Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Official: Major is related to Thatcher . . . and so am I

Catherine Milner
Sunday 15 May 1994 00:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

JOHN Major and Margaret Thatcher are fifth cousins once removed, writes Catherine Milner. Their common ancestors are John Crust and his wife Elizabeth, who farmed in Leake, near Boston, Lincolnshire, in the mid-18th century. The name Crust means 'hard and stubborn'.

Another descendant of the couple - Geoffrey Crust, a 49-year-old merchant seaman and Country and Western songwriter - still lives in Boston. He is fourth cousin once removed to Baroness Thatcher and a sixth cousin to Mr Major; but he has never met either.

The discovery was made last week by Paul Penn-Simkins, a genealogist. He tracked down Mr Crust, who had traced his family tree with the help of a researcher at Lincoln public records office.

Mr Crust, who has been married three times and has nine children, is a Tory voter. But he does not think Mr Major is much of a Crust. 'He's too dry,' he said, 'too quiet. I don't think he's got much of our blood - he hasn't got enough drive or toughness. Margaret Thatcher's more a Crust than him.'

As recently as the mid-19th century, Mr Major's ancestors and Lady Thatcher's lived just yards from each other in Boston. Both were called Samuel Crust: one was an iron fettler, the other a corn porter.

Full story, pages 22,23

(Photograph omitted)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in