There are lots of “first” things in genealogy and “First” was the prompt for the week of January 1 this year. Guess I’m a bit behind. Here we go with a bunch of first cousins.

My Generation

First cousins are the children of your parents’ siblings. I was curious how many first cousins my parents, my grandparents and I had, so I went crawling through my genealogy program to find the answer.

Except for the Rohleders and Fords, most of the cousins grew up near each other in North Carolina. The Fords are from Virginia as are the Rohleders. However, my direct Rohleder ancestor (Andrew) relocated to North Carolina with his family in 1935. I don’t know how often they visited or how well the Carolina cousins knew their Virginia kin. The Abernathy family lived in Georgia and I never knew any of them. (In the lists of names, my direct ancestors and I are in bold; my siblings and those of my parents and grandparents are in italics. People are listed in birth order.)

Rohleder Cousins

Ann Rohleder
Mike Rohleder
Carl Rohleder
Ruth Rohleder
Brooke Rohleder
Korey Rohleder
Kelly Rohleder
Keith Rohleder (1963–2019)

McKenzie Cousins

Ann Rohleder
Carl Rohleder
David McKenzie
Ruth Rohleder
Cappy McKenzie
Neel McKenzie
John W. McKenzie

My Parents’ Generation

Starting with my mother (Betty McKenzie), her generation totaled 16 people including her two brothers. She has 5 McKenzie cousins and 8 Reynolds cousins.

McKenzie Cousins

Ben McKenzie (1915–1996)
John C. McKenzie, Sr. (1917–1992)
Jeanne McKenzie (1920–1998)
Grace McKenzie (1921–2003)
Jim McKenzie, Jr. (1923–2011)
Malcolm McKenzie (1925–2008)
Betty McKenzie (1927–2015)
Benton McKenzie (1929–2014)

Reynolds Cousins

Gene Reynolds, Jr. (1921–1999)
Malcolm McKenzie (1925–2008)
Mary Neal Baxley (1926–1975)
Betty McKenzie (1927–2015)
Benton McKenzie (1929–2014)
Jane Reynolds (1929–2005)
Tommy Baxley (1930–1992)
John Wesley Baxley (1936–1968)
Penny Baxley
Gloria Baxley
Elizabeth Reynolds (1950–2005)

My father (Jack Rohleder) and his three brothers have 40 first cousins, with 14 paternal first cousins, and 22 maternal first cousins. The Primms were a bit more prolific than the Rohleders.

Rohleder Cousins

Grayson Johnston, Sr. (1916–2004)
Jacqueline Johnston (1918–2007)
Gladys Abernathy (1918–1997)
Andy Rohleder (1920–1944)
Paul Abernathy (1920–1999)
Bub Rohleder (1922–1969)
Charles Abernathy (1922–2005)
Lura Johnston (1924–2007)
Bob Abernathy (1925–1995)
Jean Johnston (1926–2012)
Jack Rohleder (1927–1996)
Ralph Abernathy (1928–2012)
M. Ann Rohleder
Calvin Abernathy (1931–1990)
Frances Rohleder
Mary Lou Rohleder
Bill Rohleder
Frank Rohleder, Jr.

Primm Cousins

Edgar Sharar (1902–1946)
Ralph Primm (1904–1979)
Thelma Webb (1904–1986)
Helen Sharar (1906–2003
Jim Webb (1906–1967)
James Primm (1907–1955)
Harold Webb (1909–1973)
Parks Primm (1910–1987)
Mary Harrison (1913–1993)
Lib Primm (1913–2011)
Osborne Primm (1914–1914)
Jack Webb (1915–1997)
Bud Harrison (1915–1980)
Eleanor Primm (1917–2003)
Clarence Harrison (1918–1922)
Ruby Primm (1920–1920)
P. F. Harrison (1920–1984)
Claire Primm (1920–1999)
Andy Rohleder (1920–1944)
Billy Primm (1921–2015)
Bub Rohleder (1922–1969)
Arthur Primm, Jr. (1922–1922)
Daniel Primm (1923–2009)
June Primm (1924–2013)
Jack Rohleder (1927–1996)
Bill Rohleder

My Grandparents’ Generation

My grandparents’ families were a bit more prolific. Ledbetter McKenzie (my mother’s father) has only three McKenzie cousins, but there are 32 O’Briens. Adding in my grandfather and his siblings, there are 38 in his generation.

