19 – Elnora Busby Vincent – (c.1818 – bef.1900)

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Don Taylor

This week I write about 2nd Great Grandmother Elnora Busby Vincent, who’s child, Susan R. Vincent/Vinson married Peter Fletcher Howell. 

Elnora Busby[1] (aka Ellenior Busbee) has a confusing birthdate. It is possible she was born about 1818 in Halifax County, North Carolina; however, it is more likely she was born in 1825 or 1826 in Nansemond, Virginia. United States)[2],[3]. The census records are conflicting. The 1850 Census indicates her name as Lenora, age 32 born in Virginia, but the 1860 and 1870 Censuses suggest she was born in 1825 or 1826.  Her parents are unknown. 
Some records indicate the Busby surname may have been spelled Busbee sometimes.
1850 Census – Leanora
via Family Search
In the 1850 Census, “Lenora” is 32 and living with her husband and first three children. 
In the 1860 Census, “Ellenior” is 35.  The change in name from Lenora and the 7 year change in age makes me think that Lenora and Ellenior might be two different people and that John married again between 1850 and 1860. I have found records for two children which indicate that Elnora is their mother. I have not, however, found birth records for any of the children born before the 1850 Census, so I’m not convinced that Lenora and Elnora are two separate individuals, yet, but I expect that to be the case.
1860 Census – Ellenior
Via Ancestry.Com

Marriages:

Marriage : She, presumably, married John Vincent, the son of Burkett and Elizabeth Vincent sometime before the birth of their first child Virginia in 1844. 
The Vincent surname is somewhat problematic as it appears to have been interchanged often with Vinson in several records. As such, I consider Vinson to be a variation of Vincent.
  

Children:

Child #1: Virginia was born between 2 Jun 1844 and on 1st Jun 1845 in Halifax County, North Carolina. She died on 20 May 1923 in Faucett, Halifax County at age 77, at least. She has no known descendants.
Child #2: Elizabeth Vincent was born between on 2 Jun 1846 and on 1st Jun 1847 in  Halifax, North Carolina, United States). She had no known descendants.
Child #3: Susan R Vincent was born about 1847 in Halifax County, North Carolina. She died on 1st Mar 1910 in North Carolina, aged about 63. She married Peter Fletcher  Howell on 10 December 1866. She had 7 children: Anna, John, Augusta, Martha, James, David and G.
Child #4: James W  Vincent was born between 2 Jun 1851 and on 1 Jun 1852 in Halifax County, North Carolina. He has no known descendants.
Child #5: Benjamin J Vincent was born about 1855 in Halifax County, North Carolina. He died on 3 July 1931 in Roanoke Rapids (Halifax, North Carolina, United States), aged about 76. He married Bettie [Unknown], next he married Sally. He had one known child: Georgin[?].
Child #6: Joseph Burkett Vincent was born between on 2 Jun 1857 and on 1st Jun 1858 in Halifax County, North Carolina. He died on 31 Aug 1917 in Roanoke Rapids, Halifax County, North Carolina aged 59, at least. He had no known descendants.
Child #7: Ellen B  Vincent was born between 2 Jun 1860 and 1 Jun 1861 in Halifax County, North Carolina. She married Wanick S  Hockaday. She had 2 children: Nathe and Alice.
Child #8: There may be an eighth child born to John and Elnor, Jennie. 

 Census Records

Seamore [Lanora]
via Family Search 
         Census : On 1st Jun 1860 she lived near Weldon, in the Western District, Halifax County, North Carolina with her husband, five children, and what appears to be her mother-in-law. [4],[5],[6],[7]
1880 Census – Elnora
via Ancestry.Com
Census : On 1st Jun 1870 she lived near Weldon, in Halifax County, North Carolina with her five children,.  Her husband has apparently passed away by then as his is not present in the household. [8],[9],[10],[11]
Census : On 1st Jun 1880, the widow Vincent lived near Weldon, Halifax County, North Carolina, with three of her children and a son-in-law.[12],[13]

Death

There are no other references to Elnora in later census records, so it is presumed she died before 1900; (There was no 1890 Census Record.) however, I have been unable to find a definitive death record.



