According to my RootsMagic software, Mildred is my 4th cousin once removed. However, the FamilySearch tree suggests we are 3rd cousins twice removed. So which is it? Or could both be correct, depending on which common ancestors are used to calculate the relationship?
To help answer that question, below is Mildred’s pedigree chart with our common ancestors highlighted.
You’ll also find a corresponding pedigree screen for my mother, with those same common ancestors marked in purple.
Interestingly, while FamilySearch identifies only one set of shared ancestors, RootsMagic’s relationship calculator finds four distinct connections and lists my relationship to Mildred accordingly.
Mildred was a dedicated BRILES family researcher who generously shared her findings with anyone interested. While our common ancestors lived in North Carolina, both of our families migrated to Kansas before it achieved statehood. Mildred’s ancestors, Branson Briles and his wife Dorcas Rush, settled near Neodesha, Kansas. My ancestors, Alexander Briles and Sarah Rush, made their home in southern Coffey County.
Mildred and I first met at a BRILES family reunion held on the old Alexander Briles homestead—where history, heritage, and kinship came together.
Below is a transcription of a letter Mildred wrote to me in March 1994.
March 2, 1994
Dear Marcia & Mike,
Hi! How are you both?
Do hope you are well in health; also fine with your work etc.
I am sorry I’ve been so slow in getting the records you ask for, but I just got one family’s records yesterday and some a week or so ago. Hopefully you are still collecting others and ours won’t be too late.
Thank you for all the nice material you have sent me. I’ve really enjoyed it, also the pictures.
I noticed in Max’s records that there were a set of twins in your parent’s family. Do you have a picture of them? If you do, I’d like to have one made from it. I have collected pictures of seven sets and have put them on my copier and made them to add to other records I give away. I am so proud of them. I counted those mentioned
2
in Max’s, and I think there are fifteen or sixteen sets mentioned. The 2nd ones mentioned in Keith’s records were Jemis Henry born June 3, 1839 to Zacharias Broyles at Berryville, Wash. Co., Ky. He married Mary Jane Cawood. His twin
John Broyles, b. June 1839 d. 1855 – age 16 yrs old. The 1st Jacob & John of Johanas Broyles. James died in Woodburn Oreg. His wife, Mary Jane, also died then.
Let me know about how you are progressing with the genealogy. I am still waiting on my sister-in-law’s family at Loveland, Col. She lost her husband – Mar. 8th, 1993, my youngest brother (Cleallie Claude Briles). Also, my oldest sister’s husband died Dec. 11, 1993. (She is Lucille Briles Potter and husband, f Cecil Potter. She lives in Red Oak, Ia., where her two children, Jerry & Marlena Morse and their families live, also My oldest brother, Clyde Briles, died Dec. 11, 1993. His wife Laura lives in Hooker, Ok.
They were at the Briles Reunion when—
3
you were there. 1993 , was not a happy year foruse. There are 3 of use left in our family: letta Mae Bailey, Lucille Potter and myself.
You ask about the book “Popular RIdge.” I taled ot louie Edwards a few days ago and she said she ws thinking of having some more made. I shall phone her and encourage her to do that. I think others have ask for one too. Her sister, Verda was the author.
I’ll have to close now and get lunch on for Fred.
Did you ever get the names for the picture of the group at that time of the reunion when you were there?
I can help you with most of the names, if you didn’t.
Oh, I heard from a Don Briles in Bernie, Mo. Did you? They wanted info. on Alfred Briles. So far I haven’t found much about him. They have a set of twins & sent me their picture.
Love,
Mildred F. Barby