Events in My Family Tree: December 20

Almost all of the deaths for this date are very young people.

Births

Mary B. Gaunt, daughter of Clayton Decou Gaunt and Sarah E. Edwards, was born December 20, 1849 in Gloucester County, New Jersey, possibly in Woolrich.  She is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Louis Victor Gaunt, son of William Allen Gaunt and Mary Ann Parrott, was born December 20, 1876, probably in Wabash County, Indiana.  He is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

David Harry Durland was born December 20, 1955 in Nyack, Rockland County, New York.  He was the second husband of Laurie Sellers, daughter of Bertram Lynn Sellers, Jr. and Mary Lou Jocelyn Bowen, who is my half-sister.

Matthew Joseph Garfinkel was born December 20, 1997.  He is my 4th cousin 1x removed.

Marriages

John Charles Gaunt, son of William Alvin Gaunt and Mamie B. Mitchell, and Mildred Ailene Haddock were married December 20, 1975, probably in Kings or Tulare County, California.  John is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Melvin Cecil Gordon, son of Alexander Gordon and Roslyn Rubin, and Janet Elaine Goldstein were married December 20, 1964 in Jacksonville, Jacksonville County, Florida.  Melvin is my 1st cousin 1x removed on my Gordon line.

Deaths

Alfred Githens, son of Alfred Githens and Margaret Middleton, died December 20, 1853 in New Jersey, probably in Camden County, at the age of 4.  He is my 3rd cousin 3x removed on my Gauntt line through the Githenses.

William Allen Gaunt, son of Uz Gaunt and Sarah Ann Whitacre, died December 20, 1879 in Wabash County, Indiana at the age of 33.  He is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Jonathan Franklin Easlick, son of Jonathan Easlick and Susannah Sever, died December 20, 1930, probably in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, at the age of 53.  He is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Ira Delbert Earehart died December 20, 1933 in Allen County, Ohio at the age of about 73.  He was married to Doris Lavina Rowland, daughter of Joseph Freeman Rowland and Sarah D. Pelham, who is my 4th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Rowlands.

Darwin Monroe McStroul, son of Leo Martin McStroul (originally Moska Leib Strul) and Anna Krebs, died December 20, 1962 in Los Angeles County, California at the age of 43.  He is the uncle of my aunt Mary McStroul and her sister Anna McStroul and the granduncle of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Events in My Family Tree: December 19

Jennie Kardish died on her nephew Louis' 39th birthday.

Births

John Gaunt, son of Samuel Gaunt and Achsah Taylor, was born December 19, 1794 in Pilesgrove Township, Salem County, New Jersey.  He is my 2nd cousin 5x removed via the Gaunts.

Lulu May Sherman was born December 19, 1882 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  She was married to Walter Clayton Gaunt, son of Arthur Lee Gaunt and Rachel Lavinia Stutsman, who is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Louise Henrietta Smith was born December 19, 1885 in New York City, New York.  She was married to William James Bowen, son of William H. Bowen and Mary, who is the half-granduncle of my half-sister Laurie Sellers and her half-sister Shanyn James.

Samuel Allen Vanaman, son of Charles Milton Vanaman and Julia Ann Gaunt, was born December 19, 1892 in Vincentown, Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my half 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Louis Kardish, son of Itzak Kardish and Shirley Bordelay, was born December 19, 1953 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  He is my 2nd cousin 1x removed on my Gorodetsky line through the Kardishes.

Raquel Margot Francis was born December 19, 1971.  She is married to Jason Christopher Ellis, who is my 2nd cousin 1x removed.

Marriage

Myra Roslyn Meckler, daughter of Abram Meckler and Lillyan E. Gordon, and Richard Wesley Preuss were married December 19, 1977 in Villa Tasso, Walton County, Florida.  Myra is my mother.

Deaths

Emma Gaunt, daughter of George Horner Gaunt and Emily A. Miller, died December 19, 1870 in Gloucester County, New Jersey at the age of 7.  She is my 4th cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

William H. Bowen, son of John Bowen and Martha Baden(?), died December 18, 1910 in South Orange, Essex County, New Jersey.  He is the great-grandfather of my half-sister Laurie Sellers and her half-sister Shanyn James.