TIMELINE of Elnora Busby Vincent
Birth
About 1818 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
~7
Birth
About 1825 – Usa (North Carolina)
<>8&9
Birth
Between 2 Jun 1826 and 1 Jun 1827 – ? (Nansemond, Virginia, United States)
<>26&27
Birth of her child Virginia  Vinson
Between 2 Jun 1844 and 1 Jun 1845 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
~27
Birth of her child Virginia  Vinson
9 February 1845 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
<>28&29
Birth of her daughter Elizabeth  Vinson
Between 2 Jun 1846 and 1 Jun 1847 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
~29
Birth of her daughter Susan R  Vinson
About 1847 – Usa (North Carolina)
~30
Birth of her daughter Susan R  Vinson
22 Aug 1848 – Usa (North Carolina)
~30
Birth of her daughter Susan R  Vinson
22 Aug 1848
~32
Census (Participant)
1 Jun 1850 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
<>33&34
Birth of her son James W  Vincent
Between 2 Jun 1851 and 1 Jun 1852 – Usa (North Carolina)
<>34&35
Birth of her son James W  Vincent
Between 2 Jun 1852 and 1 Jun 1853 – Usa (North Carolina)
~37
Birth of her son Benjamin J Vincent
About 1855 – Halifax County,USA – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
<>39&40
Birth of her son Joseph Burkett Vincent
Between 2 Jun 1857 and 1 Jun 1858 – Usa (North Carolina)
~42
Census (Participant)
1 Jun 1860 – Western District,USA – Weldon (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
<>42&43
Birth of her daughter Ellen B  Vincent
Between 2 Jun 1860 and 1 Jun 1861 – Usa (North Carolina)
~44
Birth of her daughter Ellen B  Vincent
1862 – Usa (North Carolina)
~48
Marriage of her daughter Susan R  Vinson with Peter Fletcher  Howell
10 December 1866 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
<52
Death of her spouse John Vincent
Before 1870
~52
Census (Participant)
1 Jun 1870 – USA – Weldon (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
~62
Census (Participant)
1 Jun 1880 – Weldon (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
~92
Death of her daughter Susan R  Vinson
1 Mar 1910 – Usa (North Carolina)
~99
Death of her son Joseph Burkett Vincent
31 Aug 1917 – Roanoke Rapids (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)

Endnotes:

[1] Note: Benjaman Vincent’s Death Certificate indicated mother as Elnora Busby.   In the 1850 Census an Eliza Beasley, age 30 is also living with               bly a sister. In the 1860 Census Ellenior is 35.  The change in name from Lenora and the 7 year change in age make me think that Lenora and Ellenior are two different people and that John married a again between 1850 and 1860.
[2] Note: John Vincent – Age 33 – Farmer – Property value $50 – Born Halifax County. Lenora – 32 – Born Halifax County Virginia – 5 – Born Halifax County  Elizabeth – 3 – Born Halifax County Susan – 1 – Born Halifax County Eliza Beasley – 30 – Born Halifax County – Could not read &amp; write.  — Family 637 — Elizabeth Vincent – Age 64 – Born Halifax County Nancy – Age 25 – Born Halifax County – Could not read &amp; write.
[3] Source: 1850 Census / John Vincent  – Family Search (Other)
[4] Cause/Information: Census
[5] Note: Farmer – Real Estate Value: $800 – Personal Estate Value $538 – Cannot Read & Write.
[6] Mentioned: John Vincent (Participant), 43  , Head – Farmer -Real Estate Value: $800 – Personal Estate Value $538 – Cannot Read & Write. – Elnora Busby (Participant), 35  , Seamstress. – Virginia  Vinson (Participant), 14  , Attending School – Susan R  Vinson (Participant), 12  , Attending School – James W  Vincent (Participant), 8  , Attending School – Benjamin J Vincent (Participant), 5  , Attending School – Joseph Burkett Vincent (Participant), 2   – Elizabeth  (vinson) (Participant), 75 
[7] Source: 1860 Census / John Vinson – Family Search (Other)
[8] Cause/Information: Census
[9] Note: Farmer, Property value: $1,800, Personal Property value: $600, Born in Virginia.
[10] Mentioned: Elnora Busby (Participant), 43   – Elizabeth  Vinson (Participant), 23  , Keeping House – James W  Vincent (Participant), 17  , Farm Labor – Benjamin J Vincent (Participant), 14  , Farm Labor – Joseph Burkett Vincent (Participant), 12  , At Home – Ellen B  Vincent (Participant), 9  , At Home
[11] Source: 1870 Census / Lanore Vincent – Family Search (Other)
[12] Cause/Information: Census
[13] Mentioned: Elnora Busby (Participant), 50  , Widowed – Farmer – Benjamin J Vincent (Participant), 25  , Working Farm – Joseph Burkett Vincent (Participant), 21  , Working Farm – Ellen B  Vincent (Participant), 18  , At Home – Wanick S  Hockaday (Participant), 18  , Married – Working Farm

