Meghan Markle has ancestors from Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — While Prince Harry’s soon to be wife is from California, her ancestors are from Chattanooga.

Historians at the Chattanooga Public Library were able to dig through archives to find out who they were.

Inside the Chattanooga Public Library, you can dig through the history and genealogy section to find information about your ancestors or Meghan Markle’s.

“We received a reference phone call asking about Alvin Ragland and so we started researching Alvin Ragland and discovered that he was born here and that he was her grandfather,” said Mary Helms, with the library’s local history and genealogy department.

Helms says the next step was to look through the 1930s census.

“It says that Alvin’s grandfather, James Russell was a porter at a hotel. So wondering which hotel that was in Chattanooga, then I went to the 1930 Chattanooga City directory and looked up James Russell and it told that he was a porter at the northern hotel,” Helms said.

Helms says it is fun to connect the dots.

“It is detective work really genealogy detective work and it is fun to find facts and let one fact lead you to the next fact,” Helms said.

She says Chattanoogans come from a variety of places.

“This has been the migration point for many many people,” Helms said.

Chattanooga will always have this documented royal connection.

“I think it gives Chattanoogans a great interest in the royal wedding and Meghan’s ancestors here were well respected and they were hard working people,” Helms said.