Norma Marguerite Prusso died December 19, 1982 in Shasta County, California.  She was married to Walter Everett Gaunt, son of James Knox Polk Gaunt and Sarah Naomi Boone, who is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Jennie Kardish, daughter of Dovid Kardish and Etta Gorodetsky, died December 19, 1992, probably in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  She is my 1st cousin 2x removed on my Gorodetsky line.

Events in My Family Tree: December 18

Margaret Gantt died on her 76th birthday, probably in the same county in which she was born.

Births

Margaret Gantt, daughter of Joseph Gantt and Mary Ann McGowan, was born December 18, 1836 in Pennsylvania, probably in Perry County.  She is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gantts.

Marjorie Alene Gaunt, daughter of Charles Gaunt and Pearl E. Cory, was born December 18, 1907 in Richvalley, Wabash County, Indiana.  She is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Jimmy Wayne Doerner, Jr. was born December 18, 1955 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.  He was the first husband of Stacy Ann Sellers, who is my sister.

Carol Sue Dunn, daughter of Harold Edwin Dunn, Jr. and Ruth Clara Ellis, was born December 18, 1959 in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri.  She is my second cousin on my Gauntt line through the Ellises.

Annette Parker, daughter of Gerald Robert Parker and Gloria Jean Allen, was born December 18, 1962, possibly in New Jersey.  She is my 5th cousin 1x removed on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Anna Marie Gaynor, daughter of James Owen Gaynor, Jr. and Ruth Heard Hunt, was born December 18, 1964 in Sparta, Essex County, New Jersey.  She is the 2nd cousin of my half-sister Laurie Sellers and her half-sister Shanyn James on their Gaynor line.

Keith Mason was born December 18, 1972.  He is my 3rd cousin.

Marriages

Amos Evans and Elizabeth Gaunt, daughter of Joseph Gaunt and Elizabeth Borton, were married December 18, 1823, probably in New Jersey.  Elizabeth is my 4th-great-grandaunt.

George N. Allen, son of Cyrus Kunze Allen and Hannah Ann Gaunt, and Ada E. Mason were married December 18, 1889 in Ocean County, New Jersey.  George is my 3rd cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Alfred Joseph Chase and Beatrice Emma Naylor, daughter of James Mason Naylor and Martha Ann Murdock, were married December 18, 1919 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Emma is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Naylors.

Alvin Irwin Moss and Claire Rochelle Garfinkel, daughter of Jack Garfinkel and Martha Freedman, were married December 18, 1960 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  Rochelle is my 3rd cousin 1x removed on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

Deaths

Margaret Gantt, daughter of Joseph Gantt and Mary Ann McGowan, died December 18, 1912 in Center Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania at the age of 76.  She is still my 2nd cousin 4x removed.

Rebecca Elizabeth Coverly died December 18, 1950 in Camden County, New Jersey at the age of 65.  She was married to Joseph L. Gauntt, son of Mark Lewallen Gauntt and Rhoda Ewing, who is my 3rd cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line.

Irene Corlotta Gaunt, daughter of Henry Plummer Gaunt and Emma Smith, died December 18, 1954 in Los Angeles County, California at the age of 82.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

William George Facenda, Jr. died December 18, 1959 in Santa Clara County, California at the age of about 33.  He was the first husband of Mabel Ellen Elizabeth Brickel, daughter of James Newbill Armstrong and Beatrice Ruth Anna Swain, who is my 2nd cousin 1x removed on my Armstrong line through the Swains.

Kenneth Charles O'Brien died December 18, 1999 in Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania at the age of 48.  He was the first husband of Carol Beth Sellers, daughter of Bertram Lynn Sellers, Sr. and Anita Clarice Loveman, who is my aunt.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Events in My Family Tree: December 17

Bruce Ellis was born on his grandfather's 65th birthday, and Levi Ellis was still around to meet his grandson.

Births

Phebe E. Whitacre, daughter of Joseph Whitacre and Anna Gaunt, was born December 17, 1832 in Columbiana County, Ohio.  She is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Levi Ellis was born December 17, 1885 in Tabernacle, Burlington County, New Jersey.  He was married to Carrie Florence Gauntt, daughter of Thomas Kirkland Gauntt and Jane Dunstan, who is my grandaunt.