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Donna in Dallas, TX, at the Melba Theatre – July 20-26, 1924

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Don Taylor
I was cleaning up my computer files and came across an old directory, “/From old Compaq.” I switched to Mac in 2008, so I didn’t hold much hope that anything I found there would be of help. Was I ever wrong! Apparently, I found some interesting things about Donna back in 2007, downloaded them for future analysis, and then forgot about them when I changed computers. Two of the files were clippings from “The Dallas Review” which showed Donna playing at the Melba Theatre in Dallas Texas in 1924. I may have wondered, at the time if it was really my Donna as there was so much wrong in the person’s history. I know a lot more about Donna’s career and know it is the right person, but there are still many items that will require additional research.

Although I don’t recall where I downloaded “The Dallas Review” from, I was able to find the exact same articles in the Dallas Morning News from Genealogy Bank.  
Another set of files, that I’ll write about later, indicate Donna and Earl probably came to Dallas from Nebraska. Certainly, we know she was in Oakland, CA in early June and in Sheboygan, WI in the fall so this is a newly discovered venue for Donna to be at. In fact, this is the first venue I’ve found for Donna in the South.
The only advertising I’ve found was a large ad showing Donna Darling and Earle as an Extra Added Attraction in a “Song and Dance Romance” (See below).
An article on the 21st indicates, “Donna Darling and Earle in a song and dance revue have pep and good appearance. They seemed to enjoy doing their bit and deserved hearty applause.”[i]
The following day, 22 July 1924, has a very interesting article, which says:
DONNA DARLING AT MELBA
BEAUTY CONTEST WINNER
– – – – –
Donna Darling, who is one or the bright spots on the vaudeville stage at the Melba Theater this week, was the 1919 winner of the beauty contest conducted at the New York Hippodrome. This was at the time she was engaged as the prima donna of Charles Dillingham’s notable musical comedy, “Chin Chin.” Prior to this honor Miss Darling had been judged first in the Boston beauty contest
The famous screen star, Grace Darling, is a sister of Miss Darling, who was herself a movie actress at one time. Her vaudeville act is a song and dance revue and she is assisted by Murray Earle, late or George White’s “Scandals,” and is properly called a “dancing fool.”
Of course, the “Chin Chin” promotional materials were always careful to not say there were any leading ladies, let alone a “prima donna.”  I, of course, still wonder about her winning any contests.  I know of one contest in Boston that she entered and didn’t win.  I suppose there may be another contest I don’t know about yet, but I definitely can do more research there.  Also, I’m yet to find confirmation that she actually won a contest in New York. I’ve only found press releases for Donna that indicate she won.
I originally thought that it was just craziness that Donna’s sister was the actress Grace Darling.  Donna didn’t have any siblings (except for a half brother that died as an infant). Then I thought I’d look into Grace Darling’s biography. Wow.  Grace Darling was married to Patrick Rooney.  ROONEY?  Just last year, I learned that Donna married Thomas Valentine Rooney in 1915.  She didn’t marry Sammy until 1926, so it is possible that she was still married to Thomas in 1924, that Thomas’ brother was the Patrick who married Grace Darling.   That would mean that the occasional references to Grace Darling being Donna’s was, in part, true. It could be that Grace Darling was the wife of Donna’s brother-in-law — a “sister” of sorts.  Again, more interesting research is necessary.
Melba Theater
The Melba Theater opened in 1921 as the Hope Theater[ii] ; however, the Julius Cahn – Gus Hill Theatrical Guide – 1922 Supplement does not list the theater.  According to Cinema Treasures, it was taken over by the Interstate Theatre Circuit and renamed the Melba[iii]. This had to occur  sometime before July of 1924 when Donna played there[iv].  About 1960 it was renamed the Capri Theatre and remained so until its closing in the 1970s and its later demolition.
Further Research

Confirm if Donna won a beauty contest at the New York Hippodrome in 1919.
Confirm if Donna was judged first in a Boston beauty contest (before she joined “Chin Chin.”)
Research Murray Earle and determine any relationship.
Determine if the Patrick Rooney that Grace Darling married is related to the Thomas Rooney that Donna married.

