Spin Cycle: Bonds

The topic for this week's Spin Cycle is Bonds. Which is ironic because Daughter #1 and I have been researching our family tree the past couple of months.

So far we've only gotten as far back as the early 1800's, but already I feel a bond with these ancestors I've never met and, in many cases, never even heard of.

My mother has often told me I remind her of her grandma, my own great grandmother, Catherine, who was reportedly a tall redhead who barely went gray, even as an old woman. But how fun it was then, to actually find a copy of her passport, on line, from the 1920's when she would have been in her mid 40's, and see that she was 5 foot 10 and still listed as a redhead.

I can thank her not only for contributing to my height, but for the fact that, at 48, there are still no gray hairs on my head.

The Belfast, Ireland census of 1911 gave me information about my father's parents who both grew up there. Although each of their mothers, my great grandmothers, was married and had children, neither of their husbands is listed as living in their houses with them. This, I know, is because they had to travel to England to find work and send money back to their families in Ireland.

There is a record of my grandfather having been being baptized in England, and I picture my great grandmother Elizabeth traveling all the way there with her two young daughters and infant son, to baptize this boy in a strange and distant church just so that her husband might be present for this important event.

I think of these two great grandmothers, Elizabeth and yet another Catherine, one taking in sewing and the other boarders, both essentially living day to day as single parents, and I can't help but feel a bond with them.

Like my sister and me, my maternal grandma had Rh negative blood. Very rare, but also genetically recessive. I know that in order to inherit this type of blood, the gene has to be passed down from both parents. My father, however, is unaware of any such family history on his side.

Yet it's worth noting that our family tree boasts no prolific families bursting with children on either side, although those were common enough for Irish Catholics back in the day. Which leads me to wonder if this Rh negative factor in our genes may have been an insidious contributing factor in limiting family size.

My grandma once confided to me that she and her mother both lost "blue babies," as they were called, because of their negative blood type. As a nurse I learned about this condition, where any mixing of Rh positive and negative blood between mother and baby, either during pregnancy and/or at delivery, not infrequently resulted in the baby's death from hemolytic anemia shortly after birth.

I received Rhogam, or Rh immunoglobulin, during each of my pregnancies to prevent this, and then again after the births of First-Born Son and Daughter #1, who both have Rh positive blood.

But The Ex, like my father, obviously has a hidden family gene, because Daughter #2 is Rh negative. Like me, and her great grandmother, and great great grandmother, and on and on. All the way back to the beginning of our family.

Pretty cool.

Some bonds in life we create. Others, it seems, create us.

For more Spins on Bonds, visit Sprite's Keeper.

I've decided to post only twice a week for the time being, a compromise which allows me to spend more time on some other writing projects, yet maintain my connection with all of you in Blog Land who have become such a part of my life. I know you  understand. I promise that, although I may not be around quite as often, I will still be visiting each of you on a regular basis.

 

Comments

[Constructive Attitude]

omgsh? the 1800s??? i can barely get past the 1930s, good for you!

[Lynn]

Family history is so fun. I'd like to do more, but other things always get in the way. It's not so much the names and dates as the stories that I love. I'll never forget when mom, whose dad died when she was 13, first saw a close-up portrait of him from when he was in WW2, and noticed, for the first time, that she has his smile and teeth. And so do I. She had never known before where we got our big, toothy, smiles. Pretty obvious, now!

Twice a week? We'll miss your daily postings, but I completely understand, and admire you, for deciding to balance things. Blogging takes so much time from other important things, doesn't it?

[Ocean Girl]

You don't have gray hair yet? Wow. You do have luxurious hair.

[Mama Badger]

This is very cool. What strong women you have in your family!

[Sprite's Keeper]

Wow, that is fascinating! I never knew that about Rh blood. My dad is researching our family tree as well, I'm not sure how far he is, but sometimes he'll call me and tell me a tale of a distant relative who did this and that. So interesting! You're linked!

[Erica@PinesLakeRedhead]

What a wonderful project to do with your daughter! I should get back into my family tree now that there are so many resources available online. My family history is very stunted so I'm not sure how much I can find. I have yet to find any other redheads in my family.

I'll be sure to check back here twice a week to keep up on the happenings on The Island!

[Vincent]

The 1901 Census is on-line from Dublin. I do not know if this hits you, but you could easily check.
But a plus from that Gene of yourn, your people could 'do' the few far better with education and so forth.

[lisleman]

good research - this post reminds me of the PBS series "Faces of America" that was excellent.

[Jan]

I did a free trial with Ancestry.com, and couldn't get any further than both sets of grandparents - I'm impressed!

Recessive - and dominant genes - are on my mind a lot today. The Young One's father, who was adopted in the years before open adoptions became the norm, informed me yesterday that he was just diagnosed with primary hemochromatosis. I just made one of the most frightening phone calls I've ever had to make, to schedule a test for The Young One.

