BOSTON (AP) — Whether or not they find any common political ground, President Barack Obama and Massachusetts’ newly elected senator, Republican Scott Brown, will always have their family ties.
The New England Historic Genealogical Society says the two go way back, to a Richard Singletary of Haverhill, Mass.
Singletary, like his two descendants, held public office, serving as a town selectman in both Salisbury and Haverhill in the 1650s. He died in 1687 at the age of 102.
The genealogists trace the connection through both men’s mothers and says it makes Obama and Brown 10th cousins.
Two years ago, the society connected Obama to seven past presidents, including both Presidents Bush, and to Brad Pitt. It says Brown is related to six prior presidents, including the Bushes and Richard Nixon.
Brown says he’s “glad to be in such distinguished company.”