Vivian Louise Gaunt, daughter of Joseph Harley Gaunt and Settie Inez Horn, was born December 17, 1918 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  She is my 5th cousin 1x removed via the Gaunts.

Bruce Oliver Ellis, son of Russell Oliver Ellis and Irene Elise Crater, was born December 17, 1950 in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey.  He is my 2nd cousin on my Gauntt line through the Ellises.

Henry Maranz was born December 17, 1953, possibly in New Jersey.  He was the husband of Barbara Boulissa Lederman, daughter of Donald Lawrence Lederman and Miriam Jaffe, who is my 2nd cousin 1x removed on my Gorodetsky line through the Ledermans.

Mindy Deborah McStroul was born December 17, 1973.  She is the 1st cousin 1x removed of my aunt Mary McStroul and her sister Anna McStroul and the 2nd cousin of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Matthew Royce Collier was born December 17, 1988.  He is my 4th cousin 1x removed.

Mitchell Logan Freitag was born December 17, 1992.  He is also my 4th cousin 1x removed.

Marriages

Charles Parker and Harriet Gaunt, daughter of David H. Gaunt and Eliza Anderson, were married December 17, 1900, probably in New Jersey.  Harriet is my half 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Kenneth Leroy Abell and Emma Evelyn Gaunt, daughter of William Alvin Gaunt and Mamie B. Mitchell, were married December 17, 1941.  Emma is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

James Chase Crawford and Luann Abell, daughter of Kenneth Leroy Abell and Emma Evelyn Gaunt, were married December 17, 1977 in Fresno County, California.  Luann is my 5th cousin 1x removed via the Gaunts.

Deaths

Evaline Viola Easlick, daughter of Jonathan Easlick and Susannah Sever, died December 17, 1931, possibly in New Jersey, at the age of 52.  She is my 1st cousin 3x removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

William Henry Wickham, son of Charles E. Wickham and Martha Elizabeth Bowen, died December 17, 1940 in New Jersey at the age of 48.  He is the 1st cousin 2x removed of my half-sister Laurie Sellers and her half-sister Shanyn James on their Bowen line.

Henry Schumeister died December 17, 1962 in Ramsey County, Minnesota at the age of about 82.  He was the husband of Celia Perlmutter, daughter of Maishe Eli Perlmutter and Ethel Nowicki, who is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Nowicki line.

Rose Sopher died December 17, 2001, possibly in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, at the age of 92.  She was married to Morris Gordon (originally Moishe Gorodetsky), son of Avigdor Gorodetsky and Esther Leah Schneiderman, who is my great-granduncle.

Norman Stuart Farbman, son of Murray Farbman and Etta Millstein, died December 17, 2004, probably in New York, at the age of 61.  He is my 2nd cousin 1x removed on my Gorodetsky line through the Millsteins.

Events in My Family Tree: December 16

I am always so sad when I see very young children in the deaths in my lists.

Births

Jack Allen, son of Clifford Freid Allen and Florence V. Hendrickson, was born December 16, 1952 in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  He is my 5th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Cynthia C. Blevins was born December 16, 1963 in Shasta County, California.  She was married to Lawrence Matthew Gordon, son of Victor Gordon and Betty Lorraine Ellett, who is my 2nd cousin 1x removed on my Gordon line.

Paul B. Lavin, Jr., son of Paul B. Lavin and Mary E. Murray, was also born December 16, 1963, but in Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey.  He is the half 2nd cousin of my half-sister Laurie Sellers and her half-sister Shanyn James.

Jay Alan Grobler was born December 16, 1967.  He is my 4th cousin.

Lisa Allen was born December 16, 1969.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed.

Marriage

William David Brainin, son of Benjamin Brainin and Yetta Braunstein, and Beatrice Horowitz were married December 16, 1945 in Bronx, Bronx County, New York.  William is my 1st cousin 2x removed on my Brainin line.

