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Position:Home>Genealogy> Could someone help me explain how i am related to my 4th cousin?


Question:im trying to explain how i am related to my pastor who is my 4th cousin


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: im trying to explain how i am related to my pastor who is my 4th cousin

easy-
1st cousins have the same grandparents
2nd cousins have the same gr grandparents
3rd cousins have the same gr gr grandparents
4th cousins ............. gr gr gr grandparents.
The gr gr grandparent is the ancestor in common.
If he is not into genealogy, please, save him from getting worried about once removeds and all that. Or, send him here, we'll get him working on genealogy, and offer him a computer program to track it all.

Each increment of cousin-hood moves you back one generation in having a common progenitor.
Cousins have the same grandfather (their parents are brother and sister)
Second cousins have the same great-grandfather.
So fourth cousins have a common great-great-great-grandfather. Two of his children started lines of successors that lead to you and the pastor.

Wendy gave an excellent explanation I just thought you might like to have a look at this chart.
http://genealogy.about.com/library/nrela...
Hope this helps.

First cousins have a common set of grandparents. Second cousins have a common set of great grand parents. Third cousins have a common set of great great grandparents. Fourth cousins have a common set of great great great grandparents.
Your most recent common ancestors are exactly five generations back.

Fourth cousins huh? Pretty cool!

Wendy c has it nailed, she is exactly right.