[Genealogy] Three Cousins, Udder Book, Baptism is LIke Real Estate, and More

[Michael John Neill]

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15 June 2026

** My Three Cousins
** The Udder Book
** Midwest Genealogy Center Trip
** Baptism is Like Real Estate
** Getting Updates
** Brick Wall Busters

-------------------------
My Three Cousins
-------------------------

For those who don’t understand how cousins are counted…it’s easy. My uncle
has three sons: the oldest one was my first cousin, the middle one was my
second cousin, and the youngest one was my third cousin.
------------------------------

Of course that’s not how first, second, and third cousins are determined.
First cousins share a set of grandparents. Second cousins share a set of
great-grandparents, and third cousins share a set of
great-great-grandparents. The pattern continues on successively. There are
charts that attempt to show the relationship graphically for those who are
visual learners
<www.ngsgenealogy.org/wp-content/uploads/Getting-Started/NGS-Family-Relationship-Chart-FINAL.pdf>
.

Then there are the removed when the two individuals are not the same
generation of descent from the common ancestor. Your first cousin’s child
and you are first cousins once removed–because that child is one more
generation removed from the original ancestor than you are. Your cousin’s
grandchild and you would be first cousins twice removed–because that
grandchild is two generations further from the original ancestor than you.

Your child and your first cousin’s child would be second cousins. Your
child and your first cousins child share a set of great-grandparents–the
people who are you and your cousins’s grandparents.

And of course, there several nuances:

   - half cousins–would only share one grandparent or one
   great-grandparent. This could easily happen if a person had multiple spouses
   - double cousins–people who are related in more than one way. This most
   often happens when brothers marry sisters, a brother and sister marry a
   sister and a brother, etc.

Instead of stating the specific relationship between two individuals, I
prefer to clearly state the common ancestor.

Edward and Curtis Habben were both grandsons of John M. and Anke H. (Fecht)
Habben.

Cecil Neill and Edna (Rampley) Dion were second cousins, being
great-grandchildren of James and Elizabeth (Chaney) Rampley. Their son
Riley was Cecil’s grandfather and their son James was Edna’s grandfather.

Your mileage may vary.

------------------------------------
The Udder Book
------------------------------------

Researcher walks into the courthouse and asks for the Udder Book. Clerk has
no idea what the Udder Book is and thinks the researcher means the “Other
Book,” but that doesn’t make any sense either, so he asks the researcher.

I need the Udder Book. It’s the Udder Book. A professional genealogist told
me to milk the records.
————–
Well, I thought it was funny.

And it’s a good reminder that researchers need to metaphorically milk the
records.

-----------------------
5-8 October 2026
4 days of genealogy research

in Independence, Missouri
*save your spot today!*

We are excited to announce an October trip to the Midwest Genealogy Center
in Independence, Missouri.

We will have time for genealogy lectures, consultation, and research. Our
approach is laid-back, conversational, and geared to help you with your
research.

Details are at:

https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/mid-continent-genealogy-library-october-2025-research-trip/

Spaces are limited.
--------------------------
Baptism is Like Real Estate
--------------------------

I’ve not done any studies, so what follows are just some random thoughts.

Many of my maternal and paternal ancestors were members of religious faiths
that practiced infant baptism. Many of these families were Germanic in
origin but not all. My comments are based upon things I have noticed in
researching those families. The overriding piece of advice here is:

Determine the “norms” for the area, time period, and denomination in which
your ancestor existed.  Realize that these norms changed from one area to
another, over time, and in different denominations. Remember that not
everyone behaved according to societal norms.

The sponsors of a child often usually have some connection to the parents
of that child. That connection is not always biological. In United States
immigrant families it is often suggested that sponsors of children born
after immigration be researched. Sponsors possibly knew the parents
pre-immigration and, if the parents cannot be located overseas, researching
those sponsors can lead to possible locations where the parents
originated.  That’s true of people who migrate without crossing a pond as
well.

I’ve noticed that in some geographic areas, ethnic groups, and time periods
that the sponsors are almost always related to the parents and in other
areas, ethnic groups, and time periods this is not as prevalent. The child
may or may not be named for the sponsor. There can easily be some
variations in this tradition from one ethnic group to another.

There are also variations within those denominations that practice infant
baptism.

A random reading of other christening entries within the same set of
records can provide some insight as to whether it was a common practice
to generally name a child for the sponsor. It can be more difficult to
determine from other entries if the sponsors of children  are related to
the child or not.

The first time I discovered a baptismal entry where the parents were the
sponsors, I was surprised. It seemed to me to be the most unusual thing.
Then, after reading entries for other children in the same set of records,
I discovered it was common in that location. Today tongues would wag if the
parents of a child acted as its sponsors, but in that place in that time in
that church-it was not unusual.

In an upcoming post we will see a Godparent listed who was not related to
the child. In fact he never even saw him.

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------------------------------------------------------------------
Brick Wall Busters 2026 is here!!
--------------------------------------------

*Brick Wall Busters 2026*

*Need to jump-start your research?*

This hour-long presentation is geared towards advanced beginning or
intermediate genealogists. Our focus will be on problems in the United
States between roughly 1700 and 1900. Brick wall ideas will be pulled from
consultations with clients and personal research experience. Approaches
will be practical and down-to-earth.

Handout included. Presentation made by Michael John Neill.

Michael has forty years of research experience in families throughout the
United States. Presentation is based on his personal experience and
consultations he has made to clients on research trips and via virtual
consultations.


Presentation and handout available now for immediate download--for $26.
<https://michael-john-neill.dpdcart.com/cart/add?product_id=249781&method_id=272792>
Download
link sent immediately
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------------------------------------
Michael John Neill
Genealogy Tip of the Day
PO Box 17, Henderson, IL 61439
http://www.genealogytipoftheday.com
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