Hi Sue,

I think we basically say the same thing, Your mother's sister is your aunt;

Your grand mother's sister is a GREAT aunt

Your GREAT Grandmother's sister is a GREAT GREAT AUNT.

As Parents have a "GRAND" generation before the GREATs, but Aunts and Uncles do not, the number of "greats" on ancestors other than parents will be ONE more than with parents, OF THE SAME GENERATION, viz

Your GREAT Grandmother's = Great x 1 + Grand
Her sister is
a GREAT GREAT AUNT. = Great x 2 (with no "Grand")

The total score in greats and grands will be the same, as you point out, but with No GRAND for aunts etc, the Score in "greats" for aunt or uncle relatives will be one higher than for parental ancestors of the same generation.

I had been somewhat chary of writing a detailed description of any remote aunt becasue of that, but thanks to your way of putting it, I can see an easy way to do so.

William Corrin of 1742, was SIX generations back from me, so taking generations, 1 is father; 2 in grandfather, so that leaves FOUR, so he is my Great x 4 Grandfather.

His sister, Sukie Corrin, who married Dominique Lamothe, is the same generation, so is six generations back, so 1 generation is AUNT, leaving FIVE generations, as there is no grand aunt. She is my Great x 5 AUNT.

Thinking about Cousins, Sukie's daughter, Sophia, who bulldozed her way to witnessing the 1793 wedding of Henry Corrin was his first cousin. I am FIVE generations down from that Henry Corrin, so I will be Sophia LaMothe's 1st Cousin, 5 times removed,

BUT does it also count the other way ? If so. she is my 1st Cousin 5 times removed but I do not think this makes sense. I am the one that is five times removed. That has me stumped for it is an easy assumption to make but there is a classic question.

All Elephant are Animals True or False ?
All Animals are Elephants True or False ?

I am her 1st Cousin 5 times removed but is she my 1st cousin, 5 times removed ? I am clearly "removed" five generations down the tree, but she is exactly where she was to start with.

best wishes

Robert

PS From school days I recall those wonderful sentences "The pen of my aunt". I am glad I did not have to worry about "the pen of my 1st Cousin 5 times removed"