Endnotes:

[i] Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) July 21, 1924, Part 1, Page 4 – Via Genealogy Bank.
[ii] Cinema Treasures – Entry for Capri Theatre, 1913 Elm Street,  Dallas, TX 75201. See: https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/7012
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) July 20, 1924, Part 3, Page 6 –  Via Genealogy Bank.
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Kath. Stuckling (c. 1855-bef.1945)Ja

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Don Taylor

Sometimes, when we know virtually nothing about a person we think of the situation as a brick wall. It certainly is a wall, but my goal is to go over, under, around, or through the impediment. There is always a way to progress, albeit a very difficult way to get around it.

Kath. Stuckling Huber
Photo from
Personal Archive.
One of my walls is Kath Stuckling(er).  Not only are there fewer records available online for Switzerland than US records, there is a language barrier, because I don’t read or speak German and what records I do find are brutally slow for me to go through.

Kath. Stuckling is one of those people. I don’t know when she was born, but because her eldest child, John [Johan] was born in 1880, we can guess that Kath was born sometime between 1845 and 1865 (that would make her between 15 and 35 at the time of his birth). Consequently, I use 1855 plus or minus 10 years.

Taken from Wisconsin Marriages 1836-1930
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRGX-6MQ

I’m not even positive that her maiden surname was Stuckling. An index for the above record indicates her name as Stucklinger. When I ordered the microfilm and reviewed it (see above) at my local Family History Library, I couldn’t see the “er” at the end. Maybe it is visible in the original document, but, I don’t see it in this microfilm version. So, either there is an error in the index or an error in the image on the microfilm,  Anyway, because I can’t see the “er,” I’m sticking with Stuckling for now, although I do have Stucklinger as a possible alternative. 

I suspect that Kath and Jacob were married one to two years before their oldest child, John, was born.
Jakob Huber Family c. 1900
Family Personal Photo Archive
Key for Jakob Huber Family Photo
We do have a photo of Kath as part of a family portrait taken about 1900., before her son John left for the United States. The children’s names are based upon that photo and the marks on the back.

Finally, I’m going to make a wild estimate that Kath died before she was 90, although I have absolutely no reason to make that speculation. Anyway, I’ll guess she died before 1945.

So here is what I have and/or speculate:

Katherine Stucklinger, born c. 1855 in Switzerland.
Married John Huber c. 1878.
Lived Windlach, Zurich, Switzerland.
Five children (Probably).

John – Born 1880
Ernie –
Hermann –
Alfred –
Frieda –
Died: (probably) before 1945.

I’ve tried finding out more about Katherine and Jacob. I’m not finding them or their children in any of the systems I use. I’m still looking though. But, I’m almost to the point of wanting to take a field trip to Switzerland to continue researching or hiring someone in Windlach to find birth, marriage, and death record for Kath, her husband, and four of her children.

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Relinking Family Tree Maker 3 — David Swayze in 1820 Census.

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Don Taylor

Relinking Family Tree Maker 3

Frustration strikes again with the linkage between Family Tree Maker 3 for Mac and my tree on Ancestry. I’m not sure how it happened but my Family Tree Maker (FTM) file for the Darling-Huber tree said it wasn’t linked to Ancestry, but when I went to Ancestry, it indicated that it was linked with Family Tree Maker and gave me the file name it was linked in. The same one that said it wasn’t linked. My on-line tree has many people I’m sharing with and my FTM has underlying source links and media that I don’t want to lose connections to.

I called Ancestry and spoke to their support. No help. They told me to break the tree, then go to FTM, start a new tree, and then download from Ancestry. Basically, revert to Ancestry’s version of my data. I have done that in the past and found that my sources were generally all messed up and that most of the media I had with my sources seemed to be lost. Then I happened upon a new idea.

I decided to go ahead and break the tree on Ancestry. Then in FTM, create a new tree by importing from Ancestry. After that task was complete, I merged my old FTM file into the new one. After completion there were a few duplicated individuals and a few duplicated sources but, all the connections appear to be correct. That’s okay. I’d rather have duplicates that I can select the best source from than have missing source information.
I’ll work with it for a while and let you know if I find any serious problems.

