Last year, I discovered an unexpected ancestral connection: Charles Manson was my ninth cousin once removed. While the relationship is distant, it piqued my interest in Manson’s early life in Kentucky and the family history tied to the region.
Out of respect for local cemeteries, I have omitted specific names to prevent vandalism or any misguided attention.
Charles Manson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but his maternal lineage is deeply rooted in Kentucky. His mother was born in Rowan County, Morehead, and her parents also lived there before relocating to Ashland. His maternal grandmother was born in Rowan County, and his maternal grandfather hailed from Elliott County.
The family spent time in the Grahn community in Carter County, and records indicate that Manson’s mother moved to Ashland at the age of ten. Several of Manson’s maternal ancestors, including his great-grandparents and earlier generations, were from Carter and Elliott Counties, and many are buried there. His fourth great-grandfather was born in Richmond, Kentucky, and is also interred in Carter County.
On his paternal side, Manson’s father was born in Pike County and later resided in Catlettsburg, Boyd County, where he is buried. Manson’s paternal grandfather and great-grandparents are similarly buried in Pike and Boyd Counties, showing that both sides of his family have deep Kentucky roots.
Author Willie Davis, in Ghost Towns of 174, noted that Manson described spending time in Morehead before moving west. In correspondence with Ron Daley of the Troublesome Creek Times, Manson remarked, “I stomped all over Kentucky.” In addition, Manson himself stated in the film Charles Manson Superstar REDUX 2012 that he was from Morehead, KY.
For a brief period, Manson and his mother lived in Knott County, where she worked at the Blue Moon Café. They resided above the establishment, and Manson, recalling his childhood there, described Hindman as a “law and order border town” and remarked, “It’s true that you can’t take the hills out of the boy.” The building where they lived has unfortunately suffered from vandalism but has recently been sold.
Finally, it is important to address a persistent rumor: that Manson or his family killed an uncle in Ashland. This is not true. While Manson was briefly a suspect, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed he was not in Kentucky at the time.
Manson’s life is often associated with California, but his Kentucky heritage provides an important context for understanding his early environment and family history. Hopefully, this overview clarifies his connections to our region and separates fact from myth.