3rd Great-Grandparents?? How many can you name?

When I think of the early 1800s, I know it’s a long time ago but it doesn’t feel like 200 years! This is the time (within a 20 year timeframe) that my 3rd great-grandparents were born. Who were they, when and where did they live and die? Every once in a while, I have time for the Saturday Night Challenge sponsored by Genea-Musings and it is something that I think my readers might be interested in. This week, we were asked to list our 32  3rd great-grandparents with as much information about them that we have. 

Did you know that you have “32” 3rd great-grandparents?! They add up quite quickly when they double each generation! How many of your 3rd great-grandparents can you name? How about your 2nd or even 1st great-grandparents? And do you have any photos of a 3rd great-grandparent, someone born in the early 1800’s and lived until photography was available to the common folk in the 1860’s?

My 3rd Great Grandparents: 

Well, here is the list of 28 of my 32 3rd great-grandparents. I haven’t found 4 of them. The list was generated using the Ahnentafel Report option in Ancestry. They are numbered beginning with 32 because there are 31 ancestors of mine between me and them (16 great-great grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, 4 grandparents, 2 parents, and me=31) and from the top begin with my father’s father’s father’s father’s father down to my mother’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother.

32: Dominico Vespia was born in 1801 in Italy and died on 11 Jan 1880 in Villa San Giovanni, Reggio di Calabria, Calabria, Italy.

33: Catarina Malerba was born in May 1804 in Cannitello, Reggio di Calabria, Calabria, Italy and died in Sep 1867 in Villa San Giovanni, Reggio di Calabria, Calabria, Italy.

36: Giuseppe Mortelliti was born in 1805 and died on 10 Jan 1886 in Scilla, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italia.

37: Antonia Lofaro was born in May 1813.

38: Guiseppe Stefano Morabito was born on 5 Nov 1819 in Scilla Reggio Calabria, Italy and died on 15 Jul 1878 in Scilla, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italia.

39: Dominica Nicolo

#47 Christina Dunker

was born on 13 May 1824 in Scilla, Reggio Calabria, Reggio di Calabria, Calabria, Italy and died on 17 Nov 1886 in Scilla, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italia.

40: Joannes Szedlák

41: Catherine Liplak was born in April 1814 in zsebes, Kosice, Košice, Slovakia.

42: Janos Szabo Kristof was born on 31 May 1816 in Garadna, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Hungary.

43: Theresia Kotsis was born in Sep 1815 in Garadna, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Hungary.

44: Johann Herman Hillman was born on 27 May 1824 in Syke, Diepholz, Lower Saxony, Germany and died on 2 Oct 1871 in Bremen, Bremen, Germany.

45: Johanne Caroline Elisabeth Druckhammer was born in abt 1831 in Germany and died on July 9, 1902 in Bremen Germany.

46: John Heinrich Sackman was born on 31 Aug 1811 in Jork, Hannover, Preußen and died in 1870 in Abbotts, Potter, Pennsylvania, United States.

47: Christina Dunker was born on 29 Apr 1827 in Elmshorn, Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany and died on 19 Aug 1898 in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

48: George W. (Washington ?) Tubbs was born on 3 APR 1802 in Bristol, Addison Co., VT and died on 7 SEP 1854 in Scio Twp., Washtenaw Co., MI.

49: Rebecca Sophronia Walter was born on 5 OCT 1807 in Norfolk, Litchfield, Connecticut, USA and died on 13 MAY 1855 in Scio Twp, Washtenaw, MI.

#48 George W. Tubbs

50: Timothy Castle Randall was born in ABT 1806 in Geddes, Onondaga, New York and died in abt 1849 in Cobourg, Canada.

51: Julia Ann Chapin was born on 8 JUL 1806 in Burlington, NY and died on 20 APR 1880 in Scio Twp., Washtenaw Cty, MI.

52: Harvey A Orcutt was born on 4 MAY 1802 in Pittstown, NY and died on 15 OCT 1858 in Cambridge, NY.

53: Elizabeth Walker was born on 17 JAN 1808 in Pittstown, Renn Cty, NY and died on 7 November 1885 in Thornapple Township, Barry County, Michigan, United States of America.

54: George Dolan Bailey was born in 1805 in On ship when parents came from N. Ireland to America and died on 16 MAR 1849 in Ann Arbor, MI.

55: Mary Ann Mosher was born on 18 JUL 1810 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, USA and died on 30 OCT 1887 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan, USA.

