Ancestry of Author Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott, best known as the author of Little Women, never married and has no descendants. Her rich ancestry, however, stretches back to early America and Europe and includes many well-known people, including her father, famous transcendentalist Bronson Alcott. Many people can claim a relation to Louisa May Alcott through her siblings, cousins and other relatives.

Born on November 29, 1832 in Germantown, Pennsylvania (now a part of Philadelphia), Louisa May Alcott was the second of four girls born to Bronson Alcott and his wife, Abigail May. The March family everyone came to love in her books is based on her own family, with Louisa as her alter-ego Jo and her sisters as the other three "little women."

Louisa May Alcott died just two days after her father, on March 4, 1888 from long-term side-effects of mercury poisoning. She initially acquired this disorder from the drug calomel (which is laden with mercury) that doctors used to treat the typhoid fever she contracted while volunteering as a nurse during the Civil War. Louisa May Alcott is buried on "Authors' Ridge" in Concord's Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, with her family. Nearby, are the graves of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau.

First Generation

Reading the Ahnentafel genealogical numbering system is not difficult once you understand how this family tree is arranged.

1. Louisa May ALCOTT was born on 29 Nov 1832 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. and died on 6 Mar 1888 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Ma.

Second Generation (Parents)

2. Amos Bronson ALCOTT was born on 29 Nov 1799 in Wolcott, New Haven, Ct. and died on 4 Mar 1888. He married Abigail MAY on 23 May 1830.

3. Abigail MAY was born on 8 Oct 1800 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Ma. and died in 1877.

Amos Bronson ALCOTT and Abigail MAY had the following children:

• i. Anna Bronson ALCOTT was born on 16 Mar 1831 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa.1 ii. Louisa May ALCOTT
  • iii. Elizabeth Sewall ALCOTT was born on 24 Jun 1835 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Ma. and died on 14 Mar 1858.
  • iv. May ALCOTT was born on 26 Jul 1840 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Ma.

Third Generation (Grandparents)

4. Joseph Chatfield ALCOTT was born on 7 May 1771 in Wolcott, New Haven, Ct. and died on 3 Apr 1829. He married Anna BRONSON on 13 Oct 1796 in Wolcott, New Haven, Ct.

5. Anna BRONSON was born on 20 Jan 1773 in Jerico, New London, Ct. and died on 15 Aug 1863 in West Edmeston, Ostego Co., New York.

Joseph Chatfield ALCOTT and Anna BRONSON had the following children:

• i. Betsey ALCOTT was born on 4 Apr 1798 in Wolcott, New Haven, Ct. and died on 5 Nov 1798.2 ii. Amos Bronson ALCOTT
  • iii. Chatfield ALCOTT was born on 23 Oct 1801.
  • iv. Pamelia ALCOTT was born on 4 Feb 1805 in Wolcott, New Haven, Ct. and died on 11 Feb 1849.
  • v. Betsey ALCOTT was born on 14 Feb 1808 in Wolcott, New Haven, Ct.
  • vi. Phebe ALCOTT was born on 18 Feb 1810 in Wolcott, New Haven, Ct. and died on 28 Jul 1844.
  • vii. George ALCOTT was born on 26 Mar 1812 in Wolcott, New Haven, Ct. and died on 12 Jul 1812.
  • viii. Junius ALCOTT was born on 6 Jul 1818 and died on 16 Apr 1852.
  • ix. Ambrose ALCOTT was born on 10 Sep 1820 in Wolcott, New Haven, Ct.

6. Joseph MAY was born on 25 Mar 1760 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. and died on 27 Feb 1841 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. He married Dorothy SEWELL on 28 Dec 1784 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass.

7. Dorothy SEWELL was born on 23 Dec 1758 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. and died on 31 Oct 1825 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass.

