How did actor Ben Affleck, a California native raised in the Boston area, descend from a Southern slave holder who served as a Georgia sheriff during the Civil War?
Affleck identified the relative as Benjamin Cole on social media. Using census records and other documents, here is the Affleck and Cole connection — men born more than 150 years apart.
—1857: Benjamin L. Cole of Savannah, Georgia, marries Georgia A. Speissegger. They are Affleck’s great-great-great grandparents. Public records show Cole had been married at least once previously.
— Circa 1862: The Coles have a daughter, Maggie Cole. She is Affleck’s great-great grandmother.
—1894: Affleck’s great grandfather, Lawrence L. Roberts, is born in the District of Columbia to Margaret Roberts (formerly Cole) and Flournoy Roberts, both originally from Georgia.
— 1921: Affleck’s grandmother, Elizabeth N. Roberts, is born in New York to Lawrence Roberts and Margaret Roberts.
— 1942: Affleck’s mother, Chris Ann Boldt, is born to Elizabeth N. Boldt (formerly Roberts) and O’Brien Boldt.
— 1972: Ben Affleck is born to Timothy and Chris Ann Affleck (formerly Boldt) in Berkeley, California.
