Clampett Family Tree

[jeffro]

Ok Folks,
I've read here and elsewhere that Granny was Jed's Mother-in-Law and, therefore, Elly's Maternal Grandmother. Is that mentioned in any of the episodes? I can't recall it being specifically discussed.
Also, how does Cousin Pearl fit into this picture? Were she and Elly's mother 1st cousins? That would make Elly and Jethro 3rd cousins, I think. That would mean that Granny is actually Pearl's aunt. Or is it something completely different? Like, is she Jed's 1st cousin, or something?
Does anynone know?
Any insight that anyone has into this subject would be appreciated. This was the topic of many a lunch discussion at my old job.
Yeah, I know what that says about me and the guys I worked with.
Thanks,




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jeffro

[jeffro]

I just read the "Mrs. Clampett" thread and I do remember the part about training that horse to stop under the tree. So, that answers that.
But, how Pearl and Jethro/Jethrene fit into the family is still up in the air for me.

[Perderabo]

The easy part is that Jethro anf Jethrene are brother and sister and Pearl is their widowed mother. But then we have a pair of unconsistent facts: Jed and Pearl are described as cousins while Jed and Jethro are described as uncle and nephew. Since these two relationships contradict each other, the Clampetts must have fumbled on one of them.

If Pearl and Jed are cousins then Jed and Jethro are first cousins, once removed. I can see the Clampetts using "uncle/nephew" rather that the complex "once removed" phrase. This, I think, is the more logical explanation.

On the other hand, if Jed/Jethro really are uncle/nephew, then Jed and Pearl must actually be brother/sister. I can't see them making an error like that.

So I say Jed and Pearl are cousins; Jed and Jethro are actually first cousins, once removed; but they just use uncle/nephew. And this would make Elly and Jethro second cousins.

[black gold]

I agree that Jed and Ellie are second cousins if, in fact, Jed and Pearl are first cousins.

[jeffro]

I guess my question is less about the nomenclature ("1st cousin, once removed" vs. "2nd/3rd cousin") and more about whether it was ever specifically stated in any episode or could be logically deduced from anything in the show how Pearl is related to Jed.
Once a Pearl/Jed connection is made, I think the rest of the relationships become obvious.
Congratulations on a great forum. I'm glad I joined. And, thanks for all the responses.


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jeffro

[Richard]

-and when Jed was trying to tell Jethro that Granny was only Elly May's actual grandmother he got mixed up in trying to explain the family tree.He then just said,"You're a grand-nephew."And Jethro replied,"You're a pretty swell uncle,too."

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Richard Ranke

Jethro and Elly Mae are first cousins.
Granny was Jed's mother-in-law
Pearl and Jed are sister and brother.


[This message has been edited by VTSarah (edited 01-27-2001).]

Let me add my two cents worth. Jed is Pearl's first cousin. Her son Jethro is Jed's first cousin once rmoved (Jethro simply calls him Uncle because Jed's alot older). Ellie is Jed's daughter. Granny is Jed's mother-in-law and Ellie's maternal grandmother. And getting back to Jethro,he and Jethrene are brother and sister.


PS Pearl,Jethro, and Jethrene are all distantly related to Kate Bradley and her clan on PJ.

I think the confusion is caused by the fact that the writers played a bit fast and loose with the situations regarding how the characters were related and changed them at will. On the E! special, Pearl is refered to as Jed's sister, although I don't know if she was ever called that in the actual show. But if she were his sis, since she's Jethro's mother, that would in fact make Jed and Jethro uncle and nephew. In all the episodes I've seen however, Jed calls her cousin Pearl. So perhaps the writers changed it for some reason later on. Also, if Granny is Jed's mother in law, that would make her no blood relation to Jethro at all, regardless of what kin Pearl and Jed are. However, in an episode from 1968, that was recently shown on Nick at Nite, Granny refers to Jethro as her grandson...and rather strongly too! So, I guess the mystery lingers on.

[Perderabo]

I try to stay out of "is not/is too" type arguments, but I will make an exception and post again since Erkie made some good points.

First, I would simply ignore what E! thinks. They made an error on a confusing subject. Jed and Pearl both call each other cousin and never refer to each other as siblings. Even the Clampetts know the difference between a sister and a cousin. I just can't see them making an error like that.

Second, if my view was right, then Jethro would be Granny's greatnephew-in-law. That's enough of a mouthfull that it would be out-of-character for Granny to speak it. So again the Clampetts are just simplifying the relations.

[This message has been edited by Perderabo (edited 02-08-2001).]

[ThomasE]

Jed and Pearl are first cousins. Also Pearl and Kate Bradley(of Petticoat Junction) are distant cousins. Both characters were played by the same actress. There were some awesome crossovers.

[Richard]

-like that PJ episode where Uncle Joe is telling Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo that the woman doctor who is coming to look after the baby is,"kin to a Jed Clampett,whose cousin Pearl is a distant kin ta yer mother from-" This was all the information we ever got on how the Clampetts were connected with the Bradleys.

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Richard Ranke

[bry]

i recall once where it was discussed that jethro called jed uncle even though they are 2nd cousins. jed and pearle are cousins. granny would live with them as older people did take care of their own from way back. so her living with her son-in-law and granddaughter should be acceptable rooming. sorta "filling in fer her maw".

[hawaii five-o]

Of the four main characters, Elly is the only one that is a blood relative to all of the others. Jed is her father, Jethro her cousin, and Granny her grandma.

Jed and Granny are not blood relatives, but in laws.

Granny and Jethro are not related at all. Granny's daughter was married to Jethro's cousin Jed.

[jon123]

I just thought of this one-Jethro's late father could have been Granny's son, which would indeed make Jethro Granny's real grandson. That would mean Jethro's father and Jed's late wife were brother and sister, which would also make Jed Jethro's uncle by marriage in addition to being his second cousin by blood (through his mother Pearl).

Granny could have married twice-her first marriage to man named Bodine that produced Jethro's father, and then to a man named Moses that produced Elly's mother (who is also Jed's late wife). Actually, Moses could even be Granny's maiden name, meaning that Jed's late wife's maiden name was Bodine (I don't think they ever mentioned her actual name on the series).

That also would mean that Granny was also Pearl's mother-in-law in addition to being Jed's. As to why Pearl called Granny Granny, so what-so did Jed.

As for why this was never brought up on the show, it would be very sad for Granny to dwell on the fact that she lost both of her children, and also not part of the style of comedy this show had.

I'm not going to speculate how they were related to the Bradley clan on PJ, but note that Jethro's attraction to the Bradley sisters gives new meaning to the term kissing cousins!

As for Jethrine, she is best explained that Jethro had a bipolar disorder during the first season, and often dreamed or hallucinated being a drag queen. Apparently the writers wanted a way out also after the first season, since she was never seen or mentioned again!