Joseph MAY and Dorothy SEWELL had the following children:

• i. Charles MAY was born on 2 Nov 1785 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co., Mass. and died on 21 Mar 1856 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co., Mass.ii. Catharine MAY was born on 30 Dec 1786 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. and died in 1814 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass.
  • iii. Louisa MAY was born on 31 Dec 1792 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co., Mass. and died on 14 Nov 1828 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co., Mass.
  • iv. Edward MAY was born on 26 Aug 1795 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co., Mass. and died on 29 Apr 1802 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co., Mass.
  • v. Samuel Joseph MAY was born on 12 Sep 1797 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co., Mass. and died on 1 Jul 1871 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co., Mass.
  • vi. Elizabeth Sewall MAY was born on 5 Dec 1798 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. and died on 5 Mar 1822 in Portland, Cumberland Co., Maine.
  • 3 vii. Abigail MAY
  • viii. Louisa C. Greenwood MAY was born on 2 Dec 1810 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co., Mass. and died on 23 Sep 1891 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co., Mass.

Fourth Generation (Great Grandparents)

8. Captain John ALCOX was born on 28 Dec 1731 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. and died on 27 Sep 1808 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. He married Mary CHATFIELD on 28 Aug 1755 in Connecticut.

9. Mary CHATFIELD was born on 11 Oct 1736 in Derby, New Haven, Conn. and died on 28 Feb 1807 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. She was christened 7 Noc 1736 in First Congregational Church of Derby.

Captain John ALCOX and Mary CHATFIELD had the following children:

• i. Lydia ALCOTT was born on 8 Dec 1756 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. and died on 23 Sep 1831.ii. Solomon ALCOTT was born on 8 May 1759 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. and died on 21 May 1818 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn.
  • iii. Samuel ALCOTT was born on 29 Nov 1761 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. and died on 9 Jun 1819.
  • iv. John Blakeslee ALCOTT was born on 24 Jun 1764 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. and died on 17 Sep 1837.
  • v. Mary ALCOTT was born on 8 Sep 1766 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. and died on 18 Feb 1770.
  • vi. Isaac ALCOTT was born on 12 Apr 1769 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. and died on 12 Sep 1809.
  • 4 vii. Joseph Chatfield ALCOTT
  • viii. Mark ALCOTT was born on 11 May 1773 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. and died on 21 Nov 1846.
  • ix. Thomas ALCOTT was born on 16 Oct 1775 and died on 27 Apr 1778.

10. Amos BRONSON was born on 3 Feb 1729/30 in Waterbury, New Haven, Conn. and died on 2 Sep 1819 in Waterbury, New Haven, Conn. He married Anna BLAKESLEY on 3 Jun 1751 in Waterbury, New Haven, Conn.

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11. Anna BLAKESLEY was born on 6 Oct 1733 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 3 Dec 1800 in Plymouth, Litchfield, Conn.

Amos BRONSON and Anna BLAKESLEY had the following children:

• i. Noah Miles BRONSON was born on 15 Jul 1767 in Waterbury, New Haven, Conn. and died on 8 Sep 1859 in Weymouth, Medina Co., Ohio.5 ii. Anna BRONSON

12. Samuel MAY was born. He married Abigail WILLIAMS. 13. Abigail WILLIAMS was born.

Samuel MAY and Abigail WILLIAMS had the following children:

• 6 i. Joseph MAY

14. Samuel SEWELL was born on 2 May 1715 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. and died on 19 Jan 1771 in Holliston, Middlesex Co., Mass. He married Elizabeth QUINCY on 18 May 1749 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass.

15. Elizabeth QUINCY was born on 15 Oct 1729 in Quincy, Norfolk Co., Mass. and died on 15 Feb 1770.

Samuel SEWELL and Elizabeth QUINCY had the following children:

• i. Elizabeth SEWELL was born on 12 Mar 1750 and died in 1789.ii. Samuel SEWELL was born on 11 Dec 1757 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. and died on 7 Jun 1814 in Wiscasset, Lincoln Co., Maine.
  • 7 iii. Dorothy SEWELL

Fifth Generation (Great, Great Grandparents)

16. John ALCOCK was born on 14 Jan 1705 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 6 Jan 1777 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn. He married Deborah BLAKESLEE on 14 Jan 1730 in North Haven, New Haven, Conn.

