52 Ancestors celebrating birthdays

Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small, asked this week which ancestor has the closest birthday to us? At first glance this should be simple, right?

She specifically said ancestor not simply family member. So, first job is to define ancestor so that everyone is on the same page. Merriam Webster defines ancestor as “a person who was in someone's family in past times: one of the people from whom a person is descended.” Personally, these two are not necessarily the same thing.

My birthday is 16 February. Also born on that day is John Kirchner, 158 years ago, but he is my husband’s 2x great grandfather not mine. Technically then, this does not answer the prompt. My Uncle Tom (my mom’s brother who just passed in August of last year) is a Valentine’s baby (14 February). Since he has passed away, he is in past times but I did not descend from him.

The closest relative who I have descended from and who has passed is my 3^rd great grandmother, Sarah Bing Still. She was born 204 years ago on 18 February.

So who is Sarah?

Sarah is the daughter of Robert Bing (1781-1824) and Sarah McWilliams (1788-1859). She married George David Still (1808-1888) on 30 December 1930, to whom she had six children.

Sadly, I do not know much about her. She died of pneumonia and is buried in the Old Doe Run Presbyterian Cemetery in East Fallowfield. She and George however attended the Washington ME Church.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a weekly genealogical challenge issued by Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small. Look for my weekly posts each Thursday!

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