58: William Croft was born in 1827 in Canada West, Canada and died on 15 Jun 1856 in Carlton, Ontario, Canada.

59: Margaret Carmichael was born on 28 NOV 1832 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland and died on 14 Dec 1905 in Hancock, Houghton, Michigan, USA.

60: Rodman Stoddard was born on 4 JUL 1797 in Woodbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut, USA and died on 13 MAY 1853 in Detroit, Wayne, MI, Michigan, USA.

#55 Mary Ann Mosher

61: Mary Matteson was born on 25 JUN 1809 in Genesee Co, NY and died on 21 DEC 1893 in Reed City, Osceola County, Michigan.

62: George W. Bedell was born in 1798 in Dutchess Co., N. Y. and died on 17 Jun 1869 in Nankin Twnshp, Wayne Co, Michigan.

63: Anna Samuels was born in 1809 in New York and died on 8 Mar 1887 in Nankin Township, Wayne, Michigan.

#61 Mary Matteson

#62 George W. Bedell

#63 Anna Samuels

 If you have been following my blog, you know that I’m all about photos. I was curious, how many photos do I have of my 3rd great-grandparents? Remember, they were born over 200 years ago! It turns out that I have 6 photos of my great-great-great-grandparents, one even of someone born in 1798!

My Husband’s 3rd Great-Grandparents:

For my husband’s family, I have found ALL of his 3rd great-grandparents. Here’s his 32:

#32 Jacob Breyfogle

32: Jacob Breyfogle was born on 1 OCT 1805 in , Berks, Pennsylvania, United States and died on 30 Aug 1871 in Briggsville?.

33: Elizabeth Keen was born on 11 SEP 1811 in Pennsylvania and died on 7 Dec 1876 in Briggsville, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States of America.

34: William Santee was born on 11 FEB 1811 in Pennsylvania and died on 11 FEB 1852 in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

35: Sarah McCafferty was born on 12 DEC 1816 in Pennsylvania and died on 9 FEB 1858 in Bradford Co., Pennsylvania.

36: George Pealer was born on 14 AUG 1818 in Fishing Creek, Columbia, Pennsylvania, United States and died on 9 DEC 1897 in Fishing Creek Twp, Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA.

37: Rebecca Boyd Hampton was born on 2 FEB 1820 in Bloomsburg, Columbia, Pennsylvania and died on 7 MAR 1876 in Fishing Creek, Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA.

38: Benjamin Miller Stephens was born on 13 JAN 1815 in Huntington, Luzerne County, PA and died on 9 JUN 1890 in Huntington, Luzerne County, PA.

39: Mary Ann Fellows was born on 29 MAY 1815 in Huntington, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States and died on 20 FEB 1892 in Luzerne, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States.

40: Pieter Joostz den Boer was born on 28 Dec 1804 in Elkerzee, Schouwen-Duiveland, Zeeland, Netherlands and died on 2 July 1848 in Duivendijke, Netherlands.

41: Lena Marinnusses Stoel was born on 28 June 1816 in Elkerzee, Schouwen-Duiveland, Zeeland, Netherlands and died in 1860 in Grand Rapids (Kent, Michigan, USA).

#33 Elizabeth Keen

42: Dingenus MOERDIJK was born on 12 Jun 1806 in Baarland, Borsele, Zeeland, Netherlands and died on 20 Jul 1845 in Baarland, Borsele, Zeeland, Netherlands.

43: Cornelia Huijzen was born in 1812 in Baarland, Borsele, Zeeland, Netherlands.

44: Jan Jurjines Van Dam was born on 3 APR 1803 in Eenrum, De Marne, Groningen and died on 11 DEC 1888 in Plainfield Township, Kent, MI.

45: Frouwke Wickers Rijpenga was born on 17 JUL 1803 in Loppersum, Groningen, Netherlands and died on 24 May 1898 in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, USA.

46: Harm Pieters van der Veen was born on 8 JUN 1811 in Oosterwijtwerd, Loppersum, Groningen, Netherlands and died on 20 AUG 1889 in Wyoming, Kent, Michigan, USA.

47: Aafke Heikes Kamp was born on 16 SEP 1814 in Oldenzijl, Eemsmond, Groningen, Netherlands and died on 28 NOV 1862 in Garsthuizen, Loppersum, Groningen, Netherlands.

48: John Bachar was born on 7 January 1787 in Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States and died on 24 September 1858 in Ohio, United States of America.