17. Deborah BLAKESLEE was born on 15 Mar 1713 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 7 Jan 1789 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn.

John ALCOCK and Deborah BLAKESLEE had the following children:

• i. Lydia ALCOTT was born on 24 Nov 1730 in North Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 15 Nov 1796 in North Haven, New Haven, Conn.8 ii. Captain John ALCOX
  • iii. James ALCOTT was born on 1 Jun 1734 in Waterbury, New Haven, Conn. and died on 9 Aug 1806.
  • iv. Jesse ALCOTT was born on 23 Mar 1736 in Waterbury, New Haven, Conn. and died on 29 Oct 1809.
  • v. Daniel ALCOTT was born on 25 Mar 1738 in Waterbury, New Haven, Conn. and died on 24 May 1805.
  • vi. David ALCOTT was born on 12 Jan 1740 in Waterbury, New Haven, Conn. and died on 29 Jan 1821.
  • vii. Deborah ALCOTT was born in 1742 in Waterbury, New Haven, Conn. and died on 18 Jun 1831.
  • viii. Mary ALCOTT was born in 1744 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 6 Mar 1825.
  • ix. Thankful ALCOTT was born in 1748 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 1 Mar 1839.
  • x. Hannah ALCOTT was born in 1751 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 1 Mar 1821.
  • xi. Anna ALCOTT was born about 1753 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 5 Feb 1822 in Wolcott, New Haven, Conn.
  • xii. Stephen ALCOTT was born about 1757 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.

18. Solomon CHATFIELD was born on 13 Aug 1708 and died in 1779. He married Hannah PIERSON on 12 Jun 1734.

19. Hannah PIERSON was born on 4 Aug 1715 and died on 15 Mar 1801. She is buried in Oxford Congregational Cemetery, Oxford, Conn.

Solomon CHATFIELD and Hannah PIERSON had the following children:

• i. Joseph CHATFIELD was born on 4 Apr 1735 and died about 1795.9 ii. Mary CHATFIELD
  • iii. Hannah CHATFIELD was born about 1738.
  • iv. Lois CHATFIELD was born about 1741.
  • v. Eunice CHATFIELD was born on 6 Feb 1743 and died in 1823.
  • vi. Rachel CHATFIELD was born about 1745 and died on 11 May 1778.
  • vii. Comfort CHATFIELD was born about 1749.
  • viii. Anna CHATFIELD was born about 1752 and died on 11 Sep 1853.
  • ix. Comfort CHATFIELD was born about 1756 and died on 3 Nov 1798.

28. Joseph SEWELL was born on 15 Aug 1688 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. and died on 27 Jun 1769 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. He married Elizabeth WALLEY on 29 Oct 1713 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass.

29. Elizabeth WALLEY was born on 4 May 1693 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. and died on 27 Oct 1713 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass.

Joseph SEWELL and Elizabeth WALLEY had the following children:

• 14 i. Samuel SEWELLii. Joseph SEWELL was born on 13 Jul 1719 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass. and died on 18 Aug 1719 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass.

30. Edmund QUINCY was born on 13 Jun 1703. He married Elizabeth WENDELL on 15 Apr 1725 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass.

31. Elizabeth WENDELL was born.

Edmund QUINCY and Elizabeth WENDELL had the following children:

• 15 i. Elizabeth QUINCY

Sixth Generation (Great, Great, Great Grandparents)

32. John ALCOTT was born on 14 Jul 1675 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died in Mar 1722 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. He married Susanna HEATON on 8 May 1698 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.

33. Susanna HEATON was born on 12 Apr 1680 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 3 Mar 1736 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.