Deaths

Bessie May Gaunt, daughter of James Knox Polk Gaunt and Sarah Naomi Boone, died December 16, 1878 in Indiana at the age of 2.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Elizabeth G. Miller died December 16, 1912 in Lawrence County, Tennessee at the age of 70.  She was the wife of Ner Gaunt, son of Ner Gaunt and Agnes Corwin, who is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Martha Freedman died December 16, 1987 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada at the age of 80.  She was married to Jack Garfinkel, son of Yikusee'ael Koifman Gorfinkel and Sora Rivka Mekler, who is my 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Meklers.

Events in My Family Tree: December 15

Neva Perlman had the same birthday as her brother-in-law.  What did her sister do on that day?

Births

Harry A. Schwartz, son of Joseph Schwartz and Anna Ajzner, was born December 15, 1910 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.  He is the 1st cousin 1x removed of my dear cousin Esther Garfinkel on her Ajzner line.

William Oliver Gauntt, son of Thomas Franklin Gauntt and Anna Marie Stayton, was born December 15, 1940 in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  He is my 1st cousin 1x removed on my Gauntt line.

Joseph Naclerio was also born December 15, 1940, but in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  He was married to Kim Perlman, daughter of Murray Elliot Perlman and Helen Ruth Greenebaum, who is my 4th cousin on my Nowicki line through the Perlmans.

Paul Kushner, son of Benjamin Louis Kushner and Gladys Shindelman, was born December 15, 1951 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  He is also my 4th cousin but on my Meckler line.

Neva Perlman, daughter of Murray Elliot Perlman and Helen Ruth Greenebaum, was born December 15, 1953 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  She is another 4th cousin on my Nowicki line through the Perlmans and Kim's sister.

Patricia Ellen Gaunt, daughter of Robert Gaunt and Mary Evelyn Westbrooks, was born December 15, 1954 in Indiana.  She is my 6th cousin via the Gaunts.

Jonah Harry Balick was born December 15, 1994.  He is my 3rd cousin 1x removed.

Deaths

William Clarence Bowker, son of John Bowker and Louisa J. Armstrong, died December 15, 1946 in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey at the age of 74.  He is my 1st cousin 4x removed on my Armstrong line.

David Wilson Rink died December 15, 1955 in Elkhart County, Indiana at the age of 74.  He was married to Edna Hite, daughter of John Hite and Mary Ann Claycomb, who is my 4th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Hites.

Oren Wilson Clark, Jr., son of Oren Wilson Clark and Anna G. Gaunt, died December 15, 1997 in Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas at the age of 80.  He is also my 4th cousin 2x removed, via the Gaunts.

Events in My Family Tree: December 14

I'm starting to suspect that Elizabeth Atkinson might be related to the Atkinsons in my cousin Albert Lore's father's side of the family.

Births

Mary Gaunt, daughter of David Gaunt and Pamela Plummer, was born December 14, 1825 in Pennsylvania, possibly in Philadelphia.  She is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Selector Thackeray, son of Joseph Thackeray and Mary Dubois, was born December 14, 1844 in Union County, Indiana.  He is my 3rd cousin 4x removed on my Gauntt line through the Thackerays.

Beulah Susannah Easlick, daughter of Allen Severs Easlick and Mary E. Shemeley, was born December 14, 1847 in New Jersey, possibly in Burlington County.  She is my 3rd cousin 1x removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Patrick Aaron Thomas was born December 14, 1971.  He is my 2nd cousin 1x removed.

Jason Rothwax was born December 14, 1987.  He is my 3rd cousin.

Joseph Randell was born December 14, 1989.  He is the 3rd cousin 1x removed of my half-sister Laurie Sellers and her half-sister Shanyn James.

Marriages

Samuel T. Gaunt, son of James Gaunt and Amelia Gibson, and Elizabeth S. Atkinson were married December 14, 1894 in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  Samuel is my great-granduncle.

Robert Gaunt, son of Walter Clayton Gaunt and Lulu May Sherman, and Mary Evelyn Westbrooks were married December 14, 1946 in Allen County, Indiana.  Robert is my 5th cousin 1x removed via the Gaunts.

