Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Which Ancestors Were Born on This Date?

Tonight for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun, Randy Seaver asked a question specifically about ancestor birth dates, which I'm having to adapt a little.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission:  Impossible! music) is:

(1) Which of your ancestors were born on this day, 31 March 2018?  How can you find out?  Tell us how you did it.

(2) If you don't have an ancestor born on this date, then select another date in March and list those.

(3) Share your findings in your own blog post or in comments on this blog post, on Facebook, or on Google+.

First of all, Randy obviously didn't really mean an ancestor born on March 31, 2018.  A descendant might be possible, but not an ancestor.  In addition, I have no ancestor whose birth date fell on March 31.  I found two ancestors with March birthdays, but two different dates, so I'm listing them both.

As to how I found the information, I have previously exported a GEDCOM file from my primary database in Family Tree Maker and imported it into Reunion because the date search function in FTM is, frankly, awful.  It isn't perfect in Reunion for single digits, but it's a vast improvement over FTM.  I had already done this because since the beginning of the year I've been posting the births, marriages, and deaths from my family tree on a (somewhat) daily basis.  The search is easy:  Command-F (for find), then select "Birth Date" and the date you want.  Twelve people in my database were born on March 31, but, as I said, none of them is an ancestor.

These are my March ancestors:

1.  Sophia Bodder (1762–1836), daughter of Peter Bodder and Regina Ditor, was born March 9, probably in Pennsylvania.  She is my 4x-great-grandmother.  She married Abraham Sellers (abt. 1758–1831) in 1780 in Franconia, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  My family line is through their son Peter Franklin Sellers (1800–1863), who married Rachel Godshalk (1809–1894).

2.  Esther Lillian Gordon (1919–2006), daughter of Joe Gordon and Sarah Libby Brainin, was born March 6 in Manhattan, New York County, New York.  She is my maternal grandmother.  She married Abraham Meckler (1912–1989), son of Morris Meckler and Minnie Zelda Nowicki, in 1939 in Bronx, Bronx County, New York.  I am descended from their daughter, Myra Roslyn Meckler (1940–1995), who married Bertram Lynn Sellers, Jr. (1935– ).

Events in My Family Tree: March 19

I am amazed that I have four 5th cousins once removed, all related to me on my Gauntt line, whose birthdays fell on March 19.

Births

Joseph Wesley Gantt, son of Joseph Gantt (originally Gaunt) and Mary A. McGowan, was born March 19, 1829, possibly in Pennsylvania.  He is my 2nd cousin 4x removed.

Joseph M. Hunsberger, son of Abraham Hunsberger and Elizabeth Wismer, was born March 19, 1847 in Hillstown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  He is my 4th cousin 3x removed on my Sellers line through the Hunsbergers.

Margaret Williams was born March 19, 1884 in Indiana.  She was married to David Wise Gaunt, son of Arthur Lee Gaunt and Rachel Lavinia Stutsman, who is my 4th cousin 2x removed.

Sadie Elizabeth Clark was born March 19, 1915 in Western Australia, Australia.  She is the maternal grandmother of my 1st cousin Jeff Gordon.

Darrell Paul Gaunt, son of Edward Lee Gaunt and Ethyl Fay Davison, was born March 19, 1918 in Jefferson Township, Wells County, Indiana.  He is my 5th cousin once removed.

Robert Melvin Vaughn, son of Melville Everett Vaughn and Evelyn Virginia Ballenger, was born March 19, 1943 in Hanford, Kings County, California.  He is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Vaughns.

Nancy Mich, daughter of Francis Mich and Janet Edna Weaver, was born March 19, 1949.  She is also my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line, but through the Weavers.

Steven Alan Schumeister, son of Hymen Samuel Schumeister and Freda Gene Grossman, was born March 19, 1950 in Ramsey County, Minnesota.  He is my 4th cousin on my Nowicki line through the Schumeisters.

John James Hudson, Jr. was born March 19, 1967.  He is another 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line.

Aaron Kardish was born March 19, 1975 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  He is my 3rd cousin on my Gorodetsky line.

Danielle Brianne Hughes was born March 19, 1985 in Orange County, California.  She is the 1st cousin once removed of my aunt Mary Edith McStroul.

Taylor Marie Mankin was born March 19, 1999 in Fullerton, Orange County, California.  She is the niece of my 1st cousin Jeff Gordon.

Marriage

James Gaunt, son of James Gauntt and Amelia Gibson, and Sallie Bender were married on March 19, 1885 in New Jersey, probably in Burlingotn County.  James is my great-granduncle.

Deaths

Callen A. Linerode, son of Milford Linerode and Rosanna Mack, died March 19, 1875 at the age of 7 days.  He is my 5th cousin 3x removed via the Macks.

