#19 Mary Catherine Plankinhorn was my sixth great grandmother on my maternal grandmother’s side. She was born on 12 May 1730 in New Garden, North Carolina to Peter and Susanna Plankinhorn. She married Samuel Jackson in 1747.  They were Quakers. I only have documentation for two children at this time but I suspect there were more. Mary Catherine died 24 April 1780. She lived long enough to see the formation of The United States of America.

Most family lines diverge and dilute as children marry and have children of their own. But, our ancestors lived lives in small, rural settlements where marriage possibilities were few and far between. Mary Catherine’s Granddaughter through her daughter, Susanna, married her grandson through her son, William, and brought the family line back together. I am directly descended from both Susanna and William Jackson, even though they are brother and sister.