(Oct 3, 2008) As U.S. President George W. Bush prepares to leave
one of the most controversial presidencies in history, he might
consider that his legacy begins at least better than that of his
relatives who participated in 1692 with the Salem Witch Trials,
according to a trials researcher.
David Nelson, the owner of the family-history group Bloodlines of
Salem (http://www.bloodlinesofsalem.org/), said on Oct. 3 that the
president is an 8th great-grandson of Mary Parker who was hanged
during the trials. But, his trials relationship with numerous other
participants surprised Nelson more so.
"Because so many trials participants lived in the relatively
unpopulated parts of the Salem area, their descendants are often
surprised to learn that they're related to several participants who
might have opposed each other during the trials, but whose families
married later," Nelson said. "But, the president is the most related
descendant I've researched.