Samuel Sellers, son of Peter Sellers and Susanna, died March 19, 1888 at the age of 68 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  He is my 2nd cousin 4x removed.

Samuel Lynd Fox, son of John Fox and Catherine Fisher, died March 19, 1903 at the age of 80 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.  He is my 3rd-great-granduncle.

Zilpha Emily Gaunt, daughter of John B. Gaunt and Priscilla Dye, died March 19, 1917 in Albany, Delaware County, Indiana.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed.

Wordless Wednesday

Events in My Family Tree: March 18

Several distant cousins feature in this day's list of family events.

Births

John Mack Holsinger, son of John Holsinger and Elizabeth Mack, was born Mach 18, 1802 in Bakers Summit, Bedford County, Pennsylvania.  He is my 2nd cousin 5x removed via the Macks.

Elizabeth Sellers, daughter of Abraham Sellers and Catharine Kulp, was born March 18, 1804 in Franconia, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  She is also my 2nd cousin 5x removed.

Alexander Mack, son of John Mack and Catharine Longanecker, was born March 18, 1834 in Pennsylvania, probably in Fayette County.  He is my 3rd cousin 4x removed.

Mark Lewallen Gauntt, son of Joseph L. Gauntt and Elizabeth Hopkins, was born March 18, 1851 in Waterford Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.  He is my 2nd cousin 3x removed.

Sarah R. Weaver, daughter of Ira P. Weaver and Harriet L. Fuller, was born March 18, 1862 in Stony Creek, Warren County, New York.  She is the maternal great-grandmother of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Jeanette Derkacs was born March 18, 1976.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line.

Marriages

Daniel Gaunt, son of John Gaunt and Jean Satterthwaite, and Mary Githens were married on March 18, 1802 in Haddonfield, Gloucester County, New Jersey.  Daniel is my 1st cousin 6x removed.

Charles Gaunt, son of Samuel Gaunt and Ann Horner, and Esther Louallen were married on March 18, 1859, probably in Gloucester County, New Jersey.  Charles is my 3rd cousin 4x removed.

Death

Milford Linerode died March 18, 1934 at the age of 81 in Bethlehem Township, Stark County, Ohio.  He was married to Rosanna Mack, daughter of John A. Mack and Catherine Layman Aufrance, who is my 4th cousin 4x removed.

Events in My Family Tree: March 17

For St. Patrick's Day, Patrick Wickham is the only person on the list with known Irish ancestry.

Births

Hannah Fox, daughter of Emanuel Fox and Anna Margarethe Mack, was born March 17, 1795, possibly in Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  She is my 4th-great-grandaunt.

Hiram Gantt (originally Gaunt), son of Joseph Gaunt and Mary A. Lobaugh, was born March 17, 1805, probably in Pennsylvania.  He is my 1st cousin 5x removed.

William Burr Gaunt, son of Reuben Lewallen Gaunt and Jane Weatherby, was born March 17, 1862 in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  He is my 2nd cousin 3x removed.

Hattie Lorena Fuller, daughter of Joseph L. Fuller and Sarah R. Weaver, was born March 17, 1887 in Stony Creek, Warren County, New York.  She is the maternal grandmother of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Harry Garfinkel, son of Eliezer Louis Garfinkel and Doba Ajzner, was born March 17, 1923 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  He is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

David Whitman Addis, son of Robert Trenary Addis and Virginia Claire Votaw, was born March 17, 1953 in Pennsylvania.  He is my 6th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Votaws.

Patrick F. Wickham was born March 17, 1987.  He is the 3rd cousin once removed of my half-sister Laurie Sellers.

Marriages

Abraham Sellers, son of John Sellers and Anne Johnson, and Sophia Bodder, daughter of Peter Bodder and Regina Ditor, were married on March 17, 1780 in Franconia, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  They are my 4th-great-grandparents.

Ridgway Zelley and Rebecca Gaunt, daughter of Isaac Gaunt and Susannah Webb, were married on March 17, 1833 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Rebecca is my 1st cousin 4x removed.

William Ralph Fowler III and Martina Vallejo were married on March 17, 2014 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.  William is my nephew.


Deaths

Frederick Cleworth Gauntt, son of Thomas Kirkland Gauntt and Jane Dunstan, died March 17, 1910 at the age of 18, probably in Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my paternal granduncle.

Cyrus Kunze Allen III, son of Cyrus Kunze Allen, Jr. and Clara Barton Shinn, died March 17, 1952 at the age of 64.  He is my 4th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Max Szocherman, son of Chanania Szocherman and Rojzla Perlmutter, died March 17, 1971 at the age of 58, possibly in Florida.  He is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Nowicki line through the Perlmutters.

Bert Ross, son of Charlie Ross and Annie Garber, died March 17, 1987 at the age of 46 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  He is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Meckler line through the Garbers.

