Thomas Tracy- a Common Ancestor

Introduction:

Before it was discontinued, I really enjoyed playing around with Ancestry's We're Related app. I think there was a lot of speculation with this app- whether or not the famous ancestors it said you were related to were actually true. I had the app for I think close to 2 years (maybe) and I tried to prove every single celebrity that We're Related threw at me. I can definitely say that more than 50% of the people it gave me, I couldn't really for sure say- yes, I'm related to this person. However, there were quite a few that I did prove to be legit, and that's fun!

Through this app, I found Thomas Tracy, my 10th great grandfather on my mother's paternal side. He was one of the common ancestors that presented several celebrity cousins and some fun surprise connections with friends.

Thomas Tracy was born on 07 Nov 1610 in Gloucestershire, England to the son of Paul Tracy (1556-1626) & Anne Shakerly (1563-1615). He immigrated to America and settled in Norwich, Connecticut. Thomas was married to Marthe Bourne. I saw somewhere he had more than one spouse, but I only have the one in my tree, because that's who I'm related to. I haven't expanded it.

Thomas and Martha had 4 children in my tree that had descendants that I know of or know personally- Mary (1633-1671), Jonathan (1646-1704), Miriam (1648-1732) and Solomon (1651-1732).

Cousins Found through Thomas Tracy

                           

  Frank Morgan (Left) & Ralph Morgan (Right)-- Frank was the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz

A Polygamist Family

Hey All,

It's been awhile since I've posted. I decided to write outside of celebrity or my own tree today. 

I recently worked on a someone's tree for them- a friend from high school. What I discovered...was...a lot! First, I discovered that we share a common ancestor- we are 11th cousins, which is just insane.

Second, I discovered my first Polygamist family to research! I have done many family trees for friends and acquaintances, but this is the first time I've come across this  type of family- it was interesting for sure! 

This post is about one of his ancestors- just the shear amount of information is insane.

Benjamin Franklin Barney

Born: 12 Mar 1832 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois

 ~Son of Charles Barney (1783-1865) & 

                            Deborah Riffle (1808-1888)

Benjamin was the 14th child out of 18! He was a Farmer, Fruit-grower and a stock raiser. He fought as a private in the Utah Militia during the Indian Wars.

Benjamin was also a polygamist, like his father (2 wives), except that Benjamin had 3 wives and a total of 33 children!

Wife #1: Caroline Beard, married 27 Apr 1849

    ~she was 23, he was 17.

Born: 15 Jan 1826 in Virginia

Died: 26 Sep 1905 in Lakeshore, Utah

   ~Daughter of Christian W. Beard (1790-1846) & 

                                             Margaret Almendroad (1800-1852)

Wife #2: Priscilla Ann Shepherd, married 08 Apr 1857

     ~she was 15, he was 25.

Born: 04 May 18423 in Mount Pleasant, Indiana

Died: 20 Sep 1916 in Elsinore, Utah

    ~Daughter of Moses Trader Shepherd (1820-1866) &

                                          Eliza Jane Adamson (1822-1897)

Wife #3: Karen Caroline Nielsen, married 07 Dec 1865

    ~she was 21, he was 33.

Born: 28 May 1844 in Denmark

Died: 28 Oct 1933 in Elsinore, Utah

Benjamin's 33 children with his 3 wives: 

One very sad thing about this family is that Mormons outlawed polygamy on 24 Sep 1890. Benjamin was required to choose only one wife to "keep" and he chose Karen, his third wife. The other two wives and their children were left to fend for themselves! Caroline remained in Lakeshore, Utah. Priscilla and her 10 children moved into a two bedroom house with a dirt roof in Monroe, Utah. Benjamin and Karen moved to Annabella, Utah where they started a dairy farm.

Benjamin died on 07 Dec 1904 in Elsinore, Sevier, Utah at the age of 72 of gangrene of a limb (doesn't mention what limb). He was buried in Monroe City Cemetery in Monroe, Utah.