The Research Behind Steven Tyler's Clinton County Ancestors
- Dr. Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez
- Jun 21
- 4 min read
Preserving the Stories Hidden Within the Records
Genealogy is more than tracing names on a family tree. It is the process of recovering forgotten lives, preserving family stories, and restoring voices that history often overlooked.
In recent years, many people became familiar with portions of rock musician Steven Tyler's family history through the television program Who Do You Think You Are?
While the program introduced viewers to some of his ancestral connections, there is an important story behind the research itself that deserves to be told.
As the genealogist who began researching these families' decades before the television program aired, I would like to share how this journey began and explain why I believe that Ann, an enslaved woman in Clinton County, New York, was the mother of Robert Elliott, one of Steven Tyler's direct ancestors.
Beginning the Research
My interest in the families of Clinton County, New York began many years ago.
In 1999, I began conducting extensive research on African American, Indigenous, and mixed-heritage families who lived throughout Clinton County and the surrounding region.
Many of these families had left only fragments of their stories within historical records.
Over the next decade, I examined census records, church records, probate files, military records, local histories, newspaper accounts, and family documents.
The results of this research were published in my 2009 book:
The purpose of the book was to preserve the histories of families whose contributions were often absent from traditional historical narratives.
One of those families was the Elliott family.
Discovering Robert Elliott
As I traced the Elliott family through the historical records of Clinton County, I became interested in the origins of Robert Elliott.
Like many individuals who lived during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Robert's story was not fully documented.
Records were often incomplete, especially for individuals of African or Indigenous ancestry.
The challenge was to determine where Robert Elliott came from and identify his parents.
As the research progressed, one particular clue repeatedly appeared.
That clue was a woman named Ann.
The Historical Record of Ann
One of the most significant pieces of evidence comes from the work of Addie Shields, former Clinton County Historian.
According to historical records preserved through her research, Ann was an enslaved woman owned by Thomas Miller of Plattsburgh, New York.
The records indicate that Ann gave birth to a son named Robert around the year 1800.
For genealogists, such information is extremely important.
The appearance of an enslaved woman named Ann and a son named Robert in the correct place and time period immediately raises an important question:
Could this Robert be the same Robert Elliott who later appears in Clinton County records?
Following the Evidence
Genealogical research is rarely based upon a single document.
Instead, conclusions are often reached by carefully analyzing multiple records and evaluating whether they support a consistent historical narrative.
Several factors led me to conclude that Ann was most likely the mother of Robert Elliott.
Location
Both Ann and Robert are associated with Clinton County, New York.
Time Period
The birth of Ann's son Robert around 1800 aligns with the estimated age of Robert Elliott as documented in later records.
Historical Context
During this period, enslaved individuals and their children were often poorly documented. Their names frequently appeared only in estate records, account books, church records, or local historical references.
As a result, many family relationships must be reconstructed through careful analysis of indirect evidence.
Absence of Contradictory Evidence
To date, I have found no evidence identifying another woman as Robert Elliott's mother.
When examined collectively, these factors create a compelling genealogical case that Ann was the mother of Robert Elliott.
Why This Story Matters
The story of Ann is important not because of her connection to a famous descendant.
It is important because Ann was a human being whose life deserves recognition.
Too often, enslaved individuals appear in historical records only as brief references or unnamed figures.
Their stories were rarely preserved.
Their voices were rarely heard.
Yet they were mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, workers, survivors, and builders of communities.
By identifying Ann within the historical record, we restore a small but meaningful part of her story.
Genealogy gives us the opportunity to remember those who history nearly forgot.
The Television Program
When television programs explore family history, they face practical limitations.
A single episode may represent years of research condensed into a short segment.
As a result, some historical details, supporting evidence, and genealogical conclusions may not appear in the final broadcast.
My purpose in sharing this research is not to criticize any television production.
Rather, it is to preserve the broader historical context and document the evidence that contributed to understanding this family's origins.
Preserving History for Future Generations
The work of genealogy is never truly finished.
New records emerge.
New evidence is discovered.
New questions arise.
However, the responsibility remains the same:
To follow the evidence wherever it leads and to preserve the stories of those who came before us.
Beginning in 1999, my research sought to recover the histories of Clinton County families whose stories had been overlooked for generations.
The publication of Tan Americans of Clinton County, New York in 2009 was one step in that journey.
Today, I continue that work by sharing the story of Ann, Robert Elliott, and the generations that followed.
Whether an ancestor became famous or remained unknown, every life has value.
Every story deserves to be remembered.
And every generation has a responsibility to preserve that history for the seventh generation yet to come.
About the Author
Dr. Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez is a professional genealogist, author, historian, and founder of the Tan American Historical Association.
She has conducted genealogical research for more than forty years and has published numerous works preserving the family histories throughout New York and beyond.
Her research was featured in the television program Who Do You Think You Are? and continues to help families discover and preserve their ancestral stories. To learn more visit: Tan American Historical Association at tanamha.org.
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