Events in My Family Tree: December 24

This day's list includes the three spelling variants of Gantt, Gaunt, and Gauntt that I know of in my family.

Births

Paul Avery Gantt, son of Daniel Taylor Gantt and Phoebe Thomas, was born December 24, 1898 in Steele City, Jefferson County, Nebraska.  He is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gantts.

Joseph Frederick Baer was born December 24, 1914 in Roebling, Burlington County, New Jersey.  He was married to Nellie Elizabeth Sellers, daughter of Cornelius Elmer Sellers and Laura May Armstrong, who is my grandaunt.

Floyd Richard Williams, son of Floyd Richard Williams and Susie Lee Adams, was born December 24, 1930 in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia.  He is the father of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Chris Eve Meeks, daughter of Donald Wayne Meeks and Mary Lu Sherman, was born December 24, 1954, probably in Indiana.  She is my 6th cousin 1x removed on my Gauntt line through the Shermans.

Simon Berkowitz was born December 24, 1958.  He is married to Sheryl Millstein, daughter of Irwin Millstein and Julia Baena, who is my 2nd cousin 1x removed on my Gorodetsky line through the Millsteins.

Linda Sue Gauntt, daughter of David Lester Gauntt and Virginia Carolyn Petersen, was born December 24, 1962, possibly in New Jersey.  She is my 5th cousin 1x removed on my Gauntt line.

Bobby Wollock was born December 24, 1985.  He is my 3rd cousin.

Marriages

Reuben T. Gaunt, son of Hananiah Gaunt and Rebecca Mulliner, and Hannah S. Lewallen were married December 24, 1807 in Waterford, Gloucester County, New Jersey.  Reuben is my 3rd-great-granduncle.

Benjamin Gaunt, son of Benjamin Selah Gaunt and Hannah Ann Peters, and Mary Elizabeth Sever were married December 24, 1868 in Southampton, Burlington County, New Jersey.  Benjamin is my half 1st cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Samuel W. Thackeray and Virginia R. Gaunt, daughter of Benjamin Franklin Gaunt and Elizabeth K. Frazer, were married December 24, 1885, probably in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Virginia is my 2nd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Herbert McGinnis and Mary Jane Gaunt, daughter of James Knox Polk Gaunt and Sarah Naomi Boone, were married December 24, 1902, probably in California.  Mary is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Richard J. Merrill and Yedida Marcia Amine, daughter of Moshe Amine and Florence Meckler, were married December 24, 1975 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.  Yedida is my 1st cousin 1x removed on my Meckler line.

Deaths

Claudia L. Githens, daughter of Thomas G. Githens and Emma D. Runyan, died December 24, 1908, probably in New Jersey, at the age of 18.  She is my 5th cousin 1x removed on my Gauntt line through the Githenses.

Phoebe Emily Gaunt, daughter of Redden N. Gaunt and Pauline E. Smoot, died December 24, 1928 in Perth, Sumner County, Kansas at the age of 82.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

John Clendon Vaughn, son of John E. Vaughn and Bertha Florence Gaunt, died December 24, 1979 in Butte County, California at the age of 69.  He is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Events in My Family Tree: December 21

Gary Lederman was not born on the anniversary of his grandfather's death, because they were Jewish, and the important date for the death is the one on the Jewish calendar, to commemorate the yahrzeit.  Gabriel Lederman died on 15 Tevet, but Gary was born on 5 Tevet, so not the same date.  He was named for his grandfather, though.

Births

Almira B. Githens, daughter of Thomas Githens and Mary Gaunt, was born December 21, 1830 in New Jersey, possibly in Camden County.  She is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Hannah Gaunt, daughter of Uz Gaunt and Sarah Ann Whitacre, was born December 21, 1854 in Ohio, possibly in Wabash County.  She is also my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Veronica Barbara Hudson, daughter of George Richard Hudson and Elizabeth Giacomozzi, was born December 21, 1957, possibly in New Jersey.  She is my 5th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Hudsons.

Gary William Lederman, son of Murray Lederman and Linda Feller, was born December 21, 1963 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  He is my 2nd cousin 1x removed on my Gorodetsky line through the Ledermans.

Aryn Sharma was born December 21, 2005.  He is the grandnephew of my aunt Mary McStroul and her sister Anna McStroul, the half-nephew of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams, and the son of Angela's half-sister Beth Williams.

