16 thoughts on “52 Ancestors Challenge 2015: Weeks 50 and 51 Recap”

1. Schalene Dagutis December 24, 2015 at 12:06 pm

   I hope everyone participating in Amy’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks has a wonderful, happy holiday season. And thank you, Amy, for all you do regarding the challenge. I know it’s been tough with everything else you have going on. Happy Holidays!

   Week 50 — Naughty
   I wrote about my 2C2R who did something a little bite naughty from a genealogist’s point of view. He married two women with the same name, confusing many for years.

   Benjamin Leonard JENNINGS (1868-1943)
   How many Betties Does One Man Need
   http://tangledrootsandtrees.blogspot.com/2015/12/52-ancestors-50-how-many-betties-does.html

   Week 51 — Nice
   This post is about our family’s favorite Christmas cookie. Recipe included

   Dorothy Ailein (LANGE) Jennings (1930-2014)
   Mom’s Spritz Cookies
   http://tangledrootsandtrees.blogspot.com/2015/12/52-ancestors-51-moms-spritz-cookies.html

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2. Vera Marie Badertscher December 24, 2015 at 12:13 pm

   I finished the year last week, since I take a break over the holidays. Interestingly, the name in each case is Johannes Amstutz (or the Americanized John AMSTUTZ)
   #50: A family divided (by parents death) http://ancestorsinaprons.com/2015/12/52-ancestors-johannes-amstutz-1771-a-family-divided/
   #51: Recycling names of triplets http://ancestorsinaprons.com/2015/12/52-ancestors-51-triplets/
   #52: What’s in the name AMSTUTZ? http://ancestorsinaprons.com/2015/12/52-ancestors-#52-whats-name-amstutz/

   Merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year. Thank you Amy for two years of challenges. Whether you or someone else decides to continue the challenge next year, I’m moving on to a different schedule. It’s been fun to keep up, and to read the other wonderful offerings, but I need to try some other things.

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3. Claudia Boorman December 24, 2015 at 12:40 pm

   50 – JOY, Jesse had a optimistic name fit for the Christmas season but his life didn’t stay on the straight and narrow. He was my husband’s 4-times-great uncle who was christened in Headcorn Kent England in 1791.

   http://boormanfamily.weebly.com/blog/jesse-joy-1791-1862-50-52-ancestors

   51 – COMPTON, Harriet Washbourne spent her whole life in St Eleanors, PEI Canada but died at the age of 73 when my mother (her granddaughter) was only 5. It would have been nice if she had lived longer so my mother could have known her better.

   http://boormanfamily.weebly.com/blog/harriet-washbourne-compton-1849-1923-51-52-ancestors

   Merry Christmas!

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4. Joanne Barnard December 24, 2015 at 2:04 pm

   50 – Not having a single naughty family member, I chose to simply use “December” as a sort of theme for my ancestor George Denison. Depending on one’s perspective, his participation with Oliver Cromwell might be seen as a bit more than “naughty”.

   http://victoriajosfamilystories.blogspot.ca/2015/12/captain-george-denison-1620-1694-52.html

   51 – John Machel lived what must have been a very nice and well-dressed life in Tudor times; even his funeral arrangements sound nice.

   http://victoriajosfamilystories.blogspot.ca/2015/12/john-machell-1509-1558-52-ancestors.html

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5. robertajestes December 24, 2015 at 3:16 pm

   BERCHTOL – Anna Christina Berchtol (c1666-c1696), Pietist Rabble Rouser
   http://dna-explained.com/2015/12/13/anna-christina-berchtol-c1666-c1696-pietist-rabble-rouser-52-ancestors-102/

   CHARLEMAGNE – Charlemagne (742/748-814), Holy Roman Emperor
   http://dna-explained.com/2015/12/20/charlemagne-742748-814-holy-roman-emperor-52-ancestors-103/

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6. Denise Murphy December 24, 2015 at 4:17 pm

   Week 50 – I wrote about a newer Christmas related family heirloom — the stocking I made for my first born son
   http://denise-livinginthepast.blogspot.com/2015/12/52-ancestors-chris-christmas-stocking.html

   Week 51 – I wrote about the short life of Max King Jr.
   http://denise-livinginthepast.blogspot.com/2015/12/52-ancestors-max-b-king-jr-week-51-2015.html

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7. Maureen December 24, 2015 at 4:56 pm

   Thanks Amy for this year’s challenge – I have loved it, hated it, pulled my hair out and thoroughly enjoyed it.

