Dear Kenn, What a great find! It's wonderful when you learn, quite unexpectedly, that you are related to someone as famous as Mark Twain. Since reading your email, I have been looking through the Eula Angle Ferguson book trying to determine how the Moorman and Angle families are related. So far I don't see a documented connection other than the statement the author wrote on p. 192, at the end of the second paragraph: "Thomas Moorman ... bought land in Bedford County ... and in 1769 moved his family there ... It is this family of Moorman that several members were remembered by the Wills and Angle families." Do you know how the Moorman and Angle families are related? Carol Shirley, Kenn wrote: > 30 May 2005 > > Windswept Hill, Ferrum, VA > > > > Dear Franklin County Researchers, > > > > Sometimes one gets surprised in doing genealogical research when one > least expects it. When I started my family research about two years > ago, like many neophytes, I was more concerned with my family's direct > lines than the collateral ones. As I have learned more, I have realized > the value of including as many related people as possible as there are > always unseen links. Late the other evening I was working on my wife's > side of the family. I was adding the children and grandchildren of > Thomas Moorman (1705-1767) and Rachel Clark (1714-1792). I entered > their daughter, Rachel Moorman who married Stephen Googins and their > daughter Parmelia Goggins (1775-1845) who married Samuel Clemens > (1770-1805). It was late as most of my internet research is done during > those quiet hours and I remarked that it was cool that this Mr. Clemens > had a similar name to the famed author who later uses the name of Mark > Twain. I went to bed, but the next morning, was looking at Eula > Fergueson Angle's book where she mentions that the Goggins/Clemens > couple were the grandparents of Samuel Langhorne Clemens. I could not > believe it! In order to get other evidence, I goggled Samuel Langhorne > Clemens and his family. I found a site dedicated to his genealogy and > again, he was traced by to the Parmelia Goggins and Samuel Clemens. > > > > The upshot of all of this is that Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) > is my wife's 3 cousin, 5 times removed. Their shared common ancestors > are Thomas Moorman and Rachel Clark. They are my wife's 6 great > grandparents and Mark Twain's 2 great grandparents. Of course, that is > so extreme as to hardly count, but it is fun to know. > > > > I was reminded anew of how one nugget can change much or add a totally > different perspective. I also learned that it might be wise to review > any and all work done past midnight! I always enjoy reading the posting > of you other folks and what you are learning. Thought I would just > share a minor experience with you this morning. Have a great holiday! > > > > Kenn M. Shirley > > > > > > ==== VAFRANKL Mailing List ==== > Please Visit the Franklin Co. Web Site > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vafrankl/franklin.htm > >