Tracy's Sweet Sixteen

Yes, I realize this is several days late for Randy Seaver's SNGF, but because this is one I can definitively answer, I'm participating. I would also like to say that this is the last generation for which I have at minimum a name for all my ancestors.

Randy's instructions are as follows:
1) List your 16 great-great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. List their birth and death years and places.
2) Figure out the dominant ethnicity or nationality of each of them.
3) Calculate your ancestral ethnicity or nationality by adding them up for the 16 - 6.25% for each (obviously, this is approximate).
4) If you don't know all 16 of your great-great-grandparents, then do it for the last full generation you have.
5) Write your own blog post, or make a comment on Facebook or in this post.


Paternal side:

Robert Nelson McNeill: born 29 Oct 1858 in Yancey Co (later Mitchell Co), North Carolina, died 22 Oct 1932 in Asheville, Buncombe Co, North Carolina; SCOTTISH

Margaret (Peggy) Ledford: born 24 Oct 1848 in Yancey Co (later Mitchell Co), North Carolina, died 8 Jun 1927 in Mitchell Co, North Carolina; believe surname is ENGLISH

Rev. Isaac Grindstaff: born May 1852 in Yancey Co (later Mitchell Co), North Carolina, died 4 Apr 1936, Bakersville, Mitchell Co, North Carolina; GERMAN (name was originally Crantzdorf)

Mary Jane Woody: born 11 Jan 1853 in Yancey Co (later Mitchell Co), North Carolina, died 26 Jan 1946 in Bakersville, Mitchell Co, North Carolina; believe surname is ENGLISH

Conrad Coons Scott: born 15 Mar 1845 in Missouri, died 2 Feb 1904 in Desoto, Johnson Co, Kansas; UNKNOWN - family lore indicates that Swift was the original family surname and perhaps two generations back from Conrad it was changed to Scott

Zerlinda Jane (Jenny) Pitts: born 11 Mar 1854 in Iowa, died 1906 in Loring, Wyandotte Co, Kansas; UNKNOWN

William Michael Greathouse: born 19 May 1853 in Missouri (perhaps Wright or Webster Co), died 6 Feb 1906 in Cedar Junction, Johnson Co, Kansas; GERMAN (name was originally Grothause)

Sarah Jane Johnson: 28 Dec 1856 in Randolph Co, North Carolina, died 15 Mar 1838 in St. Clair Co, Missouri; UNKNOWN but perhaps English


Maternal side:

Walter Harmon: born 1855 in Round Grove, Whiteside Co, Illinois, died 6 June 1921, Clark Co, South Dakota; ENGLISH

Fanny Arnold: born 7 Jun 1856 in Berkswell, Warwickshire, England, died 12 Jun 1945 in Clark Co, South Dakota; ENGLISH

Homer Eugene Arthur: born 4 Aug 1850 in Trumbull or Ashtabula Co, Ohio, died 7 Mar 1943, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, California; believe surname is ENGLISH

Amanda Savilla Myers: 1862 in Ohio (perhaps Scioto Co), died 11 Feb 1920 in Elrod, Clark Co, South Dakota; GERMAN

Iver Hiby/Hoiby: born abt 1865 in Norway, died 10 Sept 1951, Hamlin Co, South Dakota; NORWEGIAN

Sarah Nelson: born abt 1866 in Norway, died 9 Dec 1930, Foxton, Clark Co, South Dakota; NORWEGIAN

Albert S. Hanson: born 1864 in Winneshiek Co, Iowa, died 1 Oct 1928, Clark Co, South Dakota; NORWEGIAN

Maria Anna Anderson (could also be Anna Marie): born abt 1866 in Norway, died 26 Dec 1949 in Clark Co, South Dakota; NORWEGIAN

So that sums up to be:
English - 6 = 37.5%
Norwegian - 4 = 25%
German - 3 = 18.75%
Scottish - 1 = 6.25%
Unknown - 2 = 12.5%

Well this was certainly an interesting exercise. I have more English than I realized and fewer German. I always thought they were equal. And this has pointed out some information that is lacking that I need to examine further.

What fun!