Did your ancestor stay and become a Real American, with heirs, or go back
home to Britain? [DSH]
He stayed in the US with heirs who married into the Washingtons. His aunt
was my ancestress and she stayed in England. Some of her Metcalfe
children also settled in Virginia leaving heirs as did some of her
brother's children. [Renia]
It seems he is not really your ancestor then -- simply a relative, a
cousin. [DSH]
Ancestor, inasmuch as he was a member of the family living several
generations before me. [Renia] [sic]
If I had said "relative", you might think it was a contemporary relative.
Hence the use of the word "ancestor".
Hilarius Magnus Cum Laude!
Improper use of the word ANCESTOR -- in any sort of Genealogical Sense.
COLLECTIVELY -- a Brit might say, or write, "The Britons are our ancestors"
or a modern resident of Tunisia might say, or write, "The Carthaginians are
our ancestors."
But it is a VERY SLOPPY use of English to talk of someone who was simply the
NEPHEW of someone who IS your ancestor/ancestress -- and call him an
ANCESTOR -- rather than a COUSIN, a RELATIVE, a GREAT-GRANDUNCLE. or some
other appropriate term.
Sloppy English, Renia...
You used to work as a Sub Editor of a newspaper, _The Argus_ -- correcting
Bad, Sloppy, Imprecise English. You Should Know Better...
Bad Girl...
You Deserve A Good Spanking...
DSH
Lux et Veritas et Libertas
Veni, Vidi, Calcitravi Asinum
Deus Vult