Talking of cool ancestors, I have a (add a bunch of greats) grandfather that was German, but was a mercenary under napoleon, and then, after losing at Waterloo had to run like the Dickens to not get killed for treason. He made it onto a neutral ship (I think dutch) with the prussians in hot pursuit.
He then hightailed it to Texas, which was, I think, Mexican at the time. Later on he managed to sneak back to Europe and bring back to Texas a bunch of cool loot (piano, books, paintings) but everything was burnt and lost when Santa Ana's army came through and that part of Mexico became Texas.
Put him into a deep depression, especially the loss of the books.
He then hightailed it to Texas, which was, I think, Mexican at the time. Later on he managed to sneak back to Europe and bring back to Texas a bunch of cool loot (piano, books, paintings) but everything was burnt and lost when Santa Ana's army came through and that part of Mexico became Texas.
Put him into a deep depression, especially the loss of the books.