Saturday NIght Genealogy Fun - Your Maternal Grandfather's Paternal Line

The Challenge:

Find a living male person in your database from your maternal grandfather's patrilineal line who could take a Y-DNA test by answering the following questions.

The Questions:

1.  What was your mother's father's name?  My mother's father was Arthur Derks (1913-1999), born in Rochester, NY.  He was one of ten children; he had 5 brothers and 4 sisters.  He had 3 sons and 2 daughters.

2.  What is your mother's father's patrilineal line? That is, his father's father's father's...back to the most distant male ancestor in the line? 

• Arthur Derks' father was Peter Derks (1881-1960), born in Groede, Zeeland, Netherlands.  He came to the US in 1905.
• Peter Derks' father was Abraham Dierx (1834-1907), born and died in the Netherlands.
• Abraham Dierx's father was Jacobus Dierx (1782- ?), born and died in the Netherlands.
• Jacobus Dierx's father was Jan Dierx (1740-1818), born and died in the Netherlands.
• Jan Dierx's father is believed to be Klaas Dierx from the Netherlands.

3.  Can you identify male sibling(s) of your mother's father, and any living male descendants from those male sibling(s)?  If so, you have a candidate to do a Y-DNA test on that patrilineal line.  If not, you may have to find male siblings, and their descendants, of the next generation back, or even further.

My mother's father had 4 brothers.

• Abram Derks (1904-1985) He had two sons and one daughter.
• Peter Derks (1910-1985) He had one son and one daughter.
• Milton Derks (1914-1977).  He had one son.
• Eugene Derks (born after 1920 - still living).  He had three sons and one daughter.

All of the sons would be candidates for a Y-DNA test.  I am sure that many of these individuals have also had children that could be candidates.  I need to do more hunting to find out the specifics on each of their descendants.  I am looking forward to the 1940 census for some additional information and it gives me an incentive to have some conversations with aging Derks relatives to gather any and all information that they may have.

I haven't done a great deal of research on Y-DNA testing, and I'm not sure of the specifics on candidates.  Wouldn't my mother's brothers be candidates?  If anyone knows I'd love to have the answer.

This challenge can be found at: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/01/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-your.html

Marriage of Anna Augusta Druitt and Joseph West

Joseph West and Anna Augusta Druitt are my fith great grandparents.  It appears that they were married on May 10th 1814 in the St. Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney near London, England.

London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Dunstan And All Saints, Register of marriages, P93/DUN, Item 054

Here is a picture of the church as it looks today.  This picture was found on the church's website.

http://www.stdunstanstepney.org/Welcome.html



52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy : Week 1 Blogs

Blogging is a great way for genealogists to share information with family members, potential cousins and each other. For which blog are you most thankful? Is it one of the earliest blogs you read, or a current one? What is special about the blog and why should others read it?

What an interesting question?  There are so many different blogs that I enjoy reading.  I read most of my blogs on my ipad using my Flipboard app which is a wonderful way to read and enjoy different posts.  I'm not sure I can narrow it down to just one so....I am going to list a few of my favorites in no particular order.

Genealogy Tip of the Day
I am thankful for all of the little words of wisdom that Michael John Neill provides.  Each day there is something new to think about that can help guide your genealogy and family history research.  I can always take something away to help me be better.

Climbing My Family Tree
I am thankful for this blog because it is enjoyable to read and to get ideas.  The photos are beautiful and her design in creative.  I get ideas and use this as a tool for linking to other great blogs.

The We Tree Genealogy Blog
I love Amy Coffin's blog.  I get a lot of great ideas and advice.  I recently purchased her e-book entitled The Big Genealogy Blog Book which I have incorporated into my 2012 genealogy goals.  I hope her tips will help me improve my blog.  It was one of the first blogs that I read and still enjoy.

Geneabloggers
This is my go to website to find new blogs, blogging ideas and general information about genealogy and family  history blogs.  If it wasn't for this site my blog probably wouldn't exists. 

Genea-Musings
I am thankful for this blog especially for its Saturday Night Genealogy Fun events.  Every Saturday a new challenge is posted related to an activity related to genealogy and family history.  These tasks have helped me to work on my own family research.  One of my favorite posts that pushed my research was The Ancestor's Geneameme.