Dead Wrong...
This has nothing to do with differences between American and British
English, such as "elevator" and "lift" -- and everything to do with simple,
clear, cogent, concise Genealogical English for everyone.
An aunt, cousin or uncle of ANY degree [e.g., 23rd Great-Grandaunt, 17th
cousin three times removed, etc.] should NEVER be called out as an ANCESTOR
of the Root Person, by a competent Genealogist.
To do so would be Fraudulent, Charlatanistic, Sloppy and Despicable --
clearly designed to mislead and confuse the reader.
However, "ancestral great-grandaunt" and "ancestral cousin" are quite
acceptable -- when more precise data are not available.
DSH
Lux et Veritas et Libertas
"Renia" <renia@DELETEotenet.gr> wrote in message
news:fha330$2ti$4@mouse.otenet.gr...
D. Spencer Hines wrote:
Nonsense...
Bafflegab.
An aunt, uncle or cousin of any degree is not an Ancestor in Genealogy
and any attempt to portray one as an Ancestor is Fraudulent
Charlatanry...
But one may refer to them as ancestral aunts, uncles and/or cousins
without fear of condemnation.
_Ancestral_, the adjective and _Ancestor_, the noun, obviously have quite
different connotations.
Eschew Fraud, Charlatanry & Bafflegab in Genealogy, Gentle Readers.
Don't call aunts, uncles and cousins of any degree ANCESTORS.
People have Ancestors and Descendents [if they are lucky and
heterosexual], therefore there is NO need for the infantile
expressions "direct descendants" and "direct ancestors", which are
redundant and juvenile.
Because YOU say so? Brits speak Brit-English. You speak US-English. As
I've said often enough, divided by a common language.
DSH
Lux et Veritas et Libertas
Deus Vult
"Renia" <renia@DELETEotenet.gr> wrote in message
news:fh975v$n85$1@mouse.otenet.gr...
Exactly, which is why "ancestor" does just fine for any aunt or uncle so
many generations removed, regardless of whether you are a direct
descendant of them, hence the use of the term "direct descendant". The
same applies to a first or second cousin contemporary with an era under
discussion.