President Obama related to Sen.-elect Scott Brown

President Barack Obama and Sen.-elect Scott Brown (R-Mass.) are distant cousins.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society stated that Obama and Brown are 10th cousins, according to the Boston Globe. Their connection stems from their mothers. Obama’s mother and Brown’s mother are descendants of Richard Singletary of Haverhill.

The group also looks at public figures’ ties to former presidents. Obama is tied to seven presidents and Brown is connected to six. Obama is also related to former vice president Dick Cheney. The Chicago Sun Times reported the distant cousin link in 2007. Cheney and Obama both share the same ancestors---Mareen and Susannah Duvall, French immigrants from the 17th century.

The research was led by genealogists Chris Child and David Allen Lambert. Child has been a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society since he was 11 years old.