Until I was several years into our Family Forest project, I would have bet that I had less of a chance of being descended from saints than being struck by lightening or winning the lottery. From the little I knew about saints, I didn't even picture them having children.

But it now appears that I am descended from at least a baker's dozen of saints. A 50 generation ancestor view of immigrant ancestor Anne Lovelace, who I believe is my ancestor as well as the ancestor of millions of other Americans, shows that according to recorded history she was descended (usually in multiple lines) from King David I the Saint of Scotland, Saint Margaret Atheling, Duke Leopold III the Saint of Austria, King Saint Olave II of Norway, Saint Matilda of Ringleheim, King Saint Olave III of Sweden, Princess Saint Elgiva, Saint Olga, Saint Hermengild, Saint Clothilde of Burgundy, Saint Ode, King Ferdinand III the Saint of Castile & Leon, and Bishop Saint Arnolph of Metz.

A 60 generation ancestor view of Governor George W. Bush shows that according to recorded history he was descended (usually in multiple lines) from King David I the Saint of Scotland, Saint Margaret Atheling, King Saint Canute the Pious of Wendon, Saint Matilda of Ringleheim, King Saint Olave III of Sweden, Princess Saint Elgiva, Saint Olga, Saint Hermengild, Saint Clothilde of Burgundy, Saint Ode, and Bishop Saint Arnolph of Metz.

Tens of thousands of other people in the A&E Family Forest, people who are the ancestors of countless millions of people living today, have ancestor views that will also show this many or more saints.

The next time you are in a museum looking at a painting of a saint, consider the possibility that you are looking at someone you would have called grandmother or grandfather (preceded by some number of "greats").

Family Forest® - A People-Centered Approach to History®