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Meghan Markle, Michelle Obama trace families to same metro Atlanta town
Cox Media Group ^ | 5/19/2018 | Bob D'Angelo

Posted on 05/21/2018 6:30:48 AM PDT by simpson96

ATLANTA-Michelle Obama and Meghan Markle both can trace their families to the same Georgia town, and not only were their ancestors both Jonesboro residents, they also lived there at the same time.

According to professional genealogist Megan Smolenyak, both had third great-grandmothers living in Jonesboro in the years after the Civil War.

Meghan Markle’s great-great-great grandmother on her mother’s side was Martha Henderson, but was known as Mattie.

In the 1870 census Mattie was 10 years old, the daughter of Walker and Elizabeth Henderson.

That same 1870 census notes that Michelle Obama’s great-great-great grandmother, Melvinia Shields, also lived in Jonesboro at the same time.

She would have been an adult at that time, with children of her own.

“Maybe Mattie was a friend of Melvinia’s kids,” said Smolenyak, who discovered Michelle Obama’s connection to Georgia in 2009.

A Google alert drew Smolenyak’s attention back to Georgia, and to Markle’s connection.

She marveled at finding “both of these women in the same little town, living so closely together. ... Both families would have recently come out from under slavery; this was barely post emancipation.”

Examining the handwriting on the census documents, she said, it’s evident that the same census worker recorded both names, which shows their proximity.

Melvinia Shields grew up on a farm just outside the village of Rex, near Jonesboro, and also in Clayton County.

Mattie was married twice, and had a daughter, Claudie Richie(or Ritchie or Richey), with her first husband.

Claudie married J.M. Ragland(J.M. were initials for “Jerry Miah” said Smolenyak), and their son Steve was Doria Ragland’s grandfather.

Claudie and J.M. moved to Chattanooga, where he worked as a tailor.

So the same Georgia town produced a First Lady and a Royal. Perhaps after Meghan and Harry are married they will stop by Georgia for tea.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsbtv.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: foreverfirstfamily; obamaworship
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1 posted on 05/21/2018 6:30:48 AM PDT by simpson96
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To: simpson96

The media just had to connect the two of them somehow.


2 posted on 05/21/2018 6:32:21 AM PDT by rdl6989
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To: simpson96

ISGAS
I Scarcely Give A ........


3 posted on 05/21/2018 6:33:18 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: simpson96
🤢
4 posted on 05/21/2018 6:33:27 AM PDT by Jane Long (Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.)
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To: simpson96

So she has a distant ugly male cousin.


5 posted on 05/21/2018 6:33:45 AM PDT by bmwcyle (People who do not study history are destine to believe really ignorant statements.)
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To: simpson96
Who gives a rat’s patootie?
6 posted on 05/21/2018 6:37:19 AM PDT by liberalh8ter (The only difference between flash mob 'urban yutes' and U.S. politicians is the hoodies.)
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To: simpson96

And because of racism, Markle had to go out of the country to find a prince to marry.


7 posted on 05/21/2018 6:37:55 AM PDT by cvan65 vet
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To: simpson96
I think Elizabeth Warren’s family teepee was also located in Jonesboro. /sarc
8 posted on 05/21/2018 6:38:08 AM PDT by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives - ban gun free zones)
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To: simpson96

And they both have 31 other 3f grandmothers who may or may not have lived in the same town. By the way, at least 16 of her 3d grandmothers were white probably white.


9 posted on 05/21/2018 6:38:35 AM PDT by pacific_waters
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To: simpson96

I thought Merkel had roots in Intercourse, PA. Or was that intercourse USA?


10 posted on 05/21/2018 6:38:35 AM PDT by albie
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To: rdl6989

“The media just had to connect the two of them somehow.”

Right. No real connection, just coincidence. Any excuse to try to keep relevant/adore Big Mike.


11 posted on 05/21/2018 6:38:38 AM PDT by simpson96
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To: simpson96

The Royal Wedding , mixed race just like all the ads on TV ,LOL


12 posted on 05/21/2018 6:39:39 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: Da Coyote

Can’t top that.


13 posted on 05/21/2018 6:40:05 AM PDT by Rappini (Compromise has its place. It's called second.)
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To: liberalh8ter; Da Coyote

WGARP?


14 posted on 05/21/2018 6:41:01 AM PDT by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives - ban gun free zones)
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To: simpson96

meh

Dan Cathy came from Jonesboror. South of the ATL. Very small town

Eat more chikin


15 posted on 05/21/2018 6:46:06 AM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: simpson96
“The media just had to connect the two of them somehow.”

Right. No real connection, just coincidence. Any excuse to try to keep relevant/adore Big Mike.

Just anther version of 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.

No 2 people are more than 6 aquaintance links apart

16 posted on 05/21/2018 6:47:53 AM PDT by mountn man (The Pleasure You Get From Life, Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It)
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To: simpson96

> Michelle Obama and Meghan Markle both can trace their families to the same Georgia town <

Big deal. I can trace my family back to the same continent as Charlemagne.


17 posted on 05/21/2018 6:52:51 AM PDT by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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To: cvan65 vet

Volumes spoken there.


18 posted on 05/21/2018 6:53:50 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: simpson96

I can trace my ancestry to the beginnings of the universe.

So what?


19 posted on 05/21/2018 6:55:21 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: simpson96

I could be wrong...it’s distinctly possible that I am...but my gut tells me that Harry’s made a mistake.


20 posted on 05/21/2018 6:55:44 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (You Say "White Privilege"...I Say "Protestant Work Ethic")
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