   Week 50 – Thomas Arnold Dobson: likely his family couldn’t even afford to buy coal for a few weeks after he paid his fine
   http://martinewsancestors.blogspot.com/2015/12/52ancestors-week-50-naughty.html

   Week 51 – This week I wrote about a young (and alive) cousin, Dylan Thomas, who is fund-raising for a very special cause
   http://martinewsancestors.blogspot.com/2015/12/52ancestors-week-51-nice.html

   Haven’t yet come up with anything for Week 52’s theme – but I know my family are hoping I resolve to keep writing (so hints with topics would be wonderful )

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8. Beth Gatlin December 25, 2015 at 12:44 am

   DYER – Week 50 “Naughty”: Michael J. Dyer
   http://so-many-ancestors.blogspot.com/2015/12/52-ancestors-week-50-naughty-michael-j.html
   My 2nd-great-grandmother’s brother is one of many family members on the “naughty list”!

   TARKINGTON – Week 51 “Nice”: James William Tarkington
   http://so-many-ancestors.blogspot.com/2015/12/52-ancestors-week-51-nice-james-william.html
   My 2nd-great-grandfather fits the theme for more reasons than one!

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9. Cathy Meder-Dempsey December 25, 2015 at 8:55 am

   Dear Amy, I’m sure you unconsciously wanted to see Naughty & Nice all together! Merry Christmas.

   I wrote about my Naughty set of 3rd great-grandparents and my Nice discovery that opened the door in my cousin Joe’s brick wall.

   52 Ancestors: #50 My Naughty Mr. and Mrs. DEMPSEY

   52 Ancestors: #51 Nice. How I Opened the Door in Cousin Joe’s Brick Wall

   by Cathy Meder-Dempsey at Opening Doors in Brick Walls

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10. shelley@minkyadoo December 25, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    Week 50 “Naughty” Ernest B. Bough

    http://shelleyskylinejourney.com/2015/12/20/52-ancestors-50-naughty-ernest-bough/
    My Great-Uncle never returned from the war, probably received coal his stocking.

    Week 51 “Nice” Anita Bough- Moorhead
    http://shelleyskylinejourney.com/2015/12/25/52-ancestors-51-nice-anita-bough-moorhead-1918-2015/

    Our family historian tells how Christmas was spent long time ago…Reviews are in she get the Nice Award.

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11. Kathy December 25, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    Naughty- I wrote about my 2x great grandfather who seemed to engage in a shady business dealing according to a newspaper article. He also sent for his family and when they arrived, he was gone.
    https://everyleafhasastory.wordpress.com/2015/12/15/52-ancestors-naughty/

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12. Celia Lewis December 25, 2015 at 11:22 pm

    No. 50: very early Immigrant: Deacon Richard MILES, 1597-1667, England to New Haven:
    http://twigsandtrees.blogspot.ca/2015/12/52-ancestors-52-themes-no-50-deacon.html

    No. 51: Leanah SNEED/Snead, 1767-after 1860, from Virginia to Tennessee to Illinois, who married John VINEYARD/Vinyard, leaving very few clues:
    http://twigsandtrees.blogspot.ca/2015/12/52-ancestors-52-themes-no-51-leanah.html

    Best wishes everyone… only one more to write up for next week! My To-Do list in research is growing longer and longer each week as I write these posts. (which is good)

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13. Elizabeth H December 27, 2015 at 10:33 am

    #50, Naughty: A great-grandfather who had a little trouble with his finances: Charles Chapin ADSIT http://frommainetokentucky.blogspot.com/2015/12/naughty-charles-c-adsit-52-ancestors-50.html

    #51, Nice: My grandfather, whom I wish I knew better: Lowell Townsend COPELAND http://frommainetokentucky.blogspot.com/2015/12/my-grandfather-toby-copeland-52.html

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14. melissawiseheart December 27, 2015 at 1:57 pm

    #50 – GILLILAND, Sarah – She seems to have made up a husband, which is either naughty or crazy in my book. http://wiseheartjourney.com/2015/12/22/sarah-gilliland-woman-of-mystery-52-ancestors-50/

    #51 – GANDER, Lucia. I didn’t know much about this ancestor until I happened upon a very nice obituary. http://wiseheartjourney.com/2015/12/23/lucia-gander-kind-and-sympathetic-52-ancestors-51/

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15. Patti Di Loreto December 31, 2015 at 12:36 am

    #50 – BRASHIER – John Calhoun Brashier, my 2nd Great Grandfather. Used him for my “Naughty” theme as rumor has it that he had a bit of a “wandering eye.” Though he did have a nice bunch of kids through three marriages and I have a big, wonderful bunch of cousins that also descend from him, so I’m happy to have him in my family tree!

    #51 – FORSEN/FORSON/FORTSON – Charles, my 3rd Great Grandfather. Used the “Nice” theme here as in it would be *nice* to know more about this man!

    My Pinterest Board address here:

    https://www.pinterest.com/pattidi/52-ancestors-on-pinterest/

    For a partial list of surnames I’m researching, check out my Ancestry profile page by searching for “pattidi123” in the member directory.

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16. Karen Bruynell April 8, 2016 at 9:33 am

    I’ve missed writing my blogs (I fell off the wagon in terms of writing) so I’m starting to catch up again: http://gettingtoknowyou1.blogspot.com/2016/04/carolines-diary.html

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