Unexpected Results

In yesterday's post, I alluded to husband's 23andmeDNA results. OMG. We weren't really prepared for what they meant. They meant secrets. Long held secrets. Questions. Much research on my part.

Years ago, I did research on husband's family tree. Of course the first thing I did was question his parents and follow what they told me. I was able to research every line but his maternal grandfather's line. His records are in a part of Poland, that are not accessible to me through the LDS or through the Polish archives. Hence the search on 23andme and two years ago on Ancestry. On Ancestry, we had one hit for his maternal grandmother's line. A line I had already researched. There at least we had confirmation.

Fast forward to 2017 and Amazon Prime day when I scored DNA kits from 23andme for $49 each. His closest relative was a second cousin. And to confuse matters more, it was another branch of a family he matched on Ancestry. The problem was who could be the relative that gave them that relationship.

We needed a name and whether the opportunity existed at the time for contact. Little did we know that we held the information in tax returns. Sure enough, the target person fit exactly the scenario. And he was someone known to the family. More research uncovered the not unexpected result that he had long since passed, nearly forty years. But he had a descendant. We attempted contact and were summarily rebuffed. Quite angrily rebuffed. While not totally unexpected, understandable.

Given time, maybe this person will relent and choose to contact us. Until then, I continue to research and fill in the blanks when possible.

Copyright 2010-2017, ACK for Gene Notes

A Cemetery By Many Names

My great-great-great-great grandfather, Dr. Jabez Percival was buried under the Lawrenceburgh Levee according to the DAR. However, it didn't matter where he was buried because the cemetery was moved. This page at Find-A-Grave explains it a little. As does this photo.  I did not take this photo and after more than two weeks the photographer has not responded to my request. So here it is anyway.

Copyright 2010-2017, ACK for Gene Notes

More DNA Results

Recently my DH and I sent samples to 23andme. I hoped to clarify his results on Ancestry and connect with people who weren't on ancestry.

Well, it worked. Sort of. I found a few relatives for myself that weren't on Ancestry or gedmatch, as far as I can tell. Now, if they would just accept my share requests.

For my DH? The results were stunning. Absolutely mind-boggling. When I've got it all straightened out, I will blog about it, but not just yet.

Copyright 2010-2017, ACK for Gene Notes

Matilda, Matilda

Ever since I found out about my great-great-great grandfather's first wife, I've been curious about her. Her name was Matilda Fleet Hinton Goodridge. She was the daughter of William Goodridge and his wife Catherine Hinton. I've never discovered where the Fleet comes from.

She married my great-great-great grandfather, John Stearns Percival on May 22, 1817 in Boone county, Kentucky. She had permission of her father for the marriage to take place.

She is the only grandchild mentioned in her grandfather George Goodridge's will, which was made February 4, 1802 and probated July 15, 1802. Her brother Fountain was born about 1795-96; her brother Walter about 1797-98.

Matilda had two children, only one I can verify. Her son Egbert Davis Percival was born about 1819 in Boone county, Kentucky. He is listed in his grandfather's will - that is William Goodridge, who died in 1850. William's will was made March 2, 1850 and probated in April of 1850. By this time Egbert would have been about 30-31. No mention of any other Percival children is made in his will.

Dr. John Stearns Percival, Matilda's husband remarried on April 4, 1822 in Boone county, Kentucky. They had the following children that I have verified: Eliza Ann, John Stearns, Jr., and Jabez. There is also reputedly a son William, whom I have never found in any record. I think he may have died young. Maybe that was Elizabeth's fate also.  Dr. John Stearns Percival died intestate in 1841 and the only children mentioned were his sons. Certainly Eliza was still alive as she married in 1844 and died in 1884, but not considered a minor as were the sons.

I guess one of Matilda's brothers love his sisters so much, he named some daughters after them. One was Matilda Fleet Hinton Percival Goodridge. I guess the family names weren't lost by them!


Copyright 2010-2017, ACK for Gene Notes

When Did Your Great Grandfather Live?

While viewing a mini tutorial on 23andme about ancestry, there was this graphic. You'll note that in this graphic it has great-grandparents as living ~90 years ago. That seems kind of vague to me.  Now, one of my great grandfathers was born in Lancaster, New York in 1839. That's 178 years ago. He died more than 90 years in 1925 in East Tawas, Michigan. He was the earliest born of all my great grandparents, most of whom were born in the 1860s. And he was the youngest of all the children of his parents. His youngest son was my grandfather who was born in 1888 when August was 49 years old. My mother was born in 1924 when her father was 35.

August's own father was born in 1796, so you can see that I can go back only four generations to find someone born in the 18th century.

I'm not sure whether I should be awed by this or not. My oldest daughter missed meeting her great grandfather (my grandfather) by 10 months. However, on their father's side I have a picture taken at Christmas of 1982 with four generations. Below, are my youngest daughter with her great Aunt Stella, their Grandma, my older daughter with her daddy, and their great Grandma!

It's awesome to be able to document generations like this. I wish I had some for myself, but my last great grandparent died three years before I was born.





















Copyright 2010-2017, ACK for Gene Notes