49: Julianna Judith Rough was born on 24 Feb 1798 in Pennsylvania and died on 2 Mar 1832 in Franklin County, Ohio, USA.

50: John Monroe Fenstermacher was born on 23 Jun 1805 in Northumberland, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States and died on 1 Aug 1873 in Amanda, Hancock, Ohio, United States.

51: Mary Catherine Beck was born on 28 Mar 1806 in Nazareth Township, Northampton County, PA and died on 4 Sep 1887 in Ridge, Van Wert, Ohio, United States.

#36 Jacob Pealer

52: Simeon Maxson Howell was born on 9 Apr 1817 in Turtle Creek, Shelby, Ohio, United States and died on 9 NOV 1900 in Santa Fe, Auglaize, Ohio, United States.

53: Hannah Mahala Horner was born in March 1821 in Thirsk, Yorkshire, ENGLAND and died on 10 AUG 1862 in Washington, Auglaize, Ohio, United States.

54: Thomas Cochlin was born on 2 FEB 1825 in Maryland and died on 1 Jan 1881 in Ohio, United States.

55: Mary Elliott was born on 17 JUL 1829 in Licking, Co., OH and died on 27 Aug 1909; her mother died in 1838, so she was raised by Richard's 2nd wife, Sarah Howell d/o David 1777 in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States of America.

56: Samuel G. Conklin was born on 16 OCT 1808 in Livingston County, NY and died on 29 APR 1877 in near Tecumseh.

57: Lucetta Brazie (or Beazie) or Bresie was born on 25 FEB 1813 in Livingston County, NY and died on 12 AUG 1877 in Tecumseh, Lenawee County, Michigan, USA.

58: Anson Bennett Webster was born on 15 AUG 1809 in Sheldon, Franklin, Vermont and died on 11 OCT 1854 in Darlington, Montgomery, Indiana.

59: Harriet Mariah Spofford was born on 16 JAN 1816 in Hopkinton, Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States and died on 30 JUL 1898 in Tecumseh, Lenawee, Michigan, United States.

60: Joseph Howell was born on 5 MAY 1803 in Covert, Seneca, New York, United States and died on 18 MAR 1888 in Macon, Lenawee, Michigan, United States.

61: Lutitia Van Duyn was born on 19 OCT 1803 in Ovid, Seneca County, New York, USA and died on 30 APR 1876 in Macon, Lenawee, Michigan, United States.

#52 Simeon Maxson Howell

62: James Leonardo Remington was born on 2 JUN 1814 in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States and died on 26 MAY 1894 in Tecumseh, Lenawee Co, MI.

63: Elizabeth Ann Wheeler was born on 18 NOV 1823 in Alleghany Co, NY and died on 6 SEP 1900 in Tecumseh, Lenawee Co, MI.

And how many photos do I have from his 32 3rd great-grandparents? TEN!!

#56 Samuel G. Conklin

#57 Lucetta Brazie

#59 Harriet Spofford

#60 Joseph Howell

#62 James L. Remington

#63 Elizabeth Wheeler

What blows my mind to think is that my daughters can now name 60 of their possible 64 4th great-grandparents and have photos of 25% of the known 4th (!!) great grandparents. How many people do you think can say that?!

Treasured Toy Car

Bill Breyfogle, c. 1938
color enhanced by myHeritage

My father-in-law (Bill) recently shared some of his boyhood treasures with my husband. This week as I was unpacking one of the boxes, I came across this well worn toy car. Not having any idea about its provenance, I asked my husband. He said that this was a toy car that his dad had been given when he was a little boy from a “cousin”.

I uploaded one of the photos and using Google Lens found an eBay result below that helped identify at least a manufacturer and era for it. I was curious to hear a little more about the story, so I called my father-in-law.

He was delighted that I was interested and shared with me that he remembered meeting the person who was the original owner and he thought he was about the age of his 1st cousins, Joe and JC DeBoer (so born around 1919) and he also knew the sad fact that this man served in WW2 but didn’t return. He wasn’t sure how he was related and it might even have been cousins of his cousins and it might have been his cousin’s mother’s side. In answering questions, he shared with me that the car is pretty much as he remembers receiving it, without the back license plate or spare tire and the painting of the silver was done before he received it.

The Original Owner

I love a good mystery, so I spent some time delving into my father-in-law’s family tree looking for a man who would have been a boy in the 1920s, who would have been able to enjoy a toy car like this around 1927 and served and died in WW2. At first I thought this was going to be easy, how many people could this be?