McKenzie Cousins

Jim McKenzie, Sr. (1891–1970)
Robert McKenzie (1893–1949)
Ledbetter McKenzie (1902–1970)
Carrie McKenzie (1902–1977)
Lula McKenzie (1905–1994)
Annie McKenzie (1910–2003)

O’Brien Cousins

Jim McKenzie, Sr. (1891–1970)
Julian Burroughs, Sr. (1892–1979)
Robert McKenzie (1893–1949)
Herbert Burroughs (1894–1950)
Bessie O’Brien (1897–1921)
Nellie O’Brien (1899–1938)
Bennie O’Brien (1899–1900)
Willie O’Brien (1901–1970)
Eddie O’Brien (1901–1953)
Ledbetter McKenzie (1902–1970)
Helen Burroughs (1902–1963)
Gracie O’Brien (1903–1995)
Robert O’Brien (1904–1998)
Nannie O’Brien (1905–1997)
Gertrude O’Brien (1905–1906)
Bennie O’Brien (1906–1988)
Gladys O’Brien (1907–1965)
Martha O’Brien (1908–1996)
Jack O’Brien (1910–1991)
Sara O’Brien (1910–1988)
Woody O’Brien (1912–2000)
Dennis O’Brien (1913–1967)
Hazel Meachum (1914–1981)
Benjamin O’Brien (1914–2003)
Robert Young, Sr. (1914–2004)
Evelyn O’Brien (1915–2013)
Donald McLean (1916–1986)
Mary O’Brien (1917–2003)
James McLean (1917–2007)
Bill Young (1918–2006)
Fred Meachum, Jr. (1919–1972)
Thesil McLean (1919–1999)
Oscar O’Brien (1920–2003)
Carol McLean, Sr. (1922–2017)
Margaret McLean (1923–1928)

Annie Reynolds (my mother’s mother) includes nine from the Reynolds side and 23 from the Phifer side. Adding in Miss Annie and her five siblings, there are 38 in her generation.

Reynolds Cousins

Gene Reynolds, Sr. (1899–1950)
Daniel Reynolds 1900–1934)
Annie Reynolds (1902–1987)
Frank Reynolds (1904–1986)
Pearl Reynolds (1905–1983)
Claude Reynolds (1906–1988)
Paul Reynolds (1907–1934)
Earl Reynolds (1908–1967)
Tracy Reynolds (1910–1952)
Cleo Reynolds (1911–1984
Neil Reynolds, Jr. (1911–1913)
Eva Reynolds (1912–2002)
Eddie Reynolds (1913–1975)
Bill Reynolds (1915–2010)
Margaret Reynolds (1917–2002)

Phifer Cousins

Fannie Caudle (1898–1984)
Ethel Ridenhour (1898–1937)
Gene Reynolds, Sr. (1899–1950)
Calvin Caudle (1900–1966)
James Ridenhour (1901–1932)
Annie Reynolds (1902–1987)
James Caudle (1902–1924)
William Ridenhour (1903–1995)
Bertha Caudle (1904–1993)
Pearl Reynolds (1905–1983)
Ruth Ridenhour (1906–1986)
Sylvester Welch (1906–1986)
Eva Caudle (1907–2006)
Earl Reynolds (1908–1967)
Glennie Ridenhour (1909–1975)
Margaret Welch (b. 1909)
Clayton Thomas (1909–1911)
Tracy Reynolds (1910–1952)
William Caudle (1910–2000)
Neil Reynolds, Jr. (1911–1913)
Paul Ridenhour (1911–1994)
Leo Thomas (1911–1980)
William Welch (b. 1912)
Ruby Caudle (1912–1998)
Mary Thomas (1914–2002)
George Thomas (1917–1993)
Bill Thomas (1920–2003)
Paul Thomas (1923–2007)
Robert Thomas (1926–2006)

My father’s father (Andrew Rohleder) has ten Rohleder cousins and 31 Ford cousins. Adding in him and his five siblings yields 47 cousins in this generation.

Rohleder Cousins

Susie Rohleder (1892–1976)
Milton Rohleder (1894–1917)
Pemberton Thacker (1894–1937)
Carlyle Rohleder (1896–1981)
Grace Rohleder (1898–1934)
Andrew Rohleder (1900–1974)
Frank Rohleder, Sr. (1902–1967)
Dick Rohleder (1903–1972)
Joseph Rohleder (1903–1904)
Audrey Rohleder (1904–1942)
William Rohleder (1907–1946)
Stuart Rohleder (1908–1971)
Mary Rohleder (1909–1973)
Emmanuel Rohleder (b. 1911)
Weldon Rohleder (1912–1966)
Mortimer Rohleder, Jr. (b. 1913)

Ford Cousins

Florence Tyler (1890–1950)
Margaret Tyler (1892–1975)
Susie Rohleder (1892–1976)
Lillie Tyler (1894–1985)
Milton Rohleder (1894–1917)
William Tyler, Jr. (1896–1969)
Carlyle Rohleder (1896–1981)
James Strang (1897–1964)
Thomas Tyler (1897–1964)
Grace Rohleder (1898–1934)
Decatur Tyler (1900–1958)
Andrew Rohleder (1900–1974)
William Turner, Jr. (1900–1995)
Grace Strang (1900–2005)
Frank Rohleder, Sr. (1902–1967)
Lewis Tyler (1902–1971)
Frank Strang (1902–1978)
Walter Strang (1904–1988)
John Tyler (1907–1996)
Harvey Ford (1907–1975)
Frances Tyler (1909–1965)
Thelma Ford (1909–1995)
Mamie Strang (1910–2000)
Carlton Turner (1910–1992)
Elsie Ford (1910–1989
Marion Ford, Sr. (1911–1962)
Charles Strang (1913–1974)
William Strang (1916–1970)
Elizabeth Ford (1916–2008)
Florence Strang (1917–2002)
Alma Ford (1919–1988)
Walter Ford (1919–2001)
Lucille Ford (1920–1987)
William Ford (b. 1922)
Elise Strang (d. bef. 1910)
Harry Strang (d. bef. 1910)
Vernon Strang (d. bef. 1910)

