VARIOUS #'d COUSINS of MINE

As I get older - maybe, wiser - I've been reconnecting with my geographically-near cousins, and connecting for the first time with other cousins further away.  Many of them.  First cousins who are a whole generation or so older, in my father's GILLESPIE line, and their children, our first-cousins-once-removed.  As well as second cousins-once-removed, from all lines, BUNN.  Third cousins - or is it fourth -  in my mother's father's TERWILLIGER line.

   And a wonderful first cousin far away in Ontario - who had been lost to the family since a post-war divorce - found me from my post on the KUHN message board online, "looking for relatives"!  We were both flabbergasted to find each other, and thrilled to find we both love genealogy.  What a wonderful experience - we've become friends as well as relatives.  Cuz Dave - you're the BEST!  Pooling our information and researching skills, we managed to prove much in our KUHN line in particular.  

   All those other cousins shared photographs, memories, stories, copies of various documents, many notes, and great conversations.  And along the way, I've discovered much to enjoy.  These are lovely people.  Why on earth didn't we know each other better, before now -?

   Several of these cousins have big family reunions or picnics or huge Christmas dinners in a hall, on a regular basis.  I envy them their opportunities to keep in touch, to know what is happening with various couples, their children, the whole extended family.  Wouldn't it be nice if we did this, too?  But somehow we're scattered in my family of origin.  Usually 'someone' keeps in irregular touch and passes on information.  Of course, a divorce or two does make it challenging.  Sigh.  These days, funerals are our major method of meeting!

James Grover TERWILLIGER
Souvenir Album (1800s)

   My furthest-distance cousin connection was with Joanne, a third cousin who lives down in St. Louis, MO.  I managed to spend some time with her when I was down there at a conference (I was working still).  Not only did I find much to appreciate in her kindness in picking me up in a nasty snow storm, and treating me to a wonderful meal, I also loved the photo of my greatgrandfather's sister, and more information on that side of the TERWILLIGER family. I was able to share what I'd found already on that line, plus some personal details gathered from my greatgrandfather's Souvenir Album, which my grandmother had kept (in very bad shape, unfortunately) in an old trunk.   I'm enclosing a photo - and every archivist out there will cringe at the terrible condition it's in (apologies).  

   Cousins.  They have a different take on the family stories, remember events differently, but they're definitely family.  And for genealogy details, nothing can beat a cousin.

Love to all my far-flung cousins - Celia