David Sweazy [Sr.] & the 1820 Census

The 1920 Census is always problematic because only the head of the household is named. Others in the household are only given a range of ages, sex, and status. There is also identification of what sector of the economy the individual was engaged in.

1820 Census Entry for David Sweazy – Image via Ancestry.Com.

I find it important to analyze the census information and associate all that I can determine.

For example:

The David Sweazy household of Richland, Fairfield County Ohio[i].
Census Item
Value
WM* Ages to 10
2
1 Presumed to be William Marsh who was age 6.
1 Presumed to be Daniel S who was 9 or 10.
WM ages 16 to 26
1
Presumed to be Evan who was 17 or 18.
David Jr. is enumerated elsewhere in the Census.
WM ages 26 to 45
3
All three are unknown individuals.
WM 45 & Up
1
Oldest male presumed to be David Sweazy age 58
WF** 10 to 16
3
1 Presumed to be Edith, age 12 or 13.
1 presumed to be Elizabeth, age 15 or 16.
1 Possibly Sarah who would be 19 or 20.
WF 45 & Up
1
Presumed to be wife Alice, age 51
* WM = White Males | **WF = White Females

In addition, an entry indicates that four people were engaged in Agriculture and one was engaged in Manufacture.

First, I believe there is enough detail to assure that I have the correct David Swazey/Swayze.

Then I take the information that is there and derive the following facts

For David, William, Daniel, Evan, Edith Elizabeth, and Alice I would add the following:

Name – I’d add Sweazy as an alternate surname for all.
Birth – In the Notes section, I’d add, “1820 Census is consistent.

For David – Census – Date: 7 Aug 1820 | Place: Richland, Fairfield, Ohio: Living with 10 others in household, He was engaged in either Agriculture or Manufacture.

For Sarah, – Birth – in the Notes section, I’d add “1820 Census is NOT Consistent” Sarah may have been 10 to 16 in 1820 Census or may be numerated elsewhere.

In the notes for the 1820 Census Source Citation I’d add: Neighbors: Love, Bailey, McBride, & Young
For Alice and any of the children, I might or might not add:

Lived 7 Aug 1820 – Richland, Fairfield, Ohio – Presumed to be living with (father) David Swayze.

I think that fairly well covers the things that we know from the Census. I would love to hear in the comments anyone who thinks I missed a fact or I added a “fact” not in evidence.

David Sweazy [Jr.] & the 1820 Census

Using the same process for David Sweazy (Jr.) I find

1820 Census entry for David Sweazy [Jr.] from Ancestry.Com

The same process for

David Sweazy [Jr.] household of Richland, Fairfield, Ohio[ii]:
Census Item
Value
WM* Ages to 10
1
Unknown male – b. 1810-1820
WM ages 16 to 26
1
Presumed to be David [Jr.] Age 24
WM ages 26 to 45
1
Unknown Male born b. 1775-1794
WF** to 10
1
Presumed to be Elizabeth, age 2
WF 26 to 45
1
Presumed to be Catherine, Age 25-26
WF 45 & Up
1
Unknown female – b. bef 1775

* WM = White Males | **WF = White FemalesIn addition, an entry indicates that two people were engaged in Agriculture.

This Census is a bit more concerning because a daughter, Emily Ann Swayze is not accounted for. If she was born on 21 Jan 1820 she should be enumerated here but isn’t. Also, there are two other adults who are unknown. We know that David’s parents were enumerated elsewhere, so, these two adults could possibly be Katherine’s parents, James & Margaret. Everything else seems to fit so I’m going to accept this entry as being that of David Swayze/Sweezey

Facts Found

For David, Elizabeth, and Catherine I would add the following:

Name – I’d add Sweazy as an alternate surname for all.
Birth – In the Notes section, I’d add, “1820 Census is consistent.

For David – Census – Date: 7 Aug 1820 | Place: Richland, Fairfield, Ohio: Living with five others in household, He was engaged in Agriculture.

For Emily – Birth Notes – 1820 Census NOT Consistent – Not enumerated. May have been born after 7 Aug 1820.

For Emily – Under Tasks – Analyze birth information regarding Emily. Could she have been born after 7 Aug 1820?