Marriages

John Corwin Gaunt, son of Ner Gaunt and Agnes Corwin, and Elizabeth D. McEachern were married December 21, 1871 in  Pana, Christian County, Illinois.  John is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

John Henry Talbot and Elizabeth Jean McStroul, daughter of Eugene Washington McStroul and Elizabeth Almira Heath, were married December 21, 1958 in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona.  Jean is the sister of my aunt Mary McStroul and her sister Anna McStroul, and the mother of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams and her half-sister Beth Williams.

Simon Berkowitz and Sheryl Millstein, daughter of Irwin Millstein and Julie Baena, were married December 21, 1985 in Connecticut.  Sheryl is my 2nd cousin 1x removed on my Gorodetsky line through the Millsteins.

Deaths

Joseph William Whitacre, son of Joseph Whitacre and Anna Gaunt, died December 21, 1879 in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana at the age of 45.  He is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Gabriel William Lederman died December 21, 1953 in Manhattan, New York County, New York at the age of about 50.  He was married to Anna Gordon (originally Chana Gorodetsky), daughter of Avigdor Gorodetsky and Esther Leah Schneiderman, who is my great-grandaunt.

Events in My Family Tree: November 24

Viola Votaw died on her sister Phoebe's 15th wedding anniversary.

Births

Claudia L. Githens, daughter of Thomas G. Githens and Emma D. Runyan, was born Novembe 24, 1899 in New Jersey.  She is my 5th cousin 1x removed on my Gauntt line through the Githenses.

John Oren Clark, son of Gilbert Lewis Clark and Helen Opal Abbott, was born November 24, 1946 in Indiana.  He is my 5th cousin 1x removed on my Gauntt line through the Clarks.

Zachary Berkowitz was born November 24, 1989.  He is my 3rd cousin.

Amber Lynn Hutchison was born November 24, 1992.  She is my half 1st cousin 2x removed.

Marriages

John Gaunt, son of Hananiah Gaunt and Ann Ridgway, and Jean Satterthwaite were married November 24, 1756, probably in Burlington County, New Jersey.  John is my 5th-great-granduncle via the Gaunts.

William Augusta Heath, son of Henry Heath and Eliza Bullock, and Mary Codner were married November 24, 1879 in Thurman, Warren County, New York.  William is the great-granduncle of my aunt Mary McStroul and the great-great-granduncle of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

William Lewis Baldwin, Sr. and Phoebe Elizabeth Votaw, daughter of Daniel W. Votaw and Louisa Gaunt, were married November 24, 1910 in Wabash County, Indiana.  Phoebe is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Howard Bruce Chesler and Sheryl Debra Gordon, daughter of Sidney Gordon and Beatrice Roll, were married November 24, 1974 in Flushing, Queens, New York.  Sheryl is my 1st cousin 2x removed on my Gordon line.

Deaths

Effie F. Gaunt, daughter of Charles R. Gaunt and Anna B. Folwell, died November 24, 1895 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey at the age of 26.  She is my 3rd cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Albertine P. Gaunt, daughter of Henry Plummer Gaunt and Emma Smith, died November 24, 1913, possibly in Gloucester, Camden County, New Jersey, at the age of 58.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Viola Votaw, daughter of Daniel W. Votaw and Louisa Gaunt, died November 24, 1925 in Wabash County, Indiana at the age of 50.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed on my Gauntt line through the Votaws.

Lulu Harris, daughter of Robert Miller Harris and Blanche Gaunt, died November 24, 1959 in Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana at the age of 65.  She is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Ida Mekler, daughter of Eliezer Mekler and Esther Baila, died November 24, 1959 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at the age of about 75.  She is my 1st cousin 3x removed via the Meklers.

Orville James Gage, son of James W. Gage and Mary Rosella Hutson, died November 24, 1975 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio at the age of 78.  He is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Hutsons.

William Hymell Kelley, son of Joseph Kelley and Martha W. Lawrence, died November 24, 2006, possibly in Seminole, Pinellas County, Florida, at the age of 80.  He is the 2nd cousin 1x removed of my 1st cousin Albert Lore on his Eckman line through the Lawrences.

Events in My Family Tree: April 27

Two different girls, from two different family lines, were born on their aunts' birthdays on this date.

Births

Mary Ann Gantt, daughter of Joseph Gantt (originally Gaunt) and Mary Ann McGowan, was born April 27, 1833 in Pennsylvania, possibly in Perry County.  She is my 2nd cousin 4x removed.

Thomas Dunstan, son of Frederick Cleworth Dunstan and Martha Winn, was born April 27, 1861 in Gorton (Brook), Manchester, Lancashire, England.  He is my great-granduncle.

