There is an unfortunate tendency for fantasy to enter into genealogical
searches. A European born co-worker of mine commented on how all Americans
seem to be descended from Old World nobility Of course some people actually
are but as somebody pointed out as a rule 'Dukes don't emigrate'. Personally
I am delighted to say that *my* ancestors were honest peasants looking to own
their own land as there are very few royal families I'd care to be connected
with, (no offense meant to those with such unfortunate ancestry!).

But it's not just royal descents. There is also a tendency to posthumously
promote one's forbearers. I think it was writer Shelby Foote, (of 'the Civil
War' fame) who dedicated his narrative history of that war to his great great
grandfather, who apparently was the only private in the Army of Northern
Virginia.

On the other hand people are seldom as upset by 'black sheep' nowadays as they
were a few generations ago. I once knew a girl who was proud of her descent from
a long line of cattle rustlers, which according to her was a family tradition
going back to the Old country where they'd rustled sheep. Then there was the
woman who upset her father-in-law by discovering one of his forbearers had been
shot by Wyatt Earp. I think it's fair to say that most people of our generation
and later ones would be thrilled to find themselves descended from an Old West
outlaw who died in a shootout with a famous lawman - I know I would!