My point being (more of a question): is it enough to have one ancestor on each side in order to claim original settler status?
I have some ancestors who fought Indians in the Great Lake regions back in the 1600s, others who came later or married someone who came later.
A person normally has four grandparents, eight greats, sixteen great-greats, 32, 64, etc.. so if we're talking 1600s, that's a lot of ancestors.
I guess a person could have several ancestors who came over on the Mayflower and yet still not be natural born if one parent was born elsewhere?
My grandfather was a solid American but they happened to be in Durban SA when my father was born.
> My grandfather was a solid American but they happened to be in Durban SA when my father was born.
Cool! That makes you an African-American! Cash in on it!
No of course not! I hope I didn’t imply that. I was just naming my oldest known ancestors on each side, but for the record I think all of my family was here by the early to mid-1700s. Offhand I can’t think of a branch coming later than that.