The Four Famous Descendants of Richard Miles (1654-1713)

My 8th great-grandfather Richard Miles, son of James Miles & Katherine Brimer, was born in 1654 in Wales. He immigrated to America in 1683, arriving and settling in Pennsylvania. On April 28, 1688, Richard married Sarah Evans (1666-1756) in Radnor, Pennsylvania. Together, Richard and Sarah would have at least 12 children and among those 12 children, at least 3 would have descendants who would be known to the world on the "big screen" and one FIrst Lady.

1. Mary Miles (1688-1770)

2. Richard Miles Jr. (1689-1734) *

3. Jane Miles (1693-1756)

4. Joanna Miles (1693-1756) *

5. Abigail Miles (1695-1734)

6. Sarah Miles (1697-1753) * *

7. Hannah Miles (1699-1953)

8. John Miles (1700-1757)

9. Evan Miles (1701-1772)

10. James Miles II (1705-1784)

11. Mary Miles II (1706-1794)

12. Joseph Miles (1707-1768)

~Richard Miles Jr. (1689-1734) & wife Phebe Davis (1700-1766)

    - Joseph Miles (1725-1770) & wife Susanna Moore (1729-1770)

        - Richard Douglas Miles (1760-1829) & wife Edna Rae Wells (1768-1841)

            - Richard Miles (1790-1834) & wife Margaret (1794-1834)

                - Elbert Miles (1812-1885) & wife Amelia Lang Mims (1812-1887)

                    - Elbert Milton Miles (1848-1886) & wife Julia W. Ragan (1857-1925)

                        - Lily Pearl Miles "Shelby" (1877-1957) & husband Joseph Homer Reilly

                            - Juliet Reilly "Mary Miles Minter (1902-1984) 

Juliet Reilly was an actress in the silent-era of film who went by the stage name Mary Miles Minter. She was born in 1902 in Shreveport, Louisiana to an actress mother. Mary married Brandon Ohildebrand (1898-1965) in 1958 but never had children. She died at the age of 82 in 1984 in Santa Monica, California. 

If you're looking to read more about Mary, here's a fantastic article I found: Read Here

~Joanna Miles (1691-1734) & husband John Powell (1671-1750)

    - John Bowels Powell (1720-1789) & wife Elizabeth Rachel Lee (1725-1794)

        - Edith "Edy" Powell (1765-1858) & husband John Stansell (1760-1826

            - Elizabeth Stancil (1788-1860) & husband Andrew J. Helms (1789-1860)

                - Hosea Helms (1818-1893) & wife Sarah Elizabeth Hendricks (1829-1916)

                    - Joseph Edward Helms (1866-1958) & wife Emma Barrett (1866-1958)

                        - Nolan Helms (1892-1990) & wife Bettie Ellen Davis (1896-1968)

                            - John Alvin Helms (1935-2013) & wife Pamela Ann Parker

                                - Edward Parker "Ed" Helms (b. 1974)

Ed Helms is an American comedian and actor who was one of the main characters in the movie franchise The Hangover Trilogy. He was born in 1974 in Atlanta Georgia. He is married and has two children. 

~Sarah Miles (1697-1753) & husband Benjamin Griffith (1688-1768)

    - Joseph Griffith (1734-1773) & wife Mary Jones (1740-1810)

        - Susan Griffith (1767-1827) & husband John Rudolph (1763-1848)

            - Zeb Rudolph (1803-1897) & wife Arabella Greene Mason (1810-1879)

                - Lucretia Rudolph (1832-1918) & husband President James Garfield (1831-1881)

Lucretia Rudolph was the 20th First Lady of the United States of America., being her husband was James Abram Garfield, the 20th President. They married in 1858 and had 7 children: Eliza, Harry, James, Mary, Irvin, Abram and Edward.  

~Sarah Miles (1697-1753) & husband Benjamin Griffith (1688-1768)

    - Abel Griffith (1735-1812) & wife Barbara (1738-1777)

        - Owen Griffith (1760-1823) & wife Jennie Gillespie (1746-1792)

            - Isaac Griffith (1800-1882) & wife Ruth Hale (1800-1850)

                - Tazewell Hill Griffith (1830-1898) & Lavina Boyd (1833-1923)

                    - Emeline V. "Emma" Griffith (1866-1944) & Samuel A. Sparks (1864-1936)

                           - Mattie E. Sparks (1885-1967) & James Rigsby (1882-1965)

                                - Myrtle Ellen Rigsby (1905-1986) & Eric I. Walton (1896-1978)

                                    - Beatrice Grey Walton (1927-1994) & Ernest Brown

                                        - Ernest Wilson Brown (1947-2021) & Elaine McAlpin

                                            - Blake Ellender Brown "Blake Lively" 

Actress Blake Lively has been acting since she was a teenager and after marrying actor Ryan Reynolds, the two have become the ultimate power couple in Hollywood. Blake is one of 5 child actors, thanks to their mother who is/was a agent. Her big-name siblings include: Lori Lynn Lively (various tv shows), Ronald Jason Lively (National Lampoons European Vacation), Robyn Lively (Teen Witch), and Eric Lively (various tv shows). She and husband Ryan Reynolds have 4 children: James, Inez, Betty and Olin. 

Celebrity Cousin(s)- The Lively Group

 I was excited when I found actress Blake Lively in my family tree....I was shocked to discover who her siblings are! Let's dive! 

It all starts with their mother- Elaine McAlpin, a talent agent. Elaine married Ronald Otis "Ronnie" Lively and they had 3 children-

Lori Lynn Lively- born 09 Nov 1966.

Lori is known for a number of small tv roles, but is best known for Dead Space in 1991. 

Ronald Jason "Jason" Lively- born 12 Mar 1968 

Jason is best known for his role on National Lampoons European Vacation as Rusty Griswold in 1985. This is one of my favorite movies! 

Robyn Elaine Lively- born 07 Feb 1972

Robyn is best known for her role in the 1989 teen classic Teen Witch. In 1999, she married Barton Robert "Bart" Johnson and they have 3 children: Baylen, Kate and Wyatt.

Elaine ended her relationship with Ronnie and married Ernest Wilson "Erie" Brown jr. (1947-2021). Ernie took Elaine last name and became Ernie Lively. Together, the couple had 2 children: 

Eric Lawrence Lively- born 31 Aug 1981 (born with surname Brown). 

Eric mainly did smaller roles and modeling for Abercrombie and Fitch, Levi's, and Tommy Hilfiger. He was also in the 1999 movie American Pie.

Blake Lively- born 25 Aug 1987 (born Blake Ellender Brown)

Blake is by far the most famous of the Lively siblings. In her 34 years, she's done 23 successful movies. In 2012, she married famous actor Ryan Reynolds and they have 3 daughters (with one more child due 2024)- James, Inez, Betty.

Lively siblings: my 9th cousins, 1x removed: