Just missed Father's Day, but I wanted to note the fact that fathers are very important in my genealogical researches. Since most of the women in the family lines I am hunting down changed their names on marriage, I am usually more successful tracing their families via their spouses. My family has strong maternal lines -- a lot of tough broads, you might say -- but I am grateful to the men for their contribution as well.

Recently I came across an interesting coincidence of paternities. I was viewing a microfilm of parish records from Kendal, a charming town I have actually been to in the north of England. I found an entry I expected, for the 1821 baptism of Robert, son of my great great great grandfather, Thomas Gradwell. The very next entry was for a girl baptised on the same day in the same church: Mary, daughter of William Fawcett. I haven't figured out yet if this branch of the Fawcetts is connected to the branch in my tree, but it is interesting to speculate that the families probably knew each other.