Tuesday, October 20, 2020

TIP TUESDAY: WHO'S YOUR SECOND COUSIN?

I screwed the pooch with this post. I'm going to rewrite the info about how we're related to various people.



Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Last week on TIP TUESDAY we learned about first cousins and first cousins, once removed. If you missed out on that lesson, you can click HERE. I should also add something I missed last week: Your first cousin once removed is your first cousin's child, but your first cousin, once removed can also be your parent's first cousin.  I apologize for leaving out the part about the parent's first cousin. 

Now, as I promised, we move on to second cousins. My dad had a first cousin named Helen, who lived in Minnesota. She and her husband Gordon were lots of fun. We loved visiting them because we got to sleep in the attic, which had been Helen's mother's apartment before the mom went toes up. 

Helen was my first cousin, once removed

Helen and Gordon had one daughter named Carol (not to be confused with my good friend Carol). As my parent's first cousin's child, Carol is my second cousin

Carol never had children, so that ends her story––for our purposes.

Let's try my dad's cousin Maxine instead. She lived in Denver. I don't remember the names of her husband or all of their children with the exception of a boy named Jeff, who was older than I was and very nice. Maxine was my first cousin, once removed, and Jeff is my second cousin.

Furthermore, I know that Jeff got married and had children. Because Jeff is my second cousin, his children are my second cousins, once removed. Note: At first I said Twice Removed, and then a lovely lady corrected me.

The next part sounds kinda tricky to me. My Grandma Goltz, whose name was Frances Esther Weber Goltz, was the oldest of seven sisters. The seven sisters had seven brothers. That's a lot of family. 

Grandma's mother, who not only popped out a boatload of children, also had plenty of second cousins (her parent's first cousin's child or children). Grandma's second cousins were also my second cousins, once removed.

Are we clear on second cousins and second cousins, once removed? 

I hope so. 

Next week we'll finish up with third cousins. I can't go any further than that.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug


Now you know why I'm not a genealogist.
It's too complicated.


26 comments:

  1. So, how are your dad's first cousin Helen and her husband Gordon's daughter, Carol, who is your second cousin, related to me?

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  2. Goodness! I have more cousins than I thought I had--LOL! ;)

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  3. Janie, I'm an amateur genealogist from way back and wanted to let you know that the children of your second cousin are your second cousins ONCE removed. Their children would be your second cousins twice removed.

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    1. That makes sense! I kept reading the information I had over and over because I couldn't wrap my head around it. Thank you very much.

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    2. In case you come back, will you please check to see that I have it right now?

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    3. Well, you got that bit straightened out. But then "Grandma's mother also had plenty of second cousins (her parent's first cousin's child or children). Grandma's second cousins were also my second cousins, once removed." is where it gets a bit confusing. An easier way of explaining cousins is this.
      Sibling 1----------------Sibling 2 = Siblings
      Child of Sibling 1-----------Child of Sibling 2 = 1st Cousins
      Grandchild of Sibling 1--Grandchild of Sibling 2 = 2nd Cousins
      Great Grand of Sibling 1-Great Grand Sibling 2 = 3rd Cousins

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    4. Thank you! I'm going to rewrite this post.

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  4. I get it but I also feel like I am ready to purse my lips, make a sound and place my finger over my lips to make the crazy sound. It can get confusing but you do write it well so I believe I get it...I think.

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    1. It turns out I didn't get it all right. I had to make some corrections.

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  5. My head is spinning! I like that genealogists meme.

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  6. My poor brain is beyond this !
    Be safe and well.

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  7. what about double cousins? I have many of them in my line and I've never really dived into it because it hurts my brains. Thank you kindly, my dear.

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    1. Double cousins are double cousins. I hope there isn't some other term for them. We had a lot way back in my family because my Grandpa Goltz's parents were first cousins.

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  8. Love the photo collage--I see myself as photo 6, but my husband sees me as photo 5. He says, "Ohhhh, you're hanging out with the dead people today. Isn't that depressing?"

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  9. I find this very interesting, thannk you so much

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  10. I recall some explanation that showed we are all cousins if you keep following the chain....

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  11. My parents had a lot of siblings and all of them had children. Most of those children had children... And so on! Point of the story: It gives me a headache when I try to sort them all out! But at least I'm equipped with the proper knowledge should I choose to. :)

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