Romney's English roots surprise cousins left behind
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Jennie Iveson, aged 69, poses with family photographs inside her terraced home in Barrow-in-Furness, northwestern England, Sept 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Clouds are seen over the Preston England Temple, Europe's biggest Mormon temple, in Chorley, near Preston in northern England, Sept 26, 2012 -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A sign for Romney Road is seen on a street in Dalton-in-Furness in northwestern England, where relatives of U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney were born and bred in the 18th and 19th Century, Sept 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Mid morning sun shines on Dalton-in-Furness, in northwestern England, where relatives of US presidential candidate Mitt Romney were born and bred in the 18th and 19th Century, Sept 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Simon Nash, looks at a photograph of Miles Romney on his computer at his home in Preston, northern England, Sept 24, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Sun shines on the gravestone of the acclaimed local painter George Romney in Dalton-in-Furness in northwestern England, where relatives of US presidential candidate Mitt Romney were born and bred in the 18th and 19th Century, Sept 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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An original baptism record shows details of some of US presidential candidate Mitt Romney's clan who were born and bred in Dalton-in-Furnace, northwestern England in the 19th Century, Sept 25, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Simon Nash, his wife Maria and their 12-year-old daughter Sarah pose inside their home in Preston, northern England, Sept 24, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Simon Nash, his wife Maria and their 12-year-old daughter Sarah pose inside their home in Preston, northern England, Sept 24, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Jennie Iveson, aged 69, poses outside her terraced home in Barrow-in-Furness, northwestern England, Sept 26, 2012. Jennie, is US presidential candidate Mitt Romney's fourth cousin. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Jennie Iveson, aged 69, poses with family photographs inside her terraced home in Barrow-in-Furness, northwestern England, Sept 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Clouds are seen over the Preston England Temple, Europe's biggest Mormon temple, in Chorley, near Preston in northern England, Sept 26, 2012 -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A sign for Romney Road is seen on a street in Dalton-in-Furness in northwestern England, where relatives of U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney were born and bred in the 18th and 19th Century, Sept 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Mid morning sun shines on Dalton-in-Furness, in northwestern England, where relatives of US presidential candidate Mitt Romney were born and bred in the 18th and 19th Century, Sept 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Simon Nash, looks at a photograph of Miles Romney on his computer at his home in Preston, northern England, Sept 24, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Sun shines on the gravestone of the acclaimed local painter George Romney in Dalton-in-Furness in northwestern England, where relatives of US presidential candidate Mitt Romney were born and bred in the 18th and 19th Century, Sept 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
An original baptism record shows details of some of US presidential candidate Mitt Romney's clan who were born and bred in Dalton-in-Furnace, northwestern England in the 19th Century, Sept 25, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Simon Nash, his wife Maria and their 12-year-old daughter Sarah pose inside their home in Preston, northern England, Sept 24, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Simon Nash, his wife Maria and their 12-year-old daughter Sarah pose inside their home in Preston, northern England, Sept 24, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Jennie Iveson, aged 69, poses outside her terraced home in Barrow-in-Furness, northwestern England, Sept 26, 2012. Jennie, is US presidential candidate Mitt Romney's fourth cousin. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
BARROW-IN-FURNESS, England (REUTERS) - Mr Mitt Romney's fight to become America's next president has the backing of one enthusiastic group of supporters, although they don't actually have a vote: his relatives in England.
Few associate the Republican candidate with Britain but it was in England's industrial northwest that his ancestors lived for generations and converted to Mormonism before leaving for the United States in 1841 in search of the promised land.
It was a bold escape for a family of lowly carpenters. By sailing for the New World, they took a step that eventually brought the Romney clan to the fore of American politics.
But some of them stayed and their descendants still live along Britain's rainy western coast - a world away from the intrigue and glamour of Washington.
