Top Five Surprises in Genealogy Research - SNGF

Randy Seaver's suggestion for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun yesterday was this:

"What are your top five surprises you have found in your genealogy research and family history work?"

I was surprised to learn

• that my father was a twin, that his twin sister died a few days after they was born, and that their mother died a few weeks later.  So sad for that little family.  (As I've mentioned before, I come from a long line of non-storytellers.)


• that my maternal grandfather, W. C. Robert had so many siblings, which my mom and her siblings didn't seem to know.  It seems they knew only of Grampa, five sisters, and one brother.  In total there were 15 siblings, one of which I can't find.  Whenever anyone asked Grampa about his childhood and family he would say, "Go ask Aunt Mina."


• that 3 of my great-grandmothers had 14 or more children:  Elizabeth Jane (Laws) Doyle had 14 children; Elizabeth (Armitage) Meinzen had 15 children; and Elvira (Bartley) Gerner had 16 children.  I'm in awe.


• that my maternal grandmother's grandfather, Ellis Bickerstaff, committed suicide.  Such sorrow.


• that two of my great-grandfathers, John Froman and William Doyle (the elder), died when their wives were pregnant.  Strong women.


• how many of my ancestors among the first five generations (not including mine) were coal miners.   There are a total of ten.  On my father's side:  my father Lee Doyle, Gust Doyle, William Doyle, Andrew Doyle, William Doyle (the elder), Robert Laws, John Froman, and Jacob Saylor; and on my mother's side, Abel Armitage and Robert Nelson.  Strong men.

This was a great and fun activity, Randy.  Thank you.  It helped me realize how few family groups I've posted here.  I need to do that.

—Nancy.

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