The Mullins and Bonner families are related to 3 American presidents and one First Lady . . . plus a 4th president, by marriage.
President George Washington
President George Washington (1732-1799) was the 3rd cousin of James Philemon Holcombe. Our common ancestor is Augustine Warner (1610-1674), to whom we are related through the Woodson family.
First Lady Dolley Payne Madison
The First Lady in the Mullins family tree is Dorothea “Dolley” Payne Madison (1768-1849), who was the 3rd cousin of Martha Venable (1751-1826), daughter of Abraham Venable II. The relationship between Dolley Madison and Martha Venable is through Dolley Madison’s father, John Payne. Dolley Madison’s mother, Mary Coles, was from a prominent Virginia family whose relations included Patrick Henry.
Dolley Payne Madison, wife of President James Madison, was the First Lady from 1809-1817.
Earlier, she often served as a stand-in First Lady during the administration of Thomas Jefferson, who was a close friend and relative by marriage. Jefferson’s wife, Jane Randolph Jefferson, had died in 1776.
Dolley was known for her social gifts. Her talent as a hostess helped define the role of the First Lady.
President Thomas Jefferson
Our relationship to President Thomas Jefferson is through marriage. A Woodson cousin of ours, Col. John Woodson (1730-1789), married Dorothea Randolph (1732-1794). Thomas Jefferson was Dorothea’s nephew: she was the sister of Thomas Jefferson’s mother, Jane Isham Randolph (1720-1776).
Col. Woodson was a great great grandson of our ancestor Dr. John Woodson. He was a 2nd cousin of Elizabeth Michaux (1731-1801), daughter of Abraham Michaux, qualifying ancestor for the Huguenot Society. It is interesting to speculate whether the Michaux family was aware of their connection to the third president, and whether they might have known him. They even might have been considered family by the Jeffersons.
President John Tyler
Our third presidential relation is the tenth U.S. President John Tyler (1790-1862). Tyler was the 4th cousin of Martin Luther Hawkins (1788-1840). Our common ancestor is Walter Chiles II (1608-1671), qualifying ancestor for the Jamestowne Society and the Society of Colonial Wars.
President John Tyler was elected vice president in 1840 on the Whig ticket with President William Henry Harrison. Their campaign slogan, based on Harrison’s 1811 military victory over Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, was one of the most famous in American political history, “Tippecanoe and Tyler too.” It is striking that a military victory over Indians was a major campaign bragging point in 1840.
Tyler became the first vice president to take over after the death of a president when Harrison contracted pneumonia and died one month after taking office. Tyler’s one-term Presidency was politically tumultuous for many reasons and in 1844 he agreed to step aside and support James Polk’s successful candidacy.
Tyler is best remembered for bringing Texas into the Union. Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836, founding the Republic of Texas—although Mexico never accepted the declaration. Tyler spent 4 years trying to convince both Texans and members of Congress that the independent territory should become a state. He finally succeeded just before the end of his term in 1845, and Texas joined the Union as the 28th state.
President William McKinley
Our final presidential relation is through the McKinlay’s of Callander, Scotland—President William McKinley (1843-1901). He was the 5th cousin once removed of Robert John Bonner (1868-1946). Our common ancestor was John McKinlay (1645-?).
McKinley was the last President to have served in the Union Army in the Civil War. He led the nation to victory in the Spanish-American War and maintained the gold standard. He was assassinated by an anarchist on September 6, 1901, at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.
President Woodrow Wilson
Elisha Wilson believed that his family was related to President Woodrow Wilson, but so far, our research has not uncovered any connection between the two Wilson families.
We leave the question of which vice-presidents might be family relations to the next generation of genealogists!
© 2013 W. Mullins