smith Bailey 1789-1862
Son of Esther Smith DNA match
Orange Bailey 1811-1905
Son of Smith Bailey
David Solomon Bailey 1837-1915
Son of Orange Bailey
David Jackson Bailey 1865-1949
Son of David Solomon Bailey
Great granddad
CHARLES ETHERIDGE COGGESHALL MILES CITY SADDLERY 1869–1913
BIRTH 23 FEB 1869 • St. Croix, Wisconsin
DEATH AFT. 1913 • Miles City, Custer, Montana, USA
5th cousin 5x removed
Miles City, Montana was already a legendary cattle town when Charles Coggshall disposed of his livestock and opened a saddlery with Al Furstnow in 1890.
That partnership dissolved five years later with Coggshall subsequently purchasing the old saddlery shop of Hugh Moran and converting it to Coggshall Saddlery. Charles himself was not a saddle maker but his years as an avid horseman enabled him to recognize the virtues of a good saddle and the need to develop a better saddletree.
Under his guidance the Montana Saddle Tree/Miles City Three Quarter outfit was perfected and later copied by many others. Clem Kathmann was the top craftsman in the shop and later became foreman before joining with Frank Jelinek and Best Coleman to buy out Coggshall in 1909 and changed the name to Miles City Saddlery.
SEE the whole story here: https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2021/03/coggeshall-from-jolly-ol-england-to.html
Charles Etheridge Coggeshall Miles City Saddlery 1869-1913
5th cousin 5x removed
Eri Coggeshall 1830-1901
Father of Charles Etheridge Coggeshall Miles City Saddlery
Frederick Coggeshall 1795-1863
Father of Eri Coggeshall
Dunlap Coggeshall 1747-1808
Father of Frederick Coggeshall
Benjamin Coggeshall 1712-1781
Father of Dunlap Coggeshall
John Coggeshall 1659-1727
Father of Benjamin Coggeshall
Mary Coggeshall 1662-1699
Sister of John Coggeshall
Mary Bull 1693-1741
Daughter of Mary Coggeshall
Content Mumford 1725-1790
Daughter of Mary Bull
William Braman DNA match 1753-1804
Son of Content Mumford
Waterman F Brayman 1786-1865
Son of William Braman DNA match
Elvira W. Brayman (Braman) 1822-1909
Daughter of Waterman F Brayman
Marcus Morton Pierce 1842-1882
Son of Elvira W. Brayman (Braman)
Lillian Amanda Pierce 1867-1957
Daughter of Marcus Morton Pierce
Great grandma
(Oat%20Mountain)%20copy.jpg)
WILLIAM LAWRENCE BOYD aka "HOPALONG CASSIDY" 1895–1972
BIRTH 5 JUN 1895 • Hendrysburg, Belmont County, Ohio, USA
DEATH 12 SEP 1972 • Laguna Beach, Orange, California, USA
6th cousin 3x removed
William Boyd (born June 5, 1895, Hendrysburg, Ohio, U.S.—died Sept. 12, 1972, Hollywood) was an American motion-picture and television actor who was best known for his portrayal of Hopalong Cassidy in a series of western films.
William Lawrence Boyd aka "Hopalong Cassidy" 1895-1972
6th cousin 3x removed
Charles William Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor) 1870-1913
Father of William Lawrence Boyd aka "Hopalong Cassidy"
John Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor) 1832-1892
Father of Charles William Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor)
Robert Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor) 1802-1872
Father of John Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor)
John Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor) 1756-1832
Father of Robert Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor)
Henry Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor) 1732-1782
Father of John Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor)
Patrick Harrison Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor) 1711-1762
Father of Henry Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor)
John Boyd 1712-1757
Brother of Patrick Harrison Boyd (Hoppy Ancestor)
William Boyd DNA Match 1720-1794
Son of John Boyd
James Boyd * DNA Match 1757-1791
Son of William Boyd DNA Match
James Boyd 1783-1854
Son of James Boyd * DNA Match
Valentine Boyd 1811-1870
Son of James Boyd
Sophia Boyd 1836-1908
Daughter of Valentine Boyd
David Jackson Bailey 1865-1949
Son of Sophia Boyd
Great granddad
.JPG)
MARION ROBERT MORRISON aka JOHN WAYNE 1907–1979
BIRTH 26 MAY 1907 • Winterset, IA
DEATH 11 JUN 1979 • Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
10th cousin 2x removed
Marion Robert Morrison (1907 - 1979), professionally known as JOHN WAYNE and nicknamed "THE DUKE", was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood's Golden Age, especially in Western and war movies.
His career flourished from the silent era of the 1920s through the American New Wave, as he appeared in a total of 179 film and television productions. He was among the top box-office draws for three decades and appeared with many other important Hollywood stars of his era.
In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Wayne as one of the greatest male stars of classic American cinema.
Throughout most of his life, Wayne was a vocally prominent conservative Republican in Hollywood, supporting anti-communist positions.