Events in My Family Tree: March 16

After a somewhat reduced presence, the Sellerses made a big comeback for the March 16 listings.

Births

Jesse Sellers, son of Abraham Sellers and Sophia Bodder, was born March 16, 1789 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  He is my 3rd-great-granduncle.

Rachel Carl was born March 16, 1805.  She was married to John Gantt (originally Gaunt), son of Joseph Gaunt and Mary A. Lobaugh, who is my 1st cousin 5x removed.

Franklin Sellers, son of Abraham Sellers and Catharine Kulp, was born march 16, 1817, probably in Pennsylvania.  He is my 2nd cousin 5x removed.

Susan Sellers, daughter of John Leonard Sellers and Elizabeth Wenger, was born March 16, 1837 in Pennsylvania.  She is my 3rd cousin 4x removed.

Laura Facenda, daughter of William George Facenda, Jr. and Mabel Ellen Elizabeth Brickel, was born March 16, 1954, possibly in Virginia.  She is my 3rd cousin on my Armstrong line.

Elliot Garfinkel was born March 16, 1962 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  He is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Meckler line.

Martin Ross was born March 16, 1965 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  He is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line.

Mark Harris Perlman was born March 16, 1967 in Manhattan, New York County, New York.  He is my 3rd cousin on my Nowicki line.

Jordan Martin Rubinstein was born March 16, 1994 in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey.  He is my 3rd cousin on my Gordon line.

Marriages

Benjamin Gaunt, son of Jacob Gaunt and Hannah Holmes, and Mary Sheets were married on March 16, 1826 in Columbiana County, Ohio.  Benjamin is my 1st cousin 5x removed.

James Mussina Dobbs and Mary Frances Sellers, daughter of Peter Franklin Sellers and Rachel Godshalk, were married on March 16, 1886 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  Mary is my 2nd-great-grandaunt.

Orlan Fay Gaunt, son of David Clinton Gaunt and Martha Sophronia Hartman, and Ruth Irene Waybright were married on March 16, 1912 in Hartford City, Blackford County, Indiana.  Orlan is my 4th cousin 2x removed.

Loren Floyd Sellers, son of James Byron Sellers and Mary Catherine Bear, and Dorothy Eilene Crawford were married on March 16, 1935 in Lima, Allen County, Ohio.  Loren is my 5th cousin 2x removed.

Deaths

John Sellers, son of Abraham Sellers and Sophia Bodder and brother of  the Jesse Sellers listed above in the births, died March 16, 1847 at the age of 56, on his brother's 58th birthday.  He is also my 3rd-great-granduncle.

Oliver Bowker, son of Joseph Bowker and Lydia A., died March 16, 1892 at the age of 19 in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey.  He is my 2nd cousin 3x removed.

Henry Plummer Gaunt, son of David Gaunt and Pamela Plummer, died March 16, 1897 at the age of about 74 in Gloucester, Gloucester County, New Jersey.  He is my 2nd cousin 4x removed.

Mary Elizabeth Sever died March 16, 1907 at the age of about 56, probably in New Jersey.  She was married to Selah Benjamin Gaunt, son of Benjamin Selah Gaunt and Hannah Ann Peters, who is my 1st cousin 3x removed.

John H. Gauntt, son of Thomas Kirkland Gauntt and Jane Dunstan, died March 16, 1917 at the age of 2 years 2 1/2 months, probably in New Jersey.  He is my paternal granduncle.

Events in My Family Tree: March 15

Even though the 15th is the Ides of March, I didn't find any violent deaths in my family tree, which is a good thing.  I did, however, find more twins, two sets for this day.

Births

Twins Susanna and William Zelley, children of Ridgway Zelley and Rebecca Gaunt, were born March 15, 1834, in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  They are my 2nd cousins 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Mary Elizabeth Sellers, daughter of Faber Sellers and Rosina Elizabeth, was born March 15, 1862 in Potstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  She is my 2nd cousin 3x removed.

David Michael Fitsimmons was born March 15, 1967.  He is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line.

Shauna Leven was born March 15, 1981, probably in Manitoba, Canada.  She is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line.

MaryLee Copestick was born March 15, 1985.  She is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Sellers line.

Twins Dara Esther and Joseph Aaron Birnboim were born March 15, 2001 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  They are my 4th cousins once removed on my Meckler line.

Marriages

Leonard Herr and Dorothy Gaynor, daughter of John Francis Gaynor and Wally Mary Ruppert, were married on March 15, 1952 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.  Dorothy is the grandaunt of my half-sister Laurie Sellers.

Raymond Harold Rudin and Ruth Garfinkel, daughter of Jack Garfinkel and Martha Freedman, were married on March 15, 1953 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  Ruth is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

Peter E. Persoff, son of Jacob Persoff and Frieda Schneiderman, and Judy Lee were married on March 15, 1977 in Oakland, Alameda County, California.  Peter is my 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Schneidermans.

