Just so I don’t lose it, a note on the genealogy of the writer Frederic Whyte (1867-1941), who was both my first cousin thrice removed and my second cousin twice removed, both links via his father.

It turns out that there’s another link, and it’s another two steps sideways and one up; Frederic was my fourth cousin once removed via his mother. She was born Mary Jane Comyn in Holywell, near Kilfenora in County Clare, in 1834 and lived to 1912. Her mother, Margaret Helena Skerritt (1806–1879) was the second cousin of her husband, Henry Frederick Whyte (1830–1883).

Margaret Skerritt’s mother, Mary Jane Roche (1774–1821) was the first cousin of Henry Whyte’s father, Edward Whyte (1785–1837), the guy who got the law rewritten so that he could be both a Catholic and a naval officer.

Mary Roche’s mother, Margaret Whyte (1745?-1805) was the sister of Edward Whyte’s father, John Whyte (1752-1814). Both were children of Charles Whyte (1714-1784) and Anastasia O’Dunne (born ?1732, date of death not known).

So Frederic Whyte’s parents were second cousins once removed. They would probably have known it too.