Who are the 52 Ancestors?

Taken from Wikipedia: Genealogical numbering systems (accessed March 25, 2019)

Ahnentafel
Ahnentafel, also known as the Eytzinger Method, Sosa Method, and Sosa-Stradonitz Method, allows for the numbering of ancestors beginning with a descendant. This system allows one to derive an ancestor's number without compiling the list and allows one to derive an ancestor's relationship based on their number.

The number of a person's father is the double of their own number, and the number of a person's mother is the double of their own, plus one. For instance, if the number of John Smith is 10, his father is 20, and his mother is 21.

Helpful chart.

(First Generation)
1 Subject (me!)

(Second Generation)
2 Father
3 Mother

(Third Generation)
4 Father's father (Marlen S. M.)
5 Father's mother (Ruby E. Napper)
6 Mother's father (Malcolm G. S.)
7 Mother's mother (Mary Beaton Cox)

(Fourth Generation)
8 Father's father's father (Marlen E. M.)
9 Father's father's mother (Ruby E. Wade)
10 Father's mother's father (Gordon T. Napper)
11 Father's mother's mother (Winnifred G. Wade)
12 Mother's father's father (John S.)
13 Mother's father's mother (Edith E. Carter)
14 Mother's mother's father (Rowland H. Cox)
15 Mother's mother's mother (Mary C. Beaton)

(Fifth Generation)

paternal

16) 2G GF (Joseph A. M.)

17) 2G GM (Jennie McKeiver)

18) 2G GF (Sidney T. Wade)

19) 2G GM (Elizabeth Holloway)

20) 2G GF (John W. Napper)

21) 2G GM (Mary Ann Botting)

22) 2G GF (Joseph Wade) - same as #36

23) 2G GM (Harriet J. Swaffield) - same as #37

maternal

24) 2G GF (Thomas M. S.)

25) 2G GM (Susan S. Grant)

26) 2G GF (William Carter)

27) 2G GM (Elizabeth Simpson)

28) 2G GF (William C. Cox)

29) 2G GM (Emily M. Gardner)

30) 2G GF (Peter Beaton)

31) 2G GM (Euphemia Campbell)

(Sixth Generation)
paternal
32) 3G GF (Elzear M.)

33) 3G GM (Corinne Aube)

34) 3G GF - adopted, brick wall

35) 3G GM - adopted, brick wall

36) 3G GF (Joseph Wade) - same as #22

37) 3G GM (Harriet J. Swaffield) - same as #23

38) 3G GF (Edmond Holloway)

39) 3G GM (Emma Puffett)

40) 3G GF (William Napper)

41) 3G GM (Harriott/Harriett Cooper)

42) 3G GF (Richard Botting)

43) 3G GM (Jane Cook)

44) 3G GF - Joseph Wade's father, unknown

45) 3G GM - Joseph Wade's mother, unknown

46) 3G GF (Charles Swaffield)

47) 3G GM (Eliza M. A. Copper)

maternal

48) 3G GF (John S.)

49) 3G GM (Euphemia G. Sampson)

50) 3G GF (William Grant)

51) 3G GM (Jane Lamb)

52) 3G GF (William Carter)

53) 3G GM (Hannah Morton)

54) 3G GF (Thomas Simpson)

55) 3G GM (Elizabeth Stapleson)

56) 3G GF (Charles Cox)

57) 3G GM (Margaret Ellen Cooling or Cowling)

58) 3G GF (William S. Gardener)

59) 3G GM - (Emma Harper)

60) 3G GF - Peter Beaton's father, unknown

61) 3G GM - Peter Beaton's mother, unknown

62) 3G GF (Duncan Campbell)

63) 3G GM (Anne McPherson)

#17 Jennie McKeiver

Birth
Jennie or Jenny McKeiver or McIver was born on February 22, 1884 [1], or April 1885 [2] in New York, USA.

Early Years
Jennie had lived in an institution for the blind (though I don't think she herself was blind) on 9th Ave in New York City from birth until 11 or 12 years old. When she developed pneumonia she was sent to live on a farm in Glenville or Charlton, New York with Margaret Hayes, who later adopted her.

This is the only photo I have of her in her youth and I'm not sure if she's on the horse or on the ground, though I suspect on the horse.

Marriage
Jennie married Joseph Amedee M. in Charlton, NY around 1904 (based on their having moved to Park Extension in Quebec 4 years after getting married, and they were in Canada by 1908). 

Family
Joseph and Jennie's son (my great-grandfather) Marlen Elzear was born on September 20, 1907, in Schenectady, New York, USA. He was baptized at home at 402 Howard St, Schenectady

Sometime after May 1908 they returned to Canada [2] and their son Herbert Emerson was born in March 1909 in Quebec City, Quebec. 

At the 1911 Census Jennie and Joseph were living in the Jacques-Cartier District of Quebec.[2] Their daughter Margaret McKeiver was born on January 5, 1912, in Montreal, Quebec.

Canada’s entry into World War I in August 1914 transformed daily life when Jennie McKeiver lived in Jacques-Cartier, Quebec.

One summer Jennie won for having the most beautiful flower garden. She also made paper flower designs.[3]

Death of Son
Her son Marlen Elzear (1907–1930) passed away on March 29, 1930, in Montreal, Quebec, at the age of 22.