Death

James Gaunt, son of Hananiah Gaunt and Rebecca Mulliner, died March 15, 1828 at the age of about 36 in New Jersey.  He is my 3rd-great-granduncle.

Events in My Family Tree: March 14

I think this list has the first Russian Empire date on the calendar that I was able to confirm.

Births

Richard Wesley Preuss, son of Richard Preuss and Donna, was born March 14, 1950 in Missoula, Missoula County, Montana.  He was married to my mother, Myra Roslyn Meckler, daughter of Abraham Meckler and Lillyan E. Gordon, and is my stepfather.

Bobie Helen Wood was born March 14, 1969.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line.

Abilgail Elizabeth Tucker was born March 14, 2004 in Middletown, Butler County, Ohio.  She is the grandniece of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Marriages

Lewis Cass Gaunt, son of Uz Gaunt and Sarah Ann Whitacre, and Mary A. Kindlesparger were married March 14, 1874 in Wabash County, Indiana.  Lewis is my 2nd cousin 4x removed.

Sidney Gordon, son of Joe Gordon and Sarah Libby Brainin, and Beatrice Roll were married on March 14, 1942 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  He is my great-granduncle.

Steven Mark Spina and Kip Marie Sellers were married on March 14, 1981 on the White Sands Missile Range Post, Doña Ana County, New Mexico.  Kip is my 7th cousin.

Michael Joseph Hoffman and Carol Roberta Rudin, daughter of Raymond Harold Rudin and Ruth Garfinkel, were married on March 14, 1982 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  Carol is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

Deaths

Baby Gorodetsky, child of Avigdor Gorodetsky and Esther Leah Schneiderman, died March 14, 1902 (Julian dating), probably at the age of less than one day, in Kishinev, Bessarabia gubernia, Russian Empire (now Chișinău, Moldova).  The child was my great-grandaunt or great-granduncle.

Sarah A. Cover died March 14, 1906 at the age of 77, possibly in Ohio.  She was married to George Mack, son of John Mack and Mary Woolsey, who is my 3rd cousin 4x removed.

Belle Silberman died March 2004 at the age of 91, possibly in Los Angeles County, California.  She was married to Fred Lincoln McStroul (originally Strul), son of Leo Martin McStroul and Anna Krebs, who is the uncle of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Events in My Family Tree: March 13

I really went down the rabbit hole while working on this list.  I ended up researching the great-great-great-granchildren of Joseph Gaunt and Phoebe Severn!

Births

Tirzah Sellers, daughter of Abraham Sellers and Sophia Bodder, was born March 13, 1797 in Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  She is my 3rd-great-grandaunt.

John Gaunt, son of John Gaunt and Mary Kinsey, was born March 13, 1799 in New Jersey.  He is my 1st cousin 5x removed.

Louisa Bowker, daughter of John Bowker and Louisa J. Armstrong, was born March 13, 1865 in Columbus, Burlington County, New Jersey.  She is my 1st cousin 4x removed via the Armstrongs.

Francis Travis Coxe, son of Marcellus Coxe and Florence Sellers, was born March 13, 1889 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  He is my 5th cousin 2x removed via the Sellerses.

Howard L. Sellers, son of James Byron Sellers and Mary Catherine Baer, was born March 13, 1905 in Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio.  He is also my 5th cousin 2x removed.

Charles Ronald Bassett, son of Thomas Bassett and Marjorie A. Gaunt, was born March 13, 1930 in Skiatook, Osage or Tulsa County, Oklahoma.  He is my 5th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Ethlyn Brozovsky was born March 13, 1961 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  She is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Gorodetsky line.

James Gordon Church was born March 13, 1968 in Altadena, Los Angeles County, California.  He is my 6th cousin on my Gauntt line.

Avery Rennie was born March 13, 1996, probably in Canada.  He is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line.

Marriage

Conrad Zuiterman and Anna/Hannah Mack, daughter of Alexander Mack and Catherine Baker, were married on March 13, 1834, possibly in Pennsylvania.  Anna is my 3rd cousin 5x removed.

Deaths

Daniel Schiffer/Schifferer died March 13, 1829 at the age of 63, almost definitely in Gleiwitz, Obersilesia, Prussia.  He is the 3rd-great-grandfather of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Phoebe Emily Severn died March 13, 1870 at the age of 66 in Jay County, Indiana.  She was married to Joseph Gaunt, son of Jacob Gaunt and Hannah Holmes, who is my 1st cousin 5x removed.

Eckert Budd Gaunt, son of Daniel F. Gaunt and Mary E. Hancock, died March 13, 1915 at the age of 47, possibly in New Jersey.  He is my 3rd cousin 2x removed.