David Nathaniel Preisner and Tasha Weeks were married December 14, 2002.  David is the nephew of my aunt Mary McStroul, the son of her sister Anna McStroul, and the 1st cousin of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Deaths

Reuben Cooper Gaunt, son of Reuben Lewallen Gaunt and Jane Weatherby, died December 14, 1874 in New Jersey at the age of 29.  He is my 2nd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Sophie Garfinkel, daughter of Yikusee'ael Koifman Gorfinkel and Sora Rivka Mekler, died December 14, 1974 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at the age of about 66.  She is my 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Meklers.

Adeline E. Pearson died December 14, 1980 in Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas, at the age of 62.  She was the wife of Oren Wilson Clark, Jr., son of Oren Wilson Clark and Anna G. Gaunt, who is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Holiday Celebrations and Memories

I'm combining last week's and this week's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun from Randy Seaver into one post because I don't have a lot of memories to write about.  Maybe my brother and sisters will remember more and add to this or correct me.

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1.  Today's challenge is to share memories of December holiday gatherings and celebrations with your families (as a child, a young adult, a parent, a grandparent, a great-grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a nibling, a cousin, an in-law)!

2.  Pick two or three questions from the list in my blog post:  Ask AI:  "What questions can I write about concerning family gatherings and celebrations during the December holidays?"

3.  Tell us about your memories of your holiday gatherings and celebrations in your own blog post, in a comment here, or on your Facebook page.  Be sure to leave a link to your report in a comment on this post.

Except for the addition of having the questions created by AI this year, this is a traditional holiday post by Randy, and my problem every year is that I just don't remember that much.  Let's see what I can come up with via the new questions prompting me.  I'm sticking to Christmas memories from when I was a child living at home with my parents.

• Who traditionally hosted celebrations in your family, and why?
Growing up, I only remember celebrating Christmas at home with my parents.  If we went anywhere else, I can't recall it.  As for why, I don't know.  We didn't have a lot of money, so we probably couldn't afford to travel anywhere.

• Did family members travel far to attend?
I don't remember any family members traveling to celebrate Christmas with us.  I think my half-sister and her mother may have celebrated Christmas with us one year, but that would have been the year they were living with us, so they didn't have to travel.

• What did the space feel like during the holidays—sights, sounds, and smells?
We always had a Christmas tree, which my mother called the Chanukah bush.  I only remember it being fake; I don't recall ever having a real tree.  My mother displayed her menorah; I think she may have lit candles sometimes, but that was all she did to acknowledge Chanukah.  The house had decorations, including one of those elves which is now called Elf on the Shelf (although it was just an elf way back then).  And my mother displayed all the cards we received, including Chanukah cards from her side of the family.

• Were nonfamily members invited to join your celebrations?
The only nonfamily guests I remember at any of our Christmas Day meals are my "Aunt" Sam (my mother's best friend), and maybe her children Jeff and Cathy.

• Are there group photos or video from holiday gatherings that capture a story about your family?
It's very strange to me that I can't find any photos from Christmas when my siblings and I were young.  My father took lots of photos, but apparently not on holidays.

• What dishes were a staple at your family's holiday celebrations?  Who made them?
I remember that we always had turkey and ham, because Aunt Sam loved ham.  I also remember we had the classics:  candied yams (which were of course really sweet potatoes), green bean casserole, mashed potatoes.  I believe my mother made everything.
I don't like sweet potatoes, and my mother tricked me one year.  She told me the food was candy.  I took one bite, glared at her, and exclaimed, "It's yams!"  And she grinned and said, "Candied yams!"  Talk about ruining your child's faith in you.

• Do you own or display any heirlooms, decorations, or items that belonged to your ancestors during the holidays?
I have my mother's menorah and usually display it during Chanukah, although I almost never light the candles.  I used to have our old Elf on the Shelf, but I haven't been able to find him.

• Did your family have traditions for how gifts were given or opened?
We children were allowed to open one present, which we could choose, on Christmas Eve.  Everything else was opened Christmas morning.  My brother always opened his presents very carefully, cutting the tape, unfolding the paper, and then refolding it flat.

Even with that long list of AI questions Randy provided, that's it for what I remember.  Let's see how my siblings do.