Generational lifespan

[REWahoo]

My oldest grandson turned 14 a few weeks ago. We were talking (OK, I was talking while he tried not to let me see him roll his eyes...) and I pointed out how things were much different today than the world I knew when I turned 14 in 1960. I told him what was really remarkable is how different the world was today from when my maternal grandfather turned 14, which was in 1864 in the midst of the Civil War.

That started me wondering if that was unusual, to have a grandparent born 100 years prior to some of his or her grandchildren. How many of you had grandparents who were born prior to the Civil War?

[Bestwifeever]

I'm laughing at your grandson being nice to you.

You get my vote for the "I have the oldest grandfather" award right now.

My grandparents were all born just after 1900.

[FIREd]

My great-grandfather was born 100 years before me. But my grand parents were born only 52-65 years before me.

[GrayHare]

Three generations - four centuries: US President Tyler (born 1790) has living grandchildren. http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/01...son-alive.html

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo My oldest grandson turned 14 a few weeks ago. We were talking (OK, I was talking while he tried not to let me see him roll his eyes...) and I pointed out how things were much different today than the world I knew when I turned 14 in 1960. I told him what was really remarkable is how different the world was today from when my maternal grandfather turned 14, which was in 1864 in the midst of the Civil War. That started me wondering if that was unusual, to have a grandparent born 100 years prior to some of his or her grandchildren. How many of you had grandparents who were born prior to the Civil War?

My maternal grandfather also was born in 1864, during the Civil War. My other grandfather was born in 1880.

Ha

[Texas Proud]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo My oldest grandson turned 14 a few weeks ago. We were talking (OK, I was talking while he tried not to let me see him roll his eyes...) and I pointed out how things were much different today than the world I knew when I turned 14 in 1960. I told him what was really remarkable is how different the world was today from when my maternal grandfather turned 14, which was in 1864 in the midst of the Civil War. That started me wondering if that was unusual, to have a grandparent born 100 years prior to some of his or her grandchildren. How many of you had grandparents who were born prior to the Civil War?

Let me get this straight....

Your grandson,
His father or mother,
YOU,
Your parents
Your grandparents....

so you are asking about YOUR grandparents being born 100 years before your grandson

If that is the case... then that is REAL easy....

I had a grandfather who was around 80 when I was born... That would be you in my example... so yes, if you are asking about grandparents of grandparents, all of mine were born over 100 years from when I was born...

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo My oldest grandson turned 14 a few weeks ago. We were talking (OK, I was talking while he tried not to let me see him roll his eyes...) and I pointed out how things were much different today than the world I knew when I turned 14 in 1960. I told him what was really remarkable is how different the world was today from when my maternal grandfather turned 14, which was in 1864 in the midst of the Civil War. That started me wondering if that was unusual, to have a grandparent born 100 years prior to some of his or her grandchildren. How many of you had grandparents who were born prior to the Civil War?

A grandparent born 100 years prior to some grandchildren is pretty unusual. My mother is a great-grandmother and she's 80 years older that her first granddaughter (hurricane Leila). My grandparents were all born in the 80's.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud so you are asking about YOUR grandparents being born 100 years before your grandson

No., I'm referring to me, not my grandson.

I was born 96 years after the birth of my grandfather in 1850, and I have several younger cousins who were born 100 or more years after their grandfather.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrayHare Three generations - four centuries: US President Tyler (born 1790) has living grandchildren. President John Tyler

That's a great article and an amazing story!

I can match his accomplishment - all I have to do is live to be 125...

[Mulligan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrayHare Three generations - four centuries: US President Tyler (born 1790) has living grandchildren. http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/01...son-alive.html

Interesting story. I like these articles for some odd reason. It ranks up there with the articles on the last civil war veteran widow dying about 10 years ago.

[Texas Proud]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo No., I'm referring to me, not my grandson. I was born 96 years after the birth of my grandfather in 1850, and I have several younger cousins who were born 100 or more years after their grandfather.

OK, then I agree it is something that is not common... to do it, both have to be 50 when the child is born...


Just curious, was he alive when you were born

[WhoDaresWins]

My grandparents on both sides were all born in the 1880's. However, I am fifty-seven (well, very soon to be 58) and my father was born in 1905 and my Mom in 1915. When I tell people about the 1905, they look at me like I just stepped out of a Conestoga wagon in my hoop skirt.

My Dad often talked about things like a Model A and Model T Ford, a rumbleseat, a zoot-suit, the icebox (instead of a fridge), going to the opening of the Lincoln tunnel in NYC. He also met Henry Ford and Thomas Edison at the Firestone Farms in eastern Ohio when his car broke down while driving past. This made him seem ancient to me even though he was a very lively and young looking man for his age.

In any case, my family did not come to this country until after 1900 so no one was involved in the Civil War in any way.

[Bestwifeever]

On the flip side, my sister was a great-grandmother before she turned 60.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud Just curious, was he alive when you were born

No, he died 10 years earlier.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever On the flip side, my sister was a great-grandmother before she turned 60.

Sounds like that side of the family had a lot of "side flipping" going on...

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo That's a great article and an amazing story! I can match his accomplishment - all I have to do is live to be 125...

Imagine how many posts you'll have by then.

[powerplay]

My paternal grandfather was born in 1865. I never got to meet him because he was gone before I arrived.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREd My great-grandfather was born 100 years before me. But my grand parents were born only 52-65 years before me.

+1 Same for me.

[FIYes]

My paternal grandfather was born before the civil war began..98 years before I was born. I never knew him because he died before I was born. Only one living grandparent when I was born.

[Brett_Cameron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Sounds like that side of the family had a lot of "side flipping" going on...