Thrulines ~ Yes It Can Be a Resource

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 4 (OVERLOOKED)

I was scrolling through one of the Facebook genealogy pages I belong to when I had an 'ah ha' moment. 

The comment was that they had been looking at their Ancestry Thrulines to see how many DNA matches supported their paper trail only to discover a possible error in their research or parentage. 

I have always been very cautious with Thrulines due to the errors made in trees used to create them.

I had completely overlooked that Thrulines might be a good spot to see if the lines I had in my tree were likely correct.

I looked at all of my 5th great grandparents to see how many DNA matches I had to corroborate.

I discovered Ancestry Thrulines had 75 5th great grandparents listed, but 23 were not currently in my tree and only suggestions.

In that list the majority had 3-10 DNA matches to corroborate followed by  20-23 matches. 

There were some larger clusters of matches for a few 5th great grandparents: 38, 48, 52, and 65. Those were already solidly in my tree with the paper trail and DNA to support. 

I was surprised to find two with ZERO (0) DNA matches to support.

I went back to check the paper trail for these two X5 great grandfathers only to discover all I had was a name on a marriage registry for their child. 

With this in mind I tried digging further, and found no easy records so added them both to my 'to be searched' list.

At the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th great grandparents level all the Thrulines DNA matching fit for the paper trail. 

This is very good news because we have two unexpected parentages that DNA matching had been able to unravel, and Thrulines supports my findings with 48 DNA matches to one and 27 to the other.

This overlooked aspect of Thrulines has given me a new spot to dig for a couple of 5th great grandfathers (both named William) to be sure the right folks are in our Bramble Bush.

Completely unrelated to this week's blog I am sharing this photo from May of 1998 of Chris and I.

We recently received this photo we had never seen before from a relative.

When you realized there is still more to discover about a relative!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

The American Revolution & War of 1812 ~ The Buchner Family Was There

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 4 (WITNESS TO HISTORY)

 "It appears that the oldest brother John Buchner, father of the teenaged “younger group” although advanced in years and continuously resident in New Jersey was also active in the Loyalist cause. His son Jacob referred to him as “John Boughner, Sr., U.E. Loyalist,” in his land petition. Jacob joined the New Jersey Volunteers in 1780 and served for the rest of the war as a sergeant and guide with the army. He “piloted” several persons from the enemy line to New York, where his regiment was stationed." 1

John Boughner noted above is my husband's 5th great grandfather via his father's paternal line, and his 6th great grandfather via his father's maternal line.

Johannes Theis (John) Buchner
BIRTH 18 SEP 1729 • Unnau, Westerwald, Hessen, Germany
DEATH 11 SEP 1791 • Hardwick Twp, Sussex, New Jersey, USA

John's son Jacob noted above is my husband's 4th great grandfather via his father's paternal line, and his 5th great grandfather via his father's maternal line. The family references him as Jacob the 1st. 

Jacob Buchner
BIRTH 31 MAY 1763 • Hardwick Twp, Sussex County, New Jersey , USA
DEATH 11 AUG 1841 • Woodhouse, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
married to
Catherine Schuyler (AKA: Shelar, Schuler, Shuler)
BIRTH 20 SEP 1767 • Sussex County, New Jersey, USA
DEATH 8 FEB 1855 • Woodhouse, Norfolk County, Ontario

X5 (X6) Great Grandpa John was a Loyalist during the American Revolution. He died before the War of 1812 started. Most of his brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews settled as loyalist in the southern Ontario regions. Many of the towns & roads carry their various names.

The battle of Lundy's lane took place on John's nephew's property. The Buchner House is a historic home that is still available to visit.

Future holiday plans?  

VRBO - Buchner House

Wouldn't it be exciting for a namesake to book the Buchner House via VRBO. 

When looking at the family's history we are left wondering how pride in the United Empire Loyalists' roots fits with Truth & Reconciliation!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1  Buchner-Boughner Family Origins. The Niagara Settlers. R. Robert Mutrie. Retrieved January 17th 2024 from
https://sites.google.com/site/niagarasettlers/pioneer-lives-2/buchner-Boughner-Familty-Origins 

Sources:

Ancestor Roll. Jacob Buchner. Grand River Branch of the UELAC. Retrieved January 18th 2024 from 
http://www.grandriveruel.ca/Grand_River22.htm

Buchner-Boughner Family Origins. R. Robert Mutrie. Retrieved January 18th 2024 from https://sites.google.com/site/niagarasettlers/pioneer-lives-2/buchner-Boughner-Familty-Origins

Buchner family name embedded in Niagara Falls history. Jonathan Milner Niagara This Week. Originally published Monday, January 20, 2020. Retrieved January 18th 2024 from
https://www.niagarathisweek.com/opinion/buchner-family-name-embedded-in-niagara-falls-history/article_e54d0c17-dbdb-5737-84ae-02f3ea6ddcaf.html