[LPC]

I look forward to hearing about your new projects:).

[Patty]

What a great post. I have tried to do my genealogy, too and like you, I feel linked to my ancestors in a way different than before. I am at a standstill with my dad's side since his dad came from Austria and no one really got much info out of him before he died. I'll have to keep looking.

[Joanie M]

We can trace my father's family back to the 1820 census. I know I had an ancestor in the Civil War (John calls it the War Of Northern Aggression...he spent a lot of years in NC and GA when he was a soldier). My mother's family, I believe also goes back to the early 1800s here in the US. Both sides originated in Ireland.

[Corinne]

Family history is such an interesting topic. How amazing to know about those blood bonds, literally. Such a lovely read.

[joanna jenkins]

Finding your grandmother's passport online means I no longer have any excuses not to start researching my family history too. That is so cool!!!!

Thanks for the inspiration.
jj

[Kristen @ Motherese]

I love that you've been able to find out so much information about your family. My dad has become an ancestry.com addict and I have been benefiting from the research he's done.

And how interesting about the Rh negative factor. See what the combination of nursing knowledge and ancestry research will get you!

Cheers to taking a bloggy breather this summer!

[SuziCate]

I love this, Maureen. I researched both lines of each of my parents and my husband's fmily as well. It has been very intersting and rewarding. So, I know it will be no surprise to you that I loed this post.

[Christopher (AKA: CaJoh)]

Family trees are always interesting to research. It gives a great perspective as to how you turned out the way you do.

Cool spin,

[kathryn]

Wow....this is super-interesting stuff, sweetie.

I've always meant to do the whole genealogy thing but never seem to get around to it. I can totally understand how you would feel this kinship with your ancestors, though.

My mom's hair starting turning grey at 18, so we've got the opposite happening here....although my driver's license will always say my hair is brown!

I'm also RH negative! Yet another thing you and I have in common.

Whether you post once or five times a week, it's always a privilege and a pleasure to read your posts, sweetie. Rock on!

[Erin]

I hear you on the infrequent posting... more than likely I will go that route too.

No grey hair? You are lucky.

I am very interested in doing some family tree research. I may pick your brain offline. :-)

Love this post!

[Pseudo]

I am really impressed with how far back you've gotten Maureen. Cool stuff.

[Michelle Murphy Zive]

I didn't read past where you don't have any gray hair and are 5'10". What the heck?? Just kidding. You have inspired me to seek out my own family history (I know there is a Murphy County in Ireland) but also to support you in writing your other projects. Way to go!!

[Jen on the Edge]

I went through a major genealogy phase several years ago and was able to trace one line of my father's family back to the foot soldier who came over to English with William the Conqueror.

My older daughter's full name is Grace Elizabeth and she was named after relatives from within the past three generations. Imagine my surprise when I found a branch of my husband's mother's family in the 1600s in Devonshire had five Graces within one generation of cousins and sisters and two of them were Grace Elizabeths.

[Linda at Bar Mitzvahzilla]

How amazing to have so much history to look at, Maureen! And not gray yet - I don't hate you because I adore you, but still. Don't push me, girl! It's hard to maintain the illusion of natural brunette with silvers peeping out of my hairline!

This reminds me of my post about my dad and how we tie into one another. Very cool.

[Peg]

I find genetics and heredity fascinating! That is so cool to discover the bond between your daughter, you, your grandmother and great grandmother.

[Stacia]

For me, it goes the other way. My mom is adopted, so we don't know much about our biological lineage. But we've been able to trace our adopted family back through a few generations, seeing the strength that led them to America as well as through the loss of children and subsequent adoption process. I like to think that kind of fortitude runs through my veins, too, passed on through nurture instead of nature.

[Casey]

Oh, that is strange about the hereditary blood trail. And neat that you found a passport photo, I didn't know those were avail.

I've never really done the genealogy thing but it is interesting. Maybe one day..

[~The South Dakota Cowgirl~]

What a cool thing to discover. I used to find history so boring. Now, I wish I'd paid attention a lot more in school! I understand the need to be other places- I am in that same predicament here, and am constantly behind in my reading and commenting... Have fun!

[Mrsbear]

That's so fascinating. I'd love to embark on some family research, but expect it would involve quite a bit of digging, which I really don't have the time or energy for lately. I don't even know how available the records would be, it would be interesting to find out though.

And no gray at 48, that's pretty impressive. I'm starting to sprout a couple but not too worried about it yet.

[Heather]

Your so lucky! I had my first gray hair when I was 16! I missed this spin on my little stay at home vacation. It figures, mine would have been about hair (or the lack of).

Love how you were able to trace family like that. My tree is very little, that I know of.