John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States, son of John and Abigail of Braintree (now Quincy), MA, was conscious of his heritage. Like his father, he was happy to repeat the story that his great-great-great grandfather, John Alden, was the first Mayflower passenger to set foot on Plymouth Rock. (The story comes from Alden family tradition, and competes with that of the Chilton family, which promotes Mary.) More than that, JQA thought that Hannah Bass, granddaughter of John and Priscilla Alden, was the one who added new vigor to Adams family — known for its mere "industry, sobriety, and integrity" — and thereby affected his own makeup.

On this website we have a list of distinguished people descended from Mayflower passengers, such as John Adams, Franklin Roosevelt, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Grandma" Moses, Alan Shepherd, and George W. Bush. It is tempting to expand the list. Whom would you add? What qualities does your suggested descendant possess in common with his or her Pilgrim ancestor?

What do these two well-known individuals have in common with Pilgrim Isaac Allerton (1585-1659)? Answer: General Zachary Taylor is a direct descendant of Isaac Allerton⁽¹⁾, and Robert E. Lee is collaterally related to Hancock Lee, husband of Sarah Allerton (1670-1731), granddaughter of Isaac⁽¹⁾. Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States, and Robert E. Lee was the famous general of the Confederate Army in the Civil War.

What do Marilyn Monroe, George Bush and Dr. Spock have in common? Possibly you. Visit our distinguished descendants gallery to learn who your famous cousins are. You may be surprised to discover who you have common genes with.