My family goes way back in Arizona, and we've got some deep roots in what's commonly called Mormonism.
When I was reading Lore and Legend, I found a ton of familiar surnames. One of them was my grandfather's name and when I next saw my parents, I asked if there was a chance we were related to this lady.
Of course we hopped all over the internet, especially the Family Search app where we all got files and DNA results and junk. After some searching, because I didn't bring the book with me, we found her.
And the answer was: Yes - sort of.
See, back in the frontier days, the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sanctioned plural marriage on doctrinal grounds. And my great great great grandpappy was one of the ones given permission to have more than one wife. My great great great grandmammy was his first wife. The lady in the book was his wife too, one of 3 total, at the same time.
I really REALLY wanted to know what to call this woman! Like, she's not a step grandmother. She didn't replace my grandmother. She was… concurrent with her. So…?
Anyway I couldn't find a word for this relationship and so I asked the fam their ideas. Out of the options, I liked great great great gramma-auntie. Since kids in that family structure sometimes call the other wives "aunt".
My brother about killed us with his suggestion of great great grand poligi-mommy. How does that sound so terribly awful?!
Anyway, all this from a name in an old local history book. Fun times.
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