The Ancestors of Meghan Markle

Royal and noble genealogy is one of my passions. If there is anything that can be researched in Ancestry I am a very happy person. I used several sources and existing online genealogies for this list of Meghan Markle’s ancestors. Where I was able to I verified the information given in these genealogies. Sometimes I agreed with findings by others, sometimes I didn’t. The newspaper Daily Mail for example provided some lovely articles with basic facts, but often years or dates were given that weren’t or couldn’t be right. Sometimes documents, surely in the 19th century provided a variety of years of birth. I am pretty sure about the right identification of Isaac Markle, but not about his ancestors. Genealogies online came up with several possibilities (although probably related), so I’ve decided not to list any parents for him.

As this is only internet research, and there are many archives and documents I wasn’t able to check, I do not claim this genealogy to be complete or even correct. It is good to know that researchers of the New England Historic Genealogical Society in the USA is apparently working on it. They have already announced that Meghan is a descendant of King Edward III of England (1312-1377).

My biggest surprise was that her maternal great-grandmother actually had the same name as I have!

Meghan’s ancestors

1. Rachel Meghan Markle (* Los Angeles 4 August 1981), married first 16 August 2011 (div. Los Angeles 2013) Trevor Engelson.

Her parents

2. Thomas Wayne Markle (18 July 1944-). First married Roslyn Loveless; m. 2) Self-Realisation Fellowship Temple, Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles 23 December 1979 (divorced March 1987/or 1988)
3. Doria Loyce Ragland (2 September 1956-)

Her grandparents

4. Gordon Arnold Markle (Juniata, Pennsylvania, 22 March 1918-Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania 1978/79), m. York, Pennsylvania, 13 March 1941
5. Doris Mary Rita Sanders (West Alton, New Hampshire, 28 July 1920-Los Angeles, California, 25 November 2011)
6. Alvin Azell(a) Ragland (21 February 1929 or 1930-Los Angeles, California?, 12 March 2011). Married secondly 1983 Ava Burrow/Wrice; m. 1) ca. 1955/56 (div.)
7. Jeanette Arnold (Sandusky/Homiville, Ohio, 4 September 1929-California 27 December 2000). First married to Joseph Johnson.

Her great-grandparents

8. Isaac Thomas Markle “Papa Ike” (Sagon, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, 13 August 1891-Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 14 December 1972)
9. Ruth Ann(e) Arnold (Millerstown RD, Pennsylvania, 6 November 1892-Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 9 July 1963)
10. Fred(erick) George Sanders (Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire, 11 July 1873-Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire, 9 July 1944) m. Gilford, Belknap County, New Hampshire, 5 September 1907
11. Gertrude May Merrill (Meredith, Belknap County, New Hampshire, 16 June 1887-11 February 1938)
12. Steve R. Ragland (Georgia 8 April 1908-Los Angeles, California 7 May 1983), m. Tennessee 1929
13. Louise “Lois” Russell (Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1913/14?-)
14. James Arnold m. (div.)
15. Nettie M. Allen. She married two more times.

Her great-great-grandparents

16. George Benjamin Markle (Seven Stars, Juniata County, Pennsylvania, 30 January 1863/June 1864-Liverpool Township, Perry, Pennsylvania, 1 March 1923) m. 23 September 1886
17. Mary Jane Mangle (Juniata County, Pennsylvania, 15 March 1867-Sagon, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, 8 September 1899)
18. Adam A. Arnold (Pennsylvania 6 January 1863-Millersburg, Upper Paxton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 19 September 1941) m. Juniata County, Pennsylvania, 14 June 1887
19. Martha Jane Sykes “Mattie” (Perry County, Pennsylvania, 6 January 1867-Millersburg, Upper Paxton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 21 June 1942)
20. George Sanders (Essex, England, 15 April 1841-Lakeport, New Hampshire, 12 April 1920) m. Gilford, Belknap County, New Hampshire, 11 January 1869
21. Maria Ellsworth (Wentworth, New Hampshire 11 July 1841-Lakeport, New Hampshire, 10 April 1920)
22. George David Merrill (Center Harbor, New Hampshire, 25 July 1861-Lakeport, New Hampshire, 5 May 1924), m. Meredith, Belknap, New Hampshire, 25 February 1883
23. Mary Bird (Island of Malta 3 May 1862-Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire 26 June 1925).
24. Jeremiah M. “Jerry” Ragland (Jonesboro, Clayton County, Georgia, 6 September 1881/1883-Walden’s Hospital, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 4 October 1944). 1883 according to the death certificate.
25. Claudie/Claudia Ritchie (Jonesboro, Clayton County, Georgia, 20 February 1885-1141 West Terrace, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 28 March 1939)
26. James Cunagan Russell (Jonesboro, Georgia, 10 October 1873-after 1940) m. Madison, Alabama, 31 December 1903 (?),
27. Virginia Lee Betts (Alabama, November 1882-Chattanooga, Tennessee, 10 December 1921)
28.
29.
30.
31.

