Determining the genealogy of celebrities has become an odd pop-cultural phenomenon as of late, and wouldn’t you know it, last October the New England Historic Genealogical Society did some digging and determined that Matt ‘n’ Ben are 10th cousins (once removed). Their common relative was an Ipswich bricklayer in the 1600s. Now, I know what you’re thinking… sounds familiar!
I didn’t want the job.
SEAN
It’s not about that job. I’m not
saying you should work for the
government. But, you could do anything
you want. And there are people who
work their whole lives layin’ brick
so their kids have a chance at the
kind of opportunity you have. What
do you want to do?
WILL
I didn’t ask for this.
SEAN
Nobody gets what they ask for, Will.
That’s a cop-out.
WILL
Why is it a cop-out? I don’t see
anythin’ wrong with layin’ brick,
that’s somebody’s home I’m buildin’.
Or fixin’ somebody’s car, somebody’s
gonna get to work the next day ’cause
of me. There’s honor in that.
So bricklaying is in their blood. This raises the question, though: which relative is the shepherd?
The Boston Herald (Media Center) made you a handy family tree graphic — cut it out and put on your refrigerator, or tuck away in your wallet for quick and easy reference. Also, the NEHGS put out a press release [pdf] on the matter; read the relevant excerpt below:
October 9, 2009 (Boston, MA) – Researchers at the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) recently uncovered family lines that link the Hollywood duo. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are 10th cousins, once removed. Both are decendents of William Knowlton, Jr. (1615-1655) of Ipswich, MA.
William Knowlton Jr. was born in England and arrived with his parents to the U.S. in the early 1630s. He was bricklayer by trade. William Jr.’s two children that Affleck and Damon descend from are Thomas and Mary Knowlton, born in the 1640s.
The Hollywood duo each descends from Knowlton’s two children; Affleck from Knowlton’s son Thomas, and Damon from daughter Mary. Working on the research were NEHGS staff genealogists Chris Child, who specializes in early New England and Presidential research, and Rhonda McClure, who has done genealogical research for many celebrities. Longtime NEHGS genealogist Gary Boyd Roberts also contributed to the research.
Affleck, who was born in California but grew up in Boston, is also related to 16 U.S Presidents including Barack Obama, as well as the late Princess Diana.
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