It’s not unusual to find a female ancestor who has married more than once, especially those whose husband died while there were young children at home. What’s unusual about Martha Harris Orr Starkey, my 3rd-great-grandmother, is that I descend from both of her husbands. (Does that make me my own grandma?)

Martha Harris was the daughter of William and Mary (Myers) Harris. She was born in 1817, likely in Licking County, Ohio. Around 1839 (based on the age of her first child), she married William Orr. William died in 1850, leaving Martha to raise five children under the age of 10. One of those was infant daughter Susan, who became my great-great-grandmother.

Between 1860 and 1870, Martha had remarried John Starkey. John was a widower, his wife Mary having died sometime after 1860.

Here’s the twist: John Starkey is my 3rd-great-grandfather through his son Peter.

My tree showing Martha Harris with her first husband William Orr and her second husband John Starkey.