John ALCOTT and Susanna HEATON had the following children:

• i. Abigail ALCOTT was born in 1703 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died in 1771.16 ii. John ALCOCK
  • iii. Elizabeth ALCOTT was born on 31 Jul 1708 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 23 Jan 1782 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.
  • iv. Sarah ALCOTT was born on 11 Aug 1711 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died in 1757.
  • v. Stephen ALCOTT was born on 10 Aug 1714 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died in Feb 1742.
  • vi. Mary ALCOTT was born on 10 Aug 1717 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.

34. John BLAKESLEE was born on 15 Jul 1676 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 30 Apr 1742 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. He married Lydia in 1696.

35. Lydia died on 12 Oct 1723 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.

John BLAKESLEE and Lydia had the following children:

• i. Elizabeth BLAKESLEE was born on 1 Mar 1702 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.17 ii. Deborah BLAKESLEE
  • iii. Mary BLAKESLEE was born on 5 Apr 1720 and died about 1799.

36. John CHATFIELD was born on 8 Apr 1661 in Guilford, New Haven, Conn. and died on 7 Mar 1748. He married Anna HARGER on 5 Feb 1685 in Derby, New Haven, Conn.

37. Anna HARGER was born on 23 Feb 1668 in Stratford, Fairfield, Conn. and died in 1748.

John CHATFIELD and Anna HARGER had the following children:

• i. Sarah CHATFIELD was born on 5 Dec 1686 and died on 20 Jun 1721.ii. Mary CHATFIELD was born on 23 Apr 1689.
  • iii. Abigail CHATFIELD was born on 2 Sep 1693.
  • iv. John CHATFIELD was born on 26 Feb 1697 and died on 30 Oct 1793.
  • v. Samuel CHATFIELD was born on 28 Aug 1699 and died on 17 May 1785.
  • vi. Ebenezer CHATFIELD was born on 4 Jul 1703 and died about 1789.
  • 18 vii. Solomon CHATFIELD

38. Abraham PIERSON was born about 1680 and died on 12 May 1758. He married Sarah TOMLINSON.

39. Sarah TOMLINSON was born about 1690 and died on 12 May 1758.

Abraham PIERSON and Sarah TOMLINSON had the following children:

• i. Sarah PIERSON was born on 19 Aug 1705 and died in 1750.ii. Abraham PIERSON was born on 28 Jul 1707 and died in 1781.
  • iii. Mary PIERSON was born on 26 Oct 1712 and died in 1790.
  • 19 iv. Hannah PIERSON
  • v. Stephen PIERSON was born on 4 Mar 1720 and died in 1758.
  • vi. Barchua PIERSON was born on 1 Dec 1726.

Seventh Generation (Great, Great, Great, Great Grandparents)

64. Phillip ALCOTT was born in 1648 in Dedham, Norfolk, Mass. and died in 1715 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Conn. He married Elizabeth MITCHELL on 5 Dec 1672 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. 6

5. Elizabeth MITCHELL was born on 6 Aug 1651 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.

Phillip ALCOTT and Elizabeth MITCHELL had the following children:

• 32 i. John ALCOTTii. Thomas ALCOTT was born in 1677 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 2 Apr 1757 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.
  • iii. Elizabeth ALCOTT was born on 6 Feb 1679 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.
  • iv. Phillip ALCOTT was born on 19 Nov 1681 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn.
  • v. Agnes ALCOTT was born in 1683 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. and died on 8 Feb 1782.

66. James HEATON was born about 1632 and died on 16 Oct 1712 in New Haven, New Haven, Conn. He married Sarah STREET on 20 Nov 1662.

67. Sarah STREET was born about 1640.

James HEATON and Sarah STREET had the following children:

• i. Nathaniel HEATON was born on 19 Nov 1664 and died in 1725.ii. Abigail HEATON
  • 33 iii. Susanna HEATON
  • iv. Anna HEATON was born on 23 Dec 1682.