Her great-great-great-grandparents

32. Isaac Markle (Pennsylvania-Pennsylvania 12 May 1899). Dates not sure, but he had a son called George and a daughter called Rebecca, although he at the time of his death was married to Mary Hannah. m. (div.?)
33. Leah Reisenberg (Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, 2 December 1844-)
34. Thomas Mangle (Juniata County, Pennsylvania, 13 November 1846-Centerville, RD Liverpool, Pennsylvania, 21 May 1925), m. 1866
35. Louisa Long (Pennsylvania 24 July 1842-Liverpool, Perry, Pennsylvania, 30 November 1919)
36. Adam Arnold (Pennsylvania 1834-)
37. Mary Musick (Pennsylvania-)
38. Thomas Sykes (England-). Name father according to Martha Jane’s death certificate. Other sources say his name should be William Sykes.
39. Mary Ann Short (Garnsbro, Lincolnshire, England, 30 October 1835-28 July 1907). Name mother according to Martha Jane’s death certificate. Some sources say it should be Sharp.
40. John/George Sanders
41. Elesebeth (Elizabeth Raynor?)
42. George Ellsworth (Wentworth, New Hampshire ca. 1809-New Hampshire 29 October 1882) m. Dorchester, New Hampshire
43. Ph(o)ebe H. Palmer (New Hampshire ca. 1806-New Hampshire 24 June 1855), aged 49
44. Jacob Lee Merrill (Holderness, New Hampshire 24 March 1818-Meredith, New Hampshire, 1 July 1889), m. 1842
45. Mary Bessie/Hussey Smith (Center Harbor, Belknap County, New Hampshire 20 March 1823-Center Harbor, Belknap County, New Hampshire 1 August 1908)
46. Thomas Bird (England-), shoe maker according to his daughter’s death certificate
47. Mary Smith (Ireland-)
48. Steve(n) Ragland (Jonesboro, Georgia ca. 1848-Paulding County, Georgia, 31 October 1926)
49. Mahalia Texas Henrick “Texie” (Heard County, Georgia, October 1853-Brooks County, Georgia, 2 March 1937).
50. .. Ritchie
51. Mattie Turnipseed or Henderson (Clayton County, Georgia, 1889-Clayton County, Georgia, 29 April 1919)
52. Lewis Russell (Georgia-)
53. Emily .. (Georgia-Georgia)
54. Jacob Betts (Alabama 1856-Madison, Madison County, Alabama, 20 March 1909)
55. Ida Biskly Sowers (Limestone County, Alabama, 1860/61 or ca. 1867-Chattanooga, Tennessee, 29 September 1921)
56.
57
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.

Her great-great-great-great-grandparents

64. different genealogies, different possibilities apparently. The magazine Bunte says this is Conrad Markel (Pennsylvania (1809-), son of Johann Markel who in the late 18th century emigrated from Germany. *
65. Catherine Hovis, who had ancestors in Prussia and Switzerland.
66.
67.
68. Daniel Mangle, until mid 1800s Mengle/Mengel/Mingle (Berks or Mt. Pleasant Mills, Snyder County, Pennsylvania 7 February 1814-Liverpool, Perry, Pennsylvania, 20 July 1873)
69. Catherine Long (Mt. Pleasant Mills, Snyder, Pennsylvania, 3 March 1819-Liverpool, Perry, Pennsylvania, 13 March 1855)
70. John C. Long (Pennsylvania 1 October 1819-30 January 1899)
71. Suzanna/Susan/Susannah Charles (Pennsylvania 13 October 1821-Liverpool, Perry, Pennsylvania, 26 December 1901)
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
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81.
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84.
85.
86.
87.
88. David Merrill (Plymouth, New Hampshire, 12 November 1768-Holderness, New Hampshire, 31 January 1859) m. 16 February 1806
89. Sarah H. Lee (Ossipee Mountain, Moultonborough County, New Hampshire/Ossipee, Carroll County, New Hampshire, 1778-New Hampshire 1847)
90. John Smith (New Hampton, Belknap County, New Hampshire, 31 December 1792-Meredith, Belknap County, New Hampshire, 16 September 1866), m. New Hampton, Belknap County, New Hampshire, 25 December 1817,
91. Mary Polly Mudgett (Center Harbor, Belknap County, New Hampshire, 16 January 1797-Meredith, Belknap County, New Hampshire, 30 June 1869)
92.
93.
94.
95.
96. Richard Ragland
97. Mary
98. John Jackson Hendrick (Henry County, Georgia, 22 January 1822-Heard County, Georgia, 31 March 1915)
99. Mary Elizabeth Jane Wood (Morgan County, Georgia, 27 April 1828-Heard County, Georgia, 12 May 1919)
100.
101.
102. Tom Turnipseed (Georgia, ca. 1850/60-Clayton County, Georgia, 16 June 1931?), parents were from South Carolina. m. ca. 1880/90,
103. Dolly McElroy (Georgia ca. 1856/65-Clayton County, Georgia, 21 September 1943?), father from Georgia, mother from South Carolina.
104.
105.
106.
107.
108. Joseph Betts (1819-)
109. Catherine (1825-)
110. Oliver Sowers (1830-)
111. Louise Townsell (1830-)
112.
113.
114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
120.
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127.

* Conrad Markle according to the US Census of 1860 lived in Monroe, Juniata County, Pennsylvania, together with his wife Cath(arine), his children Henry (aged 22), Leah (aged 18), Catharine (aged 15), William (aged 10) and Emmanuel (aged 3). Nr 33. Leah Reisenberg with her parents lived very nearby at the time. They’re in the same list even, but I haven’t found any Isaac of the right age listed in this census. There were several Markle families living in Juniata Country at the time, probably related to each other.

Sources:

4 thoughts on “The Ancestors of Meghan Markle

  1. Sorry I sent the wrong info previously. 32 is Isaac d. 1899 and his will names son George and Rebecca. Both of which name him as their father and Leah as their mother on their own death certificates.
    So 64 is correct as Conrad living 1860 in Juniata PA and son of Johann Heinrich Markel 1772-1853.
    64 Therefore is

  2. I was checking out Meghan Markle’s maternal great grandparents (Doria’s grandparents) and they were actually half-siblings. SAME mother but different father. I have specific birth and death dates if you’d like to bring her true geneology up to date.

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