Buchner House. Cozy-Rustic-Heritage property! VRBO. Retrieved January 18th 2024 from 
https://www.vrbo.com/9836782ha

Buchner House. Heritage Property Details. Niagara Falls. Retrieved January 18th 2024 from 
https://niagarafalls.ca/living/heritage/273204-buchner-house.hp

Buchner House. Guidetags. Explore.  Retrieved January 18th 2024 from
https://www.guidetags.com/guidetags/explore//308-buchner-house

Buchner House. Canada's Historic Places. Retrieved January 18th 2024 from
https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=9749

BUCHNER SCHOOL AS MUSEUM IS CROWLAND TWP. PROJECT. Welland History. Retrieved January 18th 2024 from 
https://tales.wellandhistory.ca/2021/08/30/buchner-school-as-museum-is-crowland-twp-project/

Drummond Hill. Niagara Falls History. Retrieved January 18th 2024 from
https://www.niagarafallsinfo.com/niagara-falls-history/niagara-falls-municipal-history/drummond-hill/

Drummond Hill Cemetery. City of Niagara Falls. Locations and Histories. Cemeteries.  Retrieved January 18th 2024 from
https://niagarafalls.ca/city-hall/municipal-works/cemetery/locations-and-histories/drummond-hill.aspx

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Sunday School in Frogmore ~ Remembering Grandma Nina

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2023: Week 4 (EDUCATION)

I wrote this week's blog on Chris' grandmother's 97th birthday (last week). 

While thinking about her I remembered the photo of her as a little girl with her Sunday School class at the church in Frogmore where her father was the pastor.

I thought it was a perfect visual for the prompt EDUCATION.

1

In the middle row, on the far left (with hair that is reminiscent of our oldest son) is grandma Nina. On her left is her sister Reta.

The book, Fruit from Woods and Sands; The Story of Houghton Mission, was gifted to my husband from his grandmother. It tells the history of the church and the families that formed it. 

Even my husband had a role in fundraising for the new church - sponsored at $145 a mile!

2

This is the original newspaper article. It likely came from The Tillsonburg News, but without the header of the paper we can't be sure!

We visited the church in 2007.

Our boys in front of their X2 great grandfather's church

Chris with his great grandfather  (2nd from left)

The family tradition continues with Chris' uncle currently pastoring at this church.

It's been 20 years since Grandma Nina passed away - we will not forget her

Nina Merle Vannatter

BIRTH 18 JAN 1926 • Houghton Township, Ontario, Canada

DEATH 5 SEP 2002 • Tillsonburg, Oxford, Ontario, Canada

She was the daughter of:
Asa Alonzo (Lonnie) Vannatter, Reverend
BIRTH 23 NOV 1901 • Frogmore, Houghton Tp., Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 8 APR 1976 • London, Ontario, Canada
and
Vera Catharine Williams
BIRTH 27 SEP 1902 • Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 25 MAR 1981 • Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada

3

She had 4 sisters & 1 brother

Her older sister (in the photo above)

Reta Jean Vannatter
BIRTH 20 JUN 1923 • Frogmore, Houghton, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 2 OCT 1996 • Welland, Ontario, Canada

Her younger brother (right in the middle of 2 older sisters & 2 younger sisters)

Harry Clayton Vannatter
BIRTH 13 FEB 1927 • Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 1998 • Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada

her younger sisters

Lila Mildred Vannatter
BIRTH 9 NOV 1928
DEATH 9 FEB 2015 • Norfolk General Hospital, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

and

Verna Mae Vannatter
BIRTH 4 NOV 1933
DEATH 3 JAN 2016 • Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

Taking a moment to remember a wonderful grandma who left us too soon!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Somehow Related Past Blogs:

Footnotes:

1  Fruit from Woods and Sands, The Story of Houghton Mission, Sider, E. Morris and Alonzo Vannatter, Evangel Press, Nappanee, Indiana, Messiah College, Pennsylvania, 1978, pg 62

2  Fruit from Woods and Sands, The Story of Houghton Mission, Sider, E. Morris and Alonzo Vannatter, Evangel Press, Nappanee, Indiana, Messiah College, Pennsylvania, 1978, pg 84

3  Fruit from Woods and Sands, The Story of Houghton Mission, Sider, E. Morris and Alonzo Vannatter, Evangel Press, Nappanee, Indiana, Messiah College, Pennsylvania, 1978, pg 93

Sources:

Fruit from Woods and Sands, The Story of Houghton Mission, Sider, E. Morris and Alonzo Vannatter, Evangel Press, Nappanee, Indiana, Messiah College, Pennsylvania, 1978

Houghton Brethren In Christ Community Church. Retrieved January 18, 2023 from https://www.themissionchurch.ca/

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

DNA & Geography ~ This Bramble Bush

This week's prompt CURIOUS is exactly how I came to dedicating time and money to the research of where this Bramble Bush came from. 

