Mary Bliss Parsons
and
Marion Michael Morrison
A.K.A. John Wayne

 
The Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America by Aaron Tyler Bliss states that, "According to a Salt Lake City, Utah newspaper (1979), Mary Bliss Parsons was a seventh great-grandmother to the late Hollywood screen actor, John Wayne, who was b. Marion Michael Morrison May 26, 1907 at Winterset, IA and d. in 1979." (page 31)

The newspaper was correct in its findings.  Below is the descendant tree from Mary Bliss Parsons to Marion Michael Morrison.  Information for the tree was gathered from the Bliss genealogy and from the Parsons Family Association site at http://www.parsons-family-assoc.com/

 

 

 

Margaret Hulins
(abt. 1595)

+G1+

 
Thomas Bliss
(abt. 1590)

 

(?)

Patience Burt
(abt. 1645-1732)

+

John Bliss
(abt. 1635-1705)
Built Mary's House;
Lived Nextdoor

G2

 
Mary Bliss
(abt. 1625-1711)
First Witch of
Northampton
 

+

Joseph Parsons
 (1620-1683)
British Soldier
and Businessman

Johanna Lamb
(1695-1768)

+

Ebenezer Bliss
(1683-1761)

G3

Mary Clark
(1663-?)

+

Jonathan Parsons
(1657-1694)

Catherine Burt
(????-1807)

+

Stephen Bliss
(1732-1807)
Revolutionary War
Soldier

G4

Abigail Smith
(1695-?)

+

Jonathan Parsons, Jr.
(1693-1782)

Mary Woodworth
(1770-1856)

+

Gideon Bliss
(1766-1847)

G5

Sarah Spencer
(abt. 1726-?)

+

Jonathan C. Parsons III
(abt. 1720-1800)

Lydia Chase
(1795-1872)

+

Roswell E. Bliss
(1791-1869)

G6

Wealthy Chase
(abt. 1755-?)

+

Dr. Medad Parsons
(1754-1818)

Susan Hester Evarts
(1826-18??)

+

Edward Flint Bliss
(1821-18??)

G7

Betsey Buck
(abt. 1794-1827)

+

Eldad Parsons
(1791-1870)

Ellen T. Leavin
(1857-1918)

+

Willard Marquini Bliss
(1850-1916)

G8

Abigail Buck
(1827-1900)

+

Henry Charles Parsons
(1810-1869)

Margaret Johanna Geiger
(1877-1960)

+

Leon Willard Bliss
(1877-1936)

G9

Marion Mitchell Morrison
(1845-1915)

+

Weltha Chase Parsons
(1850-1909)

Charles Keld Hanson
(1908(9)-1956)

+

Violet Ellen Bliss
(1915-1998)

G10

Clyde Leonard Morrison
(1884-1937)

+

Mary Alberta Brown
(1885-?)

Ethel Louisa Hutchins
(1940-)
Social Psychologist

+

Floyd Bliss Hanson
(1939-)
Professor of Mathematics,
Applied and Computational
Mathematician

G11

 
Marion Robert (Mitchell*)
Morrison
(aka John Wayne)
(May 26, 1907
-June 11, 1979)
Movie Actor

+

 
 
Josephine Saenz
(m. 1933-1945)
 
Esperanza Baur
(m. 1946-1954)
 
Pilar Palette
(m. 1954-1979?)

 

 

For an interesting excerpt from the book John Wayne, American,
by Rand Roberts and James Olson: God, Lincoln and the Golden Gate,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/wayne.htm

 

Original Page Source, Modified with Thomas Bliss of Hartford Line:
http://www.usgennet.org/family/bliss/features/2002/feb2002.htm

 

*According to his Genealogy, John Wayne listed a different middle name on his Social Security application
than was on his birth records:
John Wayne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In fact,
the previous source lists his original name as Marion Michael Morrison, while more of the motivation behind the name changes is in the Roberts and Olson chaper in the second link above.