September 12 was Defenders Day in Maryland, celebrating the US victory at Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 and the creation of the American national anthem. In honor
of that day, wikitree.com advised that I am:

13 degrees from Francis Key
12 degrees from Caleb Bentley
20 degrees from Thomas Brisbane VIth of Brisbane
16 degrees from Francis Dade
15 degrees from William Harrison
17 degrees from Andrew Jackson
16 degrees from Dolley Madison
17 degrees from Oliver Perry
18 degrees from Mary Pickersgill
14 degrees from Laura Secord
13 degrees from John Stricker
20 degrees from Arthur Wakefield

More about them:

Francis Scott Key, composer of the words to the US national anthem, "The Star Spangled
Banner," detailing what he witnessed at the defense of Fort McHenry.

Caleb Bentley, silversmith who temporarily hosted President Madison and the US government when the British burned the White House during the war.

Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, British commander in a major offensive to take Lake
Champlain. Namesake of Brisbane, Australia.

Francis Langhorne Dade, served under General Andrew Jackson during the war and later
had Miami-Dade County, Florida named after him.

William Harrison, Major General during the war and later served as US President.

Andrew Jackson, another future US President, known for the Battle of New Orleans.

Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison and First Lady during the war. With the
aid of her personal servant, Paul Jennings, she helped save many precious items from
the White House before it was burned, including the portrait of President George
Washington.

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, US Navy commander who fought on Lake Erie. He is
famous for his quote, "We have met the enemy and they are ours," and his "Don't Give
Up the Ship" battle flag.

Mary Pickersgill, made the famous Star-Spangled Banner Flag flown over Fort McHenry
during the Battle of Baltimore.

Laura Secord, Canadian heroine of the war famous for her 20-mile walk through enemy
lines to warn the British command of a pending American attack.

John Stricker, Maryland state militia officer who fought in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

Arthur Wakefield, Royal Navy officer and part of the force that captured and burnt
Washington, DC, during the war.

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I have some ancestors that were actors, architects, astronauts, Afro-American, authors, bank robbers, boxers, comedians, detectives, ghosts, holocaust survivors
Indian chiefs, pro hockey players, singers and musicians, painters, physicians,
politicians, poets, popes, writers, WW I heroes. I guess that I am a collection of
all of them, as we ALL are.

https://www.wikitree.com helps me gather this information with their weekly newsletters. It is totally free and very useful to genealogists.

If you would like to find your connections to famous people, you can start by giving me some basic information by going to:

https://www.hobbyline.com/genealogy_web_design.htm
and click on the 'Request Form' link.

I have researched the ancestry for many persons interested in their family history,
and I would love to see how WE are related.

Mike Dippel
https://bbs-list.net
List Your BBS For Free

* Origin: The Hobby Line! BBS - hobbylinebbs.com (3:712/1321.5)