Harvey Joseph Gaunt, Jr., son of Harvey Joseph Gaunt and Jane Marie Conway, was born April 27, 1923 in Haddonfield, Camden County, New Jersey.  He is my 2nd cousin once removed.

Victor Gordon, son of Morris Gordon and Rose Sopher, was born April 27, 1936 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  He is my 1st cousin 2x removed.

Marilyn Joy Jack, daughter of Ivan Robert Jack and Mary Gaunt, was born April 27, 1939 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  She is my 6th cousin via the Gaunts.

Ellen Beth Millstein, daughter of Irwin Millstein and Julia Baena, was born April 27, 1954 in Connecticut.  She is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Gordon line through the Millsteins.

Marilyn Joy Study, daughter of Jon Allen Study and Carolyn Sue Jack, was born April 27, 1959, possibly in Indiana.  She is my 6th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Jacks and was born on her aunt Marilyn Jack's birthday (above).

Rebecca Berkowitz was born April 27, 1987 in Connecticut.  She is my 3rd cousin on my Gordon line, and was born on her aunt Ellen Millstein's birthday (above).

Sarah Wickham wsa born April 27, 2001.  She is the 3rd cousin once removed of my half-sister Laurie Sellers.

Marriages

Ora Myron Gaunt, son of David Clinton Gaunt and Martha Sophronia Hartman, and Ruth Arline Stewart were married on April 27, 1918 in Dunkirk, Jay County, Indiana.  Ora is my 4th cousin 2x removed.

Charles Yates and Grace Allen, daughter of Russell Roberts Allen and Estella A. Horner, were married on April 27, 1946, probably in New Jersey.  Grace is my 5th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Julian Saul Perlman, son of Abraham Sam Perlman and Stella Joffe, and Elain Fensterwald were married on April 27, 1960 in Manhattan, New York County, New York.  Julian is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Nowicki line through the Perlmans.

Patrick Kirkland Gauntt, son of James Kirkland Gauntt and Cornelia Brown, and Mary Louise Quinones were married on April 27, 1979 in Bexar County, Texas.  Patrick is my 1st cousin once removed.

Deaths

Barbara Bach died April 27, 1900, probably in Pennsylvania.  She was married to Mahlon S. Sellers, son of Thomas Sellers and Elizabeth Schellenberger, who is my 2nd cousin 4x removed.

Mary Gaunt, daughter of David Gaunt and Pamela Plummer, also died April 27, 1900, possibly in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  She is also my 2nd cousin 4x removed.

Events in My Family Tree: April 9

While putting this day's list together, I realized that I was born on the same day that Mirka Ajzner, the mother of my dear cousin Esther Weinstein, passed away.

Births

George Wendel Votaw, son of Millard F. Votaw and Ida May Fisher, was born April 9, 1907 in Indiana, probably in Wabash County.  He is my 4th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Votaws.

Cecilia Keselman was born April 9, 1945 in Colón, Panamá.  She was married to Samuel Socherman, son of William Socherman (originally Velvel Szocherman) and Anna Tania Jakowszycka, who is my 4th cousin on my Nowicki line through the Szochermans.

Richard Wright, son of Alvin Wright and Dorothy Simcox, was born April 9, 1954.  He is the 2nd cousin of my 1st cousin Albert Lore.

Janice Marie Sellers (me!) was born April 9, 1962 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, at Los Angeles County Hospital, now known as USC County Medical Center.

Patricia Marie Gauntt was born April 9, 1980 in Bexar County, Texas.  She is my 2nd cousin.

Jacob Berkowitz was born April 9, 1985 in Connecticut.  He is my 3rd cousin on my Gordon line.

Yonatan Arieh Monat was born April 9, 1996 in Wellesley, Norfolk County, Massachusetts.  He is my 3rd cousin on my Brainin line.

Marriages

David Comstock and Patricia Ann Largess, daughter of Raymond Albert Largess and Dorothy Adelle Allen, were married on April 9, 1976, possibly in Florida.  Patricia is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Avy Zohar and Sharon Gale Garfield, daughter of Irwin Garfield (originally Garfinkel) and Lenore Schachter, were married on April 9, 1984 in Rehovet, Israel.  Sharon is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

Deaths

Mirka Ajzner, daughter of Henach Ajzner and Feiga Glombovsky, died April 9, 1962 at the age of about 57 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  She was married to Morris Garfinkel, son of Yikusee'ael Garfinkel and Sora Rivka Mekler, who is my 2nd cousin 2x removed, but she also may be related to me, because we have Ajzners who married Meklers.

Sam Lieff died April 9, 1969 at the age of 65, probably in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  He was married to Libby Kardish, daughter of Dovid Kardish and Etta Gorodetsky, who is my 1st cousin 2x removed via the Gorodetskys.