The most prolific family is my paternal grandmother’s family. Myrtle has 29 Primm cousins and 57 Deaton cousins. Adding in her and her nine siblings yields 95 people in this generation.

Primm Cousins

Thomas Primm (1844–1863)
Margaret Auten (1859–1933)
Edward Severs (1860–1884)
Willie McClure (1861–1893)
Mary Auten (1862–1892)
John Severs (1866–1887)
Octie Auten (1867–1953)
Lilly Simpson (1869–1942)
Cora Severs (1869–1915)
Eddie Primm (1871–1947)
William Severs (1872–1931)
Lawrence Auten (1873–1956)
Earnest Primm (1874 1894)
Lawrence Severs (1874–1934)
Gus Primm (1875–1958)
Ida Auten (1876–1918)
Mamie Severs (1876–1924)
Mary Primm (1877–1890)
Fred Severs (1877–1940)
Letitia Auten (1878–1965)
Ora Primm (1879–1975)
Maggie Primm (1880–1969)
Nolie Auten (1881–1911)
Joseph Primm (1882–1945)
Addie Simpson (1882–1935)
Ada Primm (1884–1965)
Alice Auten (1884–1963)
Zula Severs (1884–1886)
Arthur Primm, Sr. (1886–1970)
Ralsteen Severs (1886–1959)
Willie Primm (1889–1935)
Oliver Primm (1893–1894)
Myrtle Primm (1897–1959)
Arnold Primm (1898–1915)
Ralph Primm (1899–1901)
Ed Primm
Gus Primm
John Primm

Deaton Cousins

E. L. Deaton (1879–1910)
Ora Deaton (1880–1959)
Maggie Primm (1880–1969)
Ernest Jamison (1882–1945)
Joseph Primm (1882–1945)
Luther Deaton (1883–1935)
Lela Faires (1884–1976)
Ada Primm (1884–1965)
Arthur Primm, Sr. (1886–1970)
Mamie Deaton (1886–1886)
Reese Jamison (1886–1956)
Thrasy Deaton (1887–1978)
Willie Primm (1889–1935)
Rohoda Deaton (1890–1890)
Edgar Faires (1890–1967)
Charlcy Deaton (1891–1951)
Cora Faires (1891–1920)
Charlie Jamison (1891–1957)
Oliver Deaton (1891–1893)
Fred Deaton (1891–1975)
Fred Kerr (1892–1961)
Oliver Primm (1893–1894)
Lola Faires (1893–1963)
Elva Deaton (1893–1977)
Mary Deaton (1894–1982)
Herman Jamison (1894–1957)
Eta Deaton (1895–1974)
Anna Faires (1895–1962)
James Faires (1895–1965)
Baxter Deaton (1895–1954)
Grace Deaton (1896–1988)
Myrtle Primm (1897–1959)
Arthur Faires (1897–1939)
Simlar Deaton (1897–1980)
Alfred Deaton, Jr. (1897–1959)
Hugh Faires (1898–1979)
Ernest Deaton (1898–1953)
Arnold Primm (1898–1915)
Mamie Deaton (b. 1898)
Elizabeth Faires (1898–1918)
Alice Kerr (1898–1954)
Mack Deaton (1899–1949)
Ralph Primm (1899–1901)
Edwin Deaton (1900–1903)
Mary Faires (b. 1900)
William Deaton (1900–1954)
Eva Deaton (1900–1996)
Ella Faires (1900–1985)
Dora Kerr (1900–1979)
Della Deaton (1901–1989)
Minnie Deaton (1902–1987)
Alma Faires (1903–1980)
Lillie Faires (1903–1968)
Edna Deaton (1904–1970)
Blanche Deaton (1904–1993)
Charles Deaton (1905–1989)
Thelma Deaton (1905–2000)
Grace Faires (1905–1985)
Dwight Faires (1905–1979)
Hazeline Deaton (1906–1928)
Della Faires (1908–1995)
Mary Deaton (1909–1909)
Edgar Deaton (1910–1983)
Harry Deaton (1913–1981)
Beatrice Deaton (1913–2002)
Ora Deaton (1915–2001)

Several siblings did not produce offspring and some cousins died in infancy, but with three generations of cousins on both sides of the family, there are 286 people.