the tree of Lydia Powell, another line to George Washington

my fourth great grandmother, Lydia, married William Judson Bartlett. her mother was Ann West, daughter of John West and Margaret Pearson. well according to Family search any way. FS says that Margaret Pearson was the daughter of Simon Pearson and Hannah Ball, the aunt of George Washington. But was she? sources say that Hannah Ball was Simon's second wife and Margaret's stepmother. so not exactly a bloodline connection there, if so. 

but wait, there's more. Hannah Ball may not be Margaret's biological mother, but she may not be biologically related to George either. a lot of chatter and debating about this as is often the case in famous family trees, but who was Hannah Ball's mother? 

FS says that Hannah's mother is Mary Bennett. other sources say her maiden name is unknown. while all seem to agree that her name was Mary and that she married Col. Joseph Ball, some believe that Mary was not the first wife of Joseph or the mother of Hannah. while Mary is still considered the mother of Mary Ball Washington, there is much debate over her maiden name. Mary Ball 1665 is the mother of Mary Ball Washington and the grandmother of George, but her maiden name is in dispute. 

so there are two step mothers in the line between Lydia Powell Bartlett and George Washington, but hey if you count them, George is my first cousin eight times removed.  technically, by marriage, I guess, but still. 

any way, George is still the great Grandson of my ninth great grandfather, John, and still my second cousin eight times removed, but that was an interesting find. and we are both related through Col. Joseph Ball, so that's cool.