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What's my number?

Lorine McGinnis Schulze in her Olive Tree Genealogy Blog suggests looking at the number of ancestors you can identify  back 9 generations. There are a total of 1022 direct ancestors. Lorine suggests that many people will begin to double up on ancestors but this isn't the case with my family.

It is actually a little depressing when my figures are revealed. The first table documents my ancestors. It looks like I have only identified 11.1 % back to my 7th great grandparents. There are a few branches in which I can delve further into the past. These include Scottish, English and Irish (Church of Ireland) links. Roadblocks have been caused by Tasmanian death certificates - no parents names to get back to Norfolk research and Irish catholic research.





Generation
Number of Ancestors
My Numbers
Cumulative
Percentage 
GGGGGGG grandparents
512
5
11.1%
GGGGGG grandparents
256
9
21.%
GGGGG grandparents
128
10
38.9%
GGGG grandparents
64
27
70.6%
GGG grandparents
32
32
100%
GG grandparents
16
16
100%
Great grandparents
8
8
100%
Grandparents
4
4
100%
Parents
2
2
100%
 

The second table documents my research with my husband's families. Even more unsuccessful. However, I should be positive. A successful find a few years ago, allowed me to add 3 generations of Scheef ancestors past my husband's great grandfather.



Generation
Number of Ancestors
My Numbers
Cumulative Percentage
GGGGGGG grandparents
512
0
7.7%
GGGGGG grandparents
256
2
15.5%
GGGGG grandparents
128
8
30.3%
GGGG grandparents
64
13
54.8%
GGG grandparents
32
26
90.3%
GG grandparents
16
16
100%
Great grandparents
8
8
100%
Grandparents
4
4
100%
Parents
2
2
100%
 

Spending some time on these tables has actually helped me to identify a couple of branches where I may be able to research further. I have been spending more time recently on modern extensions to our families. 

This has certainly been a worthwhile exercise and I'll look at this table this time next year and see if I have made any progress.


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