Death of Husband
Her husband Joseph Amedee (1885–1957) passed away on September 25, 1957, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 72.

Death
Jennie McKeiver died on January 5, 1960, in Montreal, Quebec, when she was 75 years old.[1] She was buried at Hawthorn Dale Cemetery.


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Sources:
1. Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974
2. 1911 Census of Canada
3. Per her great-granddaughter R. M., April 2019


Family lore tells that Jennie was born out of wed lock. Her mother's last name was believed to be Vanderbilt ("of New York") and it was kept a hidden manner. Her mother stayed with a family by the name Marlen in New York and the baby was then raised by that family. This is given as explanation for the multiple children named Marlen in the family.

#8 Marlen Elzear M. (my paternal ggrandfather)

Elzear/Elzéar seems to have been a rare name even in 1907 when it was passed down to my paternal great-grandfather, Marlen Elzear M. It had been his grandfather (my 3rd great-grandfather)'s name.

According to Geneanet, even at its most popular in 1619, 1647, and 1875 it only accounted for  0.01% of the names used in the family trees published on Geneanet.

It was used primarily in France (23,000), with 18,000 of those being in the Marseille region. The next most popular place for it was Quebec, Canada (17,000), with the majority being around Quebec city.

Were they named after Elzéar Bédard, a lawyer, judge, politician, mayor, Patriote (born 24 July 1799 in Québec, Lower Canada; died 11 August 1849 in Montréal, Canada East)? Depending on where you look Elzear is the patron saint of farming, of Christian gentlemen, of tertiaries (a lay associate of certain Christian monastic organizations).

I don't know why they were given this name, but I think it's unlikely that any of those were the reason.

My 3rd great-grandfather, Elzear M. was born in 1850 in Montréal, Quebec. He was a day labourer, a worker who did whatever physical jobs he could find, usually hired for just days or weeks at a time. 

Joseph, baby Marie-Delia, and Corinne c. 1888

Elzear married Corinne Aube on May 29, 1882, when he was 32 years old and she was 16. Her parents were living in Albany, New York so her uncle, Belone Aube, gave her away. When their son Joseph Amedee M. (my 2nd great-grandfather) was born on May 20, 1885, in Montréal, Quebec the Canadian Pacific Railroad was under construction. His daughter Marie-Delia was born on January 14, 1887 and passed away on March 16, 1889, at the age of 2. She shared a name with a maternal aunt.

Elzear's wife Corinne passed away on July 9, 1889, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 23. [2] They had been married 7 years. He married Louise Sophie Verrault that same year.

Little Joseph was only 3 when his little sister died, and 4 when he suffered the loss of his mother.

The story is told that after his mother died he lived in an orphanage - Montford in the Laurentians (Roman Catholic Institution). He ran away from there with a cousin and lived with an aunt in Schenectady, New York. He worked in a General Electric plant there. It is said he played the violin.

Joseph married Jennie McKeiver (marriage date unknown), also an orphan. Born on February 22, 1884 in New York, Jennie had lived in an institution for the blind (though I don't know if she herself was blind) on 9th Ave in New York City from birth until 11 or 12 years old. When she developed pneumonia she was sent to live on a farm in Glenville or Charlton, New York with Margaret Hayes, who later adopted her.

Joseph and Jennie's son (my great-grandfather) Marlen Elzear was born on September 20, 1907, in Schenectady, New York, USA. Sometime after May 1908 they returned to Canada and their son Herbert Emerson was born in March 1909 in Quebec City, Quebec. At the 1911 Census Joseph was living in the Jacques-Cartier District of Quebec. His daughter Margaret McKeiver was born on January 5, 1912, in Montréal, Quebec.

Canada’s entry into World War I in August 1914 would likely have transformed daily life for Joseph and his family.

Joseph Amedee M. died on September 25, 1957, in Montréal, Quebec, when he was 72 years old. Jennie died less than 3 years later, on January 5, 1960.

Marlen Elzear

Marlen Elzear made his way back to the U.S. and married Ruby Elizabeth Rosina Wade in Detroit, Michigan, USA, on February 5, 1926, when he was 18 years old and she was 21 years old. I'm not sure what brought Ruby to the U.S. as she had immigrated to Canada at age 13 after her mother died in England.

Marlen Elzear was a machinist, and his job may have included running power-driven metal-cutting, boring and grinding machines set up to make many identical metal parts.

His daughter May Gloria Jennie was born on December 7, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Between then and 1928 they immigrated back to Canada and their son Marlen Sidney (my grandfather) was born on August 13, 1928, in Montréal, Quebec.

Marlen Elzear must have paid a visit to the U.S. as he's recorded as having returned to Canada from the U.S. in November 1929. He had $500 with him and $175 worth of personal effects. He is noted as having previously been in Montreal, Canada from 1908 to 1925. [3]

Marlen Elzear died tragically in a motorcycle accident on March 29, 1930, in Montréal, Quebec, when he was only 22 years old. He had been married 4 years and his children were 3 and 1 years old.

Ruby never remarried and died on May 26, 1983, in Montréal, Quebec, when she was 78 years old.

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Sources:
1 & 2. Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967
3. Border Crossings: From U.S. to Canada, 1908-1935