Since Bill said it wasn’t a 1st cousin (he actually only has 2 on the DeBoer side–Joe and JC) and thought it was related to their mother’s side, I looked into her. Since she married into the family, I hadn’t done much work on her line and it was all new. She was born Johanna “Anna” Smith on 5 June 1894 to

Anna and Joseph DeBoer
c. 1915

Earl Kyse Smith (1865-1900) and Grietje Hermans “Maggie” Van Bloois (1869-1951). Earl was married before Maggie, his first wife died shortly after the birth of their first child. Anna’s father, Earl, died when she was around 6 and with 4 children under 10, and Earl’s one just a little bit older it was not surprising that her mother, Maggie remarried quickly. She married John Stouten (1869-1950) and they had 2 more children together and he brought 5 children into the marriage from his first wife who also died. Not knowing if the original owner of the toy car might be a step-sibling, I felt I needed to investigate all 11 possibilities, which meant finding all of their spouses and children. After an exhaustive search, I found 1 man who died in Pearl Harbor, James Stouten (1901-1941), the son of John Stouten and his first wife. This didn’t seem right because he wasn't a child in 1927 and didn’t match being born in the 1919 timeframe. I looked for a son of James, but couldn’t find any indication he had children.

William and Eva Van Dam DeBoer Family
c. 1911

William and twin Martin
DeBoer c. 1880

So on to the possibility of 2nd cousins, which means investigating the families of siblings of Bill’s grandparents. His grandfather was William Joost (Joseph) DeBoer, a twin with Marinus (Martin) DeBoer born on 5 Oct 1871 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and they were #4 and 5 of 11 children. Whew! That’s a lot of kids to check out, but fortunately most of them I had already researched. This exhaustive research brought no possibilities! 

On to Bill’s grandmother, Aafke (Eva) Van Dam born 24 September 1871, also in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Unsurprisingly, they attended the same Dutch Reformed Church in Grand Rapids). Eva was the 2nd of 10 children! Let’s hope that each child didn’t have 10 children! Again, I had researched many of her siblings, so it didn’t take me long to find a likely candidate. The 5th child, Harmon Van Dam (1881-1954) and his wife Dorothy Froman (1893-1965) had 6 children (3 boys and 3 girls). The youngest of these boys was Peter Charles Van Dam born 1922 and served as a Tordepoman’s Mate Second Class aboard the submarine, the SS Kete. According to the

Naval History and Heritage Command, the Kete departed “Guam on 1 March 1945 headed for her second patrol in the vicinity of Nansei Shoto. In addition to performing a normal patrol, Kete had orders to submit special weather reports, and to carry out rescue service during an air strike by carrier based planes.” After firing some of their torpedoes on a small enemy cable laying vessel, they were directed to depart the area on 20 March and proceed to Pearl Harbor. They sent their last update on 20 March. They should have arrived to Midway (a refueling stop) by the 31st of March but never made it.

Here is the Obituary of Peter C. Van Dam published in the Grand Rapids Press on April 13, 1946. I am fairly certain that Peter was the original owner, or at least the boy who passed it along to my father-in-law, Bill.

More about the Toy Car

We don’t know exactly when Peter handed down his toy car, but it would have been well before he left for the Navy, since little Billy would have enjoyed it in the late 1930’s, when Peter was in high school. 

I did some more investigation on the car, which led me to the Antique Toy Collectors of America. (Are you surprised there is a club for this? I am no longer surprised since it seems like there is a club for everything!) Their website provides a plethora of information including the 1926 and 1931 catalogs for the Kingsbury Manufacturing Co. Another website called Pressed Steel & Metal Toys of the 1920s & 1930s provided some added photos and background of the Kingsbury toy company (but none of the exact car). Little Billy’s car does not appear in 1926 catalog but a version of it appears for sale in 1931 for $3. (Adjusted for inflation that would be $69.72 in today’s money).

The No. 340 Cabriolet is advertised as “A perfect reproduction of the artistic models seen on Fifth Ave. Finished blue with orange striping and wheels. Rubber tires and motor.” I’m thinking that earlier models were in green but the orange striping, rubber tires, and a wind up motor are still present. 

There appears to be a market for these antique toy cars (it is nearly 100 years old!), but my husband has no desire to give it up, especially now knowing its provenance!