In the notes for the 1820 Census Source Citation I’d add: Neighbors: Noble(?), Williams, Marguhart, & Martin
In my research notes for Catherine’s parents, James & Margaret Walker, I’d add

the following note:“Conjecture:  May have lived with daughter Catherine during 1820 Census. “

And under my tasks for them, add a task to search for James Walker in the 1820 Census.

Again, I would love to hear in the comments below if anyone thinks I missed a fact or I added a “fact” not in evidence.

Endnotes
—–

[i] “United States Census, 1820,” Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLS-J2K : accessed 16 June 2015), David Sweazy, Richland, Fairfield, Ohio; citing p. 191, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 87; FHL microfilm 181,393.

[ii] “United States Census, 1820,” Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLS-VQG : accessed 16 June 2015), David Sweezy, Richland, Fairfield, Ohio; citing p. 188, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 87; FHL microfilm 181,393.
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My Wife’s DNA Results

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Don Taylor
I was bad. I mean, I was very bad. I got my wife an Ancestry autosomal DNA test for her birthday. Sure, she received some other gifts from me, but she thinks the autosomal DNA test was more for me than for her. She’s probably right – actually, she’s always right. I like figuring out relationships of DNA matches. For me it is great sport and she knows me well. So, I guess it really was my gift to me on the occasion of the celebration of her birth.  


After the test was done and the results were received, I started looking at her results. Ireland, Scandinavia, Great Britain – no surprises there. Iberian Peninsula is a bit odd, but not unbelievable. Then it hit me – No Swiss!? That is very odd. Two of her great grandparents emigrated from Switzerland. Her great-grandfather, John Huber, came from Windlach, Zürich, Switzerland. Family oral history says that his family farmed the same land for 800 years. Her great-grandmother, Bertha Trümpi, came from Ennenda, Glarus, Switzerland. With both great-grandparents coming from Switzerland, I would have expected her grandmother to have been 100% Swiss. With her grandmother being 100%, I expected my wife to be about 25% Swiss. However, there was no reference to that ancestry in Ancestor.Com’s ethnicity profile for her. That is really odd. Now, the “trace regions” make up 10% of her DNA, but diving into that showed that she about 9% Italian, Greek, and “Europe West.” Anyway, 9% is a far cry away from the 25% that I expected. I’ll have to see if I can get her mother to test as well and see what comes through from those results.

About 9% from areas that include Switzerland

Although the Ethnicity Estimates are fun, the real reason for DNA testing is to make connections with others researching the same family trees and to facilitate communications between cousins researching the same family. For that, I was disappointed that Ancestry allows you to connect your DNA profile only to one tree. Long ago, I separated my wife’s family trees into two different trees – one for her paternal line and one for her maternal line. The biggest reason I did that was that other people, who are researching one line, are never researching the other line. I’ve also found that few people really care about the genealogy of individuals related only by the marriage of a distant cousin. Anyway, I think Ancestry should allow you to link an individual’s DNA to any tree that they are a part of.

Anyway, because Ancestry.com doesn’t allow for multiple trees to be linked to an individual DNA profile, I needed to create a new tree just for her autosomal DNA results. So, I exported her two trees, then merged them into one, uploaded that as a new tree, and then linked her DNA to that tree. Sigh… Not a huge task, but now I have an instance of her tree that I probably will not manage.

I looked closer at the DNA Matches. Wow, 180 matches at 4th cousin or closer. That’s amazing. One of the matches shared a common ancestor hint. A new 4th cousin’s relationship appeared. Ancestry showed my wife’s tree going up to the common ancestor and back down to the cousin.

Then I looked at the cousin’s tree closer. She had parents for that common ancestor, names that I didn’t have. So, I now have two new ancestors named. The great thing is that individual also had sources for those ancestors. I can then take what she has and determine if I can follow her analysis and see if I agree. So, it is a great beginning to another research project.

Matching tree from Ancestry.com 
(first two generations not displayed) 

The other matches (3rd cousin or closer) either have private trees or do not have meaningful trees on Ancestry  matched to their DNA. I will need to contact each individual and see if they have a tree elsewhere they will share with me. In any event, there are many new leads to follow because of the autosomal DNA testing of my wife.

Actions to take:

Have my wife’s mother tested though Ancestry.
Follow-up research with Catherine A.D. Walter (wife’s shared common ancestor).
Contact each of the 5 people identified as 3rd cousins and
   see if we can determine the relationship and
   identify and research any new ancestor leads.  

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