Numbering system in a family genealogy book - how to interpret

Question

I found Harriet McClung in The McClung Genealogy, however I don't understand the numbering system. Would someone please help? I am trying to figure out who her parents were, to see if it matches what I have from Find A Grave.

Edited to add that someone in Family Search notes her father is William, see p.124. But that Harriet (on the following page) was born in 1843 and "this" Harriet was born in 1816....

Oh I miss my dad, he was so good at this....

Comments

The numbering system is explained here:

https://archive.org/details/mcclunggenealog00mcclgoog/page/n7

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I saw that, but I still don't understand.

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i found the Harriet born 1816 married to Atkinson on page 128 I think.

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Page 127

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The numbering system is totally useless.  I doubt even your father could have helped.

I tried to find the father of Harriet but ran out of time.  If she's fifth generation then he'd be fourth generation so you need to work backwards through the book to find him. Before I ran out of time I found a male who is said to have had 12'children.  They're supposed to be listed but only one or a few were. Shoot. I lost the page. Sorry. Had to go.

Answer 1

Hi Susan,

As Jillaine indicated, the book's preface shows that the first number represents the number of the child within a particular family, and the second number represents the generation to which the individual belongs.

So for the 2-6 Harriet McClung on p 125 (image n174) I interpret her father to be 4-5 Charles McClung, and for the 6-5 Harriet Jane McClung on p 127 (image n176) I interpret her to be that Charles McClung's sister (both generation 5). If you page backward until you to find the previous generation 4 individual, you will find 3-4 William McClung on p 124 (image n171) whom I believe the author indicates is the father of both 4-5 Charles and 6-5 Harriet.

Comments

Rick nailed it.  Ok so the system isn't totally useless but not easy Given the way the author has laid out the text.

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Thanks Rick and Jillaine!

Answer 2

I believe that Harriet was the daughter of 3-4 William Mclung (https://archive.org/details/mcclunggenealog00mcclgoog/page/n171

You have to go back to the previous generation and find the parent.

Comments

Thanks Doug!