Without curiousity I would never have wondered where I came from, and discovered that my grandfather was not who he presented as. 

Without curiousity I would not have done Ancestry DNA. 

Without Ancestry DNA I would have continued believing I was Scottish, English & a bit Dutch. 

Without curiousity I would have abandoned my ancestors who gave me so much more than what I thought I knew. 

I really wanted to ensure our children grew up knowing where they came from. 

Where my ancestors originated

Where my husband's ancestors originated

Our children are a blend of my husband and myself

They received half from their father

And half from me

When my results came in the first thing I realized is that I had no Dutch heritage. It would seem my love of salted licorice has nothing to do with my ancestors. 

BUT wait --- salty black licorice is also traditionally found in Sweden & Denmark, and I do love Swedish Berries .... HERITAGE!!!

This is their heritage!

The research I do today is a legacy for our children. 

Someday when they are interested, and I'm not here to tell them -  this blog will tell the tale. 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Photos:

DNA results, Ancestry,  Retrieved January 28th 2022 from Ancestry.

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

________________________________________________________________

Walk a Mile In Those Shoes ~ When Photos Tell the Tale

 

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021: Week 4 (FAVOURITE PHOTO)

We have so many photos that choosing just one seemed an impossible task. 

Once I decided which branch of the Bramble Bush to write about this week the decision became more obvious. 

I remember the first time I saw this photo:

Great Grandpa Alonzo with my husband

This is my husband with his great grandfather Alonzo Vannatter. 

The book (sourced below) was a present for my husband from his grandmother in 1993. She wrote a personal message to him in the front of the book. She also included notes of who was who.

I read that book cover to cover. I have always loved history, and this one had personal connections to our family.

When I arrived at page 84 I shared the photo with my husband. 
I commented that it appears his belief in his personal value was instilled in him young. 

Even today $145 a mile is a tremendous amount of money. He had never seen the book or heard the story before I showed it to him.

The book is a history of the Brethren in Christ Church in Frogmore, Ontario, Canada.

Intertwined is part of my husband's family story.  

Great Grandpa Alzonzo & Great Grandma Vera  when they were younger

In this photo are:
two of my husband's X2 great grandfathers: George Williams & Ben Vannatter, one X2 great grandmother: Fidella (nee Foreman) Vannatter
and one X2 great aunt: Florence (nee Aspden) Williams
  (who is related by marriage paternally, and blood maternally)

Back far left is my husband's grandmother, Nina
on her left, her sister Reta

Finding family photos & stories in published works!

This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***




Sources:

Sider, Morris E., & Vannatter, Alonzo. (1978), Fruit From Woods And Sands: The Story of Houghton Mission. Nappanee, Indiana: Evangel Press..

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

________________________________________________________________

 

Close Enough To Visit Even After Death ~ Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 4 (CLOSE TO HOME)



I grew up with divorced parents. After the divorce my mom moved us far away.  I rarely saw my dad's side of the family. I began asking questions once I was an adult realizing that I didn't know anything about half of my family tree.


Flash forward many years, and my husband and I moved to the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. One year when my dad visited from Manitoba he asked if I wanted to visit his granny's grave. I had no idea that I lived so close to where my great grandmother was buried. 


We set off with my two sons, a spray bottle of water, some rags, scissors, and flowers. Dad hadn't been to visit since he was a young teen, but still remembered the area of the cemetery she was buried in. We could have asked for directions from the office, but instead we walked row upon row until we found Elizabeth Y Thomson's marker. It was emotional for me to realize I had heard stories about this grandmother, but this was the first time I had actually visited with her. I had not known that she was close enough for me to visit.

**Elizabeth Young Slicer**

BIRTH 4 AUG 1882 • North Berwick, Haddingtonshire, Scotland

DEATH 24 JUN 1958 • Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

My dad called her Granny. 
She was known as Aunt Lizzie to her nieces and nephews.

My sons and I bringing flowers
visiting my great grandmother's grave site
Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

This grave marker rubbing was done in crayon. My grandmother was blind. She had lost her center vision to macular degeneration. Crayon was an ideal medium to use for this rubbing because my grandmother could feel the outlined edges of the headstone. She was able to read her mother's headstone with her fingertips. Had we used any other medium she wouldn't have been able to 'see' her mother's final resting place after so many years living away from British Columbia. My grandmother loved being able to visit her mother's graveside from her home in Manitoba.

Grave Marker rubbing done in crayon

The crayon has held up well. After my grandmother died 15 years ago it was returned to me. Today it appears to be in the same condition it was when I mailed it to her 18 years ago.








Visiting with family even after death!







This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***





Sources:

Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G3M1




Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

___________________________________________________________