Andrew “Andy” Samuel Griffith is my 18th cousin 2x removed. That ancestor who connects us as relative is Eleanor Plantagenet Fitzalan de Beaumont (1311 – 1372), my 17th great grandmother.

Andy Samuel Griffith was born on June 1, 1926 and died on July 3, 2012. He had been an American actor, comedian, television producer, Southern gospel singer, and writer whose career spanned seven decades in music and television.

Recognized for his southern drawl, his characters with a folksy-friendly personality, and his gruff, gregarious voice, Griffith was a Tony Award nominee for 2 roles, and gained prominence within the starring role in director Elia Kazan’s film A Face when you look at the Crowd (1957) before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead roles of Andy Taylor within the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968) and Ben Matlock into the legal drama Matlock (1986–1995).

My genealogical chart show the ancestor who connects us as relatives:

ANDREW SAMUEL (ANDY) GRIFFITH (1926 – 2012)
18th cousin 2x removed

Carl Lee Griffith (1894 – 1975)
Father of ANDREW SAMUEL (ANDY) GRIFFITH

Sarah Frances Taylor (1872 – 1958) Mother of Carl Lee Griffith
Henry Clayton Taylor (1843 – 1900) Father of Sarah Frances Taylor

Sarah E. Taylor (1811 – 1907)
Mother of Henry Clayton Taylor

Nancy Williams (1787 – 1866)
Mother of Sarah E. Taylor

Frances Strange (1767 – 1794)
Mother of Nancy Williams

Elizabeth Sisson
Mother of Frances Strange

Hannah Parker (1706 – )
Mother of Elizabeth Sisson

Richard Parker (1670 – )
Father of Hannah Parker

Richard Parker , Dr. (1630 – 1683)
Father of Richard Parker

Katherine Buller (1600 – 1686)
Mother of Richard Parker , Dr.

Richard Buller , Sir (1578 – 1642)
Father of Katherine Buller

Francis Buller (1545 – 1616)
Father of Richard Buller , Sir

Margaret Jane Trethruffe (1505 – 1576)
Mother of Francis Buller

Thomas Trethruffe (1478 – 1529)
Father of Margaret Jane Trethruffe

Elizabeth Courtenay (1447 – )
Mother of Thomas Trethruffe

Hugh de Courtenay , Sir (1414 – 1471)
Father of Elizabeth Courtenay

Maude de Beaumont (1388 – 1467)
Mother of Hugh de Courtenay , Sir

John Beaumont (1361 – 1396)
Father of Maude de Beaumont

Henry de Beaumont (1340 – 1369)
Father of John Beaumont

Eleanor Plantagenet Fitzalan de Beaumont (1311 – 1372)
Mother of Henry de Beaumont