Celia Perlmutter, daughter of Maishe Eli Perlmutter and Ethel Nowicki, died April 9, 1980 at the age of about 96 in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota.  She is my 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Nowickis.

William Richardson Chase, son of Alfred Joseph Chase and Emma Naylor, died April 9, 2000 at the age of 82 in Burlington, Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Naylors.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Who in Your Database Has Your Birthday?

In this week's challenge for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun, Randy Seaver has us crunching data in our genealogy databases:

Your mission this week, should you decide to accept it, is to:

(1) Are there persons in your genealogy database who have the same exact birth date that you do?  If so, tell us about them — what do you know, and how are they related to you?

(2) Are there persons in your database who are your ancestors and share your birthday (but not the year)?   How many, and who are they?

(3)  Are there other persons in your database who share your birthday (but not the year)?  How many, and who are they?

(4) For bonus points, how did you determine this?  What feature or process did you use in your software to work this problem out?  I think the Calendar feature probably does it, but perhaps you have a trick to make this work outside of the Calendar function.

(5) Share your answers on your own blog, in a comment to this post, or on Facebook or Google+.  Be sure to leave a link in Comments to your post.

So here's my little data dump.

(1) No one in my database has the exact same birthday that I do, April 9, 1962 (my birthday was a week ago Sunday).  Like Randy, I didn't really expect to find anyone.

(2) None of my ancestors for whom I have complete birthdates was born on April 9.

(3) Of the people in my database for whom I have complete birthdates (I don't know how many that is), only six persons were also born on April 9, and they're all in the 20th century.

• April 9, 1907, George Wendel Votaw, 4th cousin twice removed
• April 9, 1917, Anna Marie Stayton, grand-aunt-in-law
• April 9, 1945, Cecelia Keselman, ex-4th cousin-in-law
• April 9, 1980, Patricia Marie Gauntt, 2nd cousin
• April 9, 1995, Jacob Berkowitz, 3rd cousin
• April 9, 1996, Yoni Monat, 3rd cousin

The only one I remembered beforehand is my cousin Yoni.  I do have several people with only the month of April and no specific day, so it's possible there are a few more.  I so need to have time to work on my own family research.

(4) This did not work as well as it should have.  I use Family Tree Maker v. 16, which does have a calendar function.  Unfortunately, when I ran it, it gave me 57 copies of each month, and every single one was empty, even though I double-checked to make sure it was supposed to be searching through the entire database.  So I had to do a manual search in the birthdate field.  For my search term I used "April 9."  Also unfortunately, this too did not work as well as I had hoped.  It picked up all birthdates that started with "about", "before", and "between" and anything with just a year.  Altogether, I paged through 1,806 entries to come up with my list of six people.  You could say I'm a little . . . disappointed in FTM's performance.

My database, by the way, has only 7,956 individuals in it, as compared to Randy's 47,500 (which I am just astounded at!).  Randy had .14% of the people in his database with the same birthdate but a different year.  For me the figure was .07% of my database with the same birthdate.  Pretty small numbers there for both of us.

Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Relatives Born on My Birth Date

Randy's challenge tonight for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun was to find out if any of your ancestors or cousins had the same birth date as you do:

1)  What is your birth date (not the year, only month and day)?

2)  Review your records, or use your genealogy management program to create a list of persons in your database born on your birth date.  Are any of them your ancestors, or siblings of your ancestor?  Tell us how you figured it out too.

3)  List one or more of those born on your birth date in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or on Facebook or Google+. 

1.  My birthday is April 9 (which is also the date of the official ending of the American Civil War, when Robert E. Lee surrendered).

2.  I used my family tree program to look for this information.  I have information on additional relatives who are not yet entered in my program, so there may be another birth date match somewhere.  I was surprised to learn that I could not search by month in the birth date field.  What I ended up doing was creating an index of all the individuals in my database (7,626 people) and sorting it by birth year, then scanning each year for April 9.  Kludgy, I know, but it was the quickest way to do it.

I found six people with April 9 as their birthday.  None of them is an ancestor or a sibling of an ancestor.  The closest relative is a second cousin, the most remote a fourth cousin twice removed.  One person is not related to me at all; like Randy, I have information about extended family members in my tree.  I determined the relationships by using the relationship calculator function in the family tree program.  The earliest birth year is 1907, the most recent 1996.

I already knew that my third cousin Yoni and I have the same birthday.  We call each other "birthday cousins", which I mentioned in a post about him winning a sportswriter award in 2013.