The old homeplace in Millers Creek, NC

This home belonged to my grandparents, Wiley Thomas Snyder (1892-1988) and Nora Bessie McNeil Snyder (1900-1992).  They bought it in 1925.  It was the gathering place for all their children and grandchildren. 

We'd sit on the front porch and wave to anyone who drove by, on Pleasant Home Church Road. 

Fun times!

What are double first cousins?

Double first cousins are the children of siblings from one family who marry siblings from another family.  Their children are double first cousins.  Like siblings, they have the same four grandparents. (In North Carolina, first cousins can marry, but double first cousins cannot marry.)

Since my family lived many generations in a rural county (Wilkes County, N.C.), there were not a lot of choices for mates, so there are several examples of double first cousins.

 

For example, Mary Snyder (1885-1984) married Richard Greene Bumgarner (1890-1976), called "Greene".  They had two children: 

1. Agnes Hazel Bumgarner (1919-2003) (called "Hazel")
2. Elva Elizabeth Bumgarner (1921-2009).

Mary's brother, Roby Brown Snyder (1887-1980) married Richard's sister, Maggie Octavie Bumgarner (1892-1963). Roby and Maggie had four children:

1. Benjamin Franklin Snyder (1913-2003) (called "Ben")
2. Sadie Belle Snyder (1916-2008)
3. John Wilson Snyder (1923-2005)
4. Shade Gordon Snyder (1925-2002) (called "Gordon")

So Hazel and Ben are double-first cousins.

Welcome to my blog!

I created this blog to share stories and information about my ancestors from Wilkes County, North Carolina.  My mother, grandmother, and other relatives shared many family stories with me.  As I recall these stories, I will share my journey to find the truth.

Family names include McNeil, Snyder, Whittington, Jarvis, Nichols, Pardue, Padgett, Stout, Faw, Lenderman.

If you're related, I'd love to hear from you!