Michael Neill at RootDig asked the question: how many of your direct ancestors appear in the Social Security Death Index?
His total was seven, and Blaine Bettinger at The Genetic Genealogist has eight. Knowing that my family has been particularly long-lived in recent generations, I thought that I might fare a little better:
GRANDPARENTS
4. Myron G. Hait: 7 Jul 1927 – 14 Jul 2001, Last residence: College Park, Maryland; State issued: New York (before 1951)
5. Marjorie K. Hait: 28 Aug 1926 – 10 Oct 2002, Last residence: College Park, Maryland; State issued: New York (before 1951)
GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
8. Myron Hait: 8 Aug 1897 – Mar 1978, State issued: New York (before 1951)
9. Gladys Hait: 7 Jan 1908 – 24 Jun 1994, Last residence: Ballston Spa, New York; State issued: New York (1972-1973)
10. Clarence Posson: 15 May 1897 – Jul 1973, Last residence: Schenectady, New York; State issued: New York (before 1951)
11. Mary A. Posson: 25 Aug 1898 – 30 Oct 1987, Last residence: Schenectady, New York; State issued: New York (1973)
12. Brady Dennis: 22 Dec 1904 – Jan 1975, Last residence: Farmville, Virginia; State issued: Virginia (before 1951)
13. Alice Harris: 20 Aug 1916 – Dec 1984, Last residence: Vine Grove, Kentucky; State issued: Maryland (before 1951)
14. James Shipe: 8 Apr 1910 – Jun 1980, Last residence: Rockville, Maryland; State issued: Virginia (1960)
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
19. Mabel L. Thompson: 13 Jul 1887 – 18 Mar 1990, State issued: New York (before 1951)
25. Florence Dennis: 17 Jul 1881 – Jan 1972, Last residence: Cumberland, Virginia; State issued: Virginia (1966)
28. Joe Shipe: 20 Jan 1883 – Jan 1963, Last residence: Virginia; State issued: Virginia (1960)
30. Owen Obaugh: 4 May 1884 – Jun 1966, Last residence: Fishersville, Virginia; State issued: Virginia (before 1951)
So, a grand total of thirteen (13!) of my direct ancestors appear in the Social Security Death Index. The oldest at her death was my great-great-grandmother Mabel L. Thompson, who died during my freshman year of high school, just shy of her 103rd birthday! The earliest birth was Florence Dennis, born on 17 July 1881, and the earliest death was my great-great-grandfather Joe Shipe, who died in January 1963.
How many of your ancestors can you find?
Michael Hait
