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From:
Subject: [HWE] Gaspard DE COLIGNY
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 14:22:14 -0800 (PST)


Hello All,

Now isn't this just what we all wonder at times ? When
is a person a relative ?

I shall attempt to shorten the situation for those of
you who just came in to this discussion.

Gaspard DE COLIGNY, the son of Gaspard DE COLGINY
marries Charlotte DE LAVAL-MONTFORT and they have a
tribe of children.

These children would then be recorded as an anscestor
if you happen to be related.

But what is a relationship ?

In most situations if your name is say DE COLGINY then
your mother is very much a relative, well she is your
mother.

Now that is simple enough.

And so we extend this line way back to Gaspard DE
COLIGNY and so he is your umpteenth Grandfather.

Again very simplistic genealogy.

In some cases there is a second marriage and so what is
the relationship between you and the second wife ?

By blood, nil.

By marrage, she is the wife of your Grandfather so many
times removed.

Now lets make this even more complicated.

The second wife already has children. So what is the
relationship between you and these children ?

Some genealogy programs allow for the term "Step-Child"
and so therefore they are step cousins or are they step
something else to you ?

And so listers we come to the topic of this subject.

Gaspard DE COLIGNY dies 24th August, 1572. His wife
passes away prior to him on 3rd of March, 1567.

He "supposedly" marries a second time and so his
natural children by Charlotte DE LAVAL now have a
"Step-Mother", simply put, she is no relative to
Gaspard descendents other than that, the second wife.

And now folks for the really really biggie.

Gaspard DE COLIGNY is recorded by some as having a
second wife and no natural children with that union, or
is there ? (Add information if you have documentation
that indicates that there was a child of this union)

And so Gaspard dies, this second wife reportedly
"Adopts" a child after he, Gaspard, is long dead.

What relation to you is this adopted child as he is,
technically (ie by blood), not related to Gaspard DE
COLIGNY at all ?

Well how could he/she possibly be related to the DE
COLIGNY family as the child does or at least did have a
natural mother and father prior to being adopted by the
second wife.

So if the second wife is not related to you then surely
the adopted child of the second wife is not even nearly
related to you. Especially when the adopted child was
adopted "after" the death of Gaspard DE COLIGNY.

And so how can it be that a familly can claim the DE
COLIGNY family as anscestors by way of the adopted
child when there is no relationship between the adopted
child and the DE COLIGNY line ?

All clear as mud now ?

I suppose one could place a note in the file that says
that "I am related to the child who was adopted by the
second wife of Gaspard DE COLIGNY after his death",
which makes for some nice reading, but like many other
historical points in all our genealogical research,
that is all that it would be, a 'Remark' for future
family members to delight in.

Maybe I have a different understanding and some of you
have another perspective on this topic, please go ahead
and present your scenario for open discussion without
any fear of ridicule or abuse from any listers.
Discussion not damnation, please.


Kind Regards,
Peter Leroy

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