Marion Robert Morrison aka John Wayne 1907-1979
10th cousin 2x removed
Clyde Leonard Morrison 1884-1937
Father of Marion Robert Morrison aka John Wayne
Wealthy Chase Parsons
Mother of Clyde Leonard Morrison
Henry Charles Parsons
Father of Wealthy Chase Parsons
Eldad Parsons
Father of Henry Charles Parsons
Dr. Medad Parsons
Father of Eldad Parsons
Sabra Spencer
Mother of Dr. Medad Parsons
Thomas Spencer 1607-1687
Father of Sabra Spencer
Samuel Spencer
Father of Thomas Spencer
Thomas Spencer
Father of Samuel Spencer
Thomas Spencer 1606-1687
Father of Thomas Spencer
Ensign Gerard Spencer (Haddam Founder) immigrant 1614-1685
Brother of Thomas Spencer
Hannah Spencer 1641-1692
Daughter of Ensign Gerard Spencer (Haddam Founder) immigrant
Deacon James Brainerd 1669-1743
Son of Hannah Spencer
Deborah Brainerd 1698-1745
Daughter of Deacon James Brainerd
Oliver Bailey 1738-1822
Son of Deborah Brainerd
Thomas Bailey DNA match 1765-1854
Son of Oliver Bailey
Smith Bailey 1789-1862
Son of Thomas Bailey DNA match
Orange Bailey 1811-1905
Son of Smith Bailey
David Solomon Bailey 1837-1915
Son of Orange Bailey
David Jackson Bailey 1865-1949
Son of David Solomon Bailey
Great granddad
LEONARD FRANKLIN SLYE aka ROY ROGERS 1911–1998
BIRTH 5 NOV 1911 • Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio
DEATH 6 JUL 1998 • Apple Valley, San Bernardino, California
6th cousin 2x removed of wife of 9th cousin 5x removed
Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye), nicknamed the King of the Cowboys, was an American singer, actor, television host, Freemason and rodeo performer.
Following early work under his given name, first as a co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then as an actor, the rebranded Rogers then became one of the most famous and popular Western stars of his era.
He appeared in almost 90 motion pictures, as well as numerous episodes of his self-titled radio program that lasted for nine years. Between 1951 and 1957, he hosted The Roy Rogers Show television series. In many of them, he appeared with his wife, Dale Evans; his Golden Palomino, Trigger; and his German Shepherd, Bullet. Rogers is also best remembered for his signature song "Happy Trails".
Leonard Franklin Slye aka Roy Rogers 1911-1998
6th cousin 2x removed of wife of 9th cousin 5x removed
Mattie M. Womack 1882-1958
Mother of Leonard Franklin Slye aka Roy Rogers
Archer Womack
Father of Mattie M. Womack
Jacintha Kibbe
Mother of Archer Womack
Moses Kibbe Jr 1774-1832
Father of Jacintha Kibbe
Moses Kibbe 1747-1784
Father of Moses Kibbe Jr
Abigail Warner
Mother of Moses Kibbe
Tabitha Abbe
Mother of Abigail Warner
Sarah Fairfield ** 1655-1728
Mother of Tabitha Abbe
William Fairfield
Brother of Sarah Fairfield **
Abigail Fairfield
Daughter of William Fairfield
Esther Parkman
Daughter of Abigail Fairfield
Adam Brown
Son of Esther Parkman
Israel Putnam Brown
Son of Adam Brown
Sally Briggs Brown
Daughter of Israel Putnam Brown
Sarah Almeda Brewer
Daughter of Sally Briggs Brown
Calvin Galusha Coolidge
Husband of Sarah Almeda Brewer
Calvin Coolidge
Father of Calvin Galusha Coolidge
Hannah Priest
Mother of Calvin Coolidge
Hannah Lawrence
Mother of Hannah Priest
Jonathan Lawrence
Father of Hannah Lawrence
Anna FISKE
Mother of Jonathan Lawrence
James FISKE
Father of Anna FISKE
Phineas FISKE
Father of James FISKE
Thomas FISKE
Father of Phineas FISKE
Robert FISKE
Father of Thomas FISKE
Nicholas FISKE 1517-1569
Brother of Robert FISKE
Mary Fiske 1561-1663
Daughter of Nicholas FISKE
Joshua Fisher immigrant 1585-1674
Son of Mary Fiske
John Fisher 1625-1668
Son of Joshua Fisher immigrant
Elizabeth Fisher 1659-1694
Daughter of John Fisher
Henry Plimpton 1684-1731
Son of Elizabeth Fisher
Capt. Job Plimpton 1718-1797
Son of Henry Plimpton
Job Jr. Plimpton DNA match 1746-1814
Son of Capt. Job Plimpton
Timothy Plimpton DNA match 1775-1824
Son of Job Jr. Plimpton DNA match
Calvin Plimpton 1815-1874
Son of Timothy Plimpton DNA match
Charles Henry Plympton 1845-1925
Son of Calvin Plimpton
Geneva (Neva) Plympton 1870-1939
Daughter of Charles Henry Plympton
Great grandma
Who are your famous cowboy kin?
Happy Trails!
