generational drift

[coombs]

I have a 4xgreat grandfather born 1820 and a 4xgreat grandfather born 1777.

[Jebber]

My generations are all over the place. My paternal grandfather was born before civil registration and William IV was still on the throne.

My paternal grandparents 1836 and 1845. Maternal grandparents  both 1881  a 45 year generation gap.

There was twenty years between my mother and father who was only five years younger than my maternal grandparents.

Both my father and I were from second marriages.

When I was born father was 56 and I had a half sister of 30,  just six years younger than my mother.

The trend seems to be continuing because one of my sons had in-laws old enough to be my parents.

[coombs]

On a slightly different note I have an ancestor born 1829 whose 2nd wife (my step 3xgreat gran) who died in 1929, which would have been 3xgreat grandpa's centenary year.

I have an ancestor who had his first child in 1818 and last with his 2nd wife in 1860. So her older half brother was old enough to be her grandfather.

[Rena]

I knew all of my mother's female cousins , who all had a given name starting with an "E", Edie, Edna, etc.and was surprised when I started family history that one of the "Edie" cousins was, in fact, the very younger (half) sister of my grandmother.

The explanation being that her father was widowed with five young children and I think he probably married the wet nurse that he must have had to engage when his first wife, Lucy Speight, died when her baby was only three weeks old. (RIP)

[nudge67]

okay, so decided to apply a bit of math to this topic, as I have the births of all ancestors going back 5 generations and can calculate each generations average birth year.

Grandparents: 1916. Dad's side 1911; Mum's side 1921. Gap 10 years.

Great-Grandparents: 1883. Dad's side 1875; Mum's side 1892. Gap 17 years.

2xGreat-Grandparents: 1853. Dad's side 1842; Mum's side 1863. Gap 21 years.

3xGreat-Grandparents: 1819. Dad's side 1811; Mum's side 1827. Gap 16 years.

So my initial guesstimation was incorrect. the gap is still significant though.

[KGarrad]

Not sure I understand your figures?

You should have 4 grandparents, 8 Great grandparents, 16 Great-great grandparents, and so on.

For myself:
Grandparents born 1876 and 1893 (paternal side) and 1894 and 1896 (maternal side).
Great grandparents born 1843 and 1836, 1861 and 1862, 1851 and 1855, 1871 and 1874.
That gives a spread of 20 years (grandparents) and 38 years (great grandparents).

[carol80]

My Parents were born in 1930 and 1934
My Husband's parents were born in 1907 and 1912.
My Husband was adopted.
His parents were just a bit younger than my grandparents so definitely 1 generation gap before I even started going up my tree.

Carol