Birth Name: Ronald Charles McKernan
Date of Birth: September 8, 1945
Place of Birth: San Bruno, California, United States
Date of Death: March 8, 1973
Place of Death: Corte Madera, California, United States
Ethnicity: Swedish (maternal grandfather), English, Welsh, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan was an American, singer, songwriter, and musician. He was a member of the rock band Grateful Dead, in which he sung and played the keybord. The band’s members also included Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir.
Ron was the son of Esther Elvera (Nelson) and Phillip Charles McKernan, a disc jockey. Esther’s ancestry was half Swedish, with the rest being Welsh, English, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish. Phillip had English, and some Irish, ancestry.
Ron’s paternal grandparents were Francis Joseph McKernan and Alice Bennett. Francis and Alice were born in England.
Ron’s maternal grandparents were Carl Nelson and Pearl Sells (the daughter of Albert Sells and Jessie M. Meredith). Carl was born in Sweden.
Sources: Genealogy of Ron McKernan – https://www.geni.com
Ron’s father, Phillip McKernan, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Birth certificate of Ron’s maternal grandmother, Pearl Sells – https://familysearch.org
Ron’s maternal grandmother, Pearl Sells, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Pearl Sells on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Ron’s maternal great-grandmother, Jessie M. Meredith – https://familysearch.org