Polydactyly in the Goss and Kendall Families
By Ken Goss
A Genetic Anomaly found in the Kendall and Goss Families leads to further
testing with the National Institute of Health.
A persistent autosomal dominant gene in the Goss Families, the Kendall
Families and in the Gibbons Families, particularly the descendents of
Phillip Goss and Mary Sarah Kendall, led this researcher to participate in a
study with the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md.
I and many of my cousins were born with extra fingers and or toes, a genetic
quirk that has persisted in our family for generations. This trait
intrigued me for years, and was the basis for much of my family research.
Several years ago, while stopping in the LDS library in Salt Lake City,
Utah, I found a manuscript which contained considerable research on a branch
of the Goss Families, This research was in the form of a manuscript
compiled by a Rev. Paul H. Goss from California, during the late 1930s and
early 1940s
Paul H. Goss was a descendant of Ebenezer Goss, who was a revolutionary
soldier. Mentioned in this manuscript was the fact that Ebenezer and his
children and grandchildren were born with the extra fingers and or toes.
This revelation certainly interested me, having the same last name and the
fact that I too, as well as several relatives were born with these “extras”.
I was only able to obtain a few pages of this manuscript, but later one of
my sons found this same manuscript in a library in Chicago, and was able to
copy more of the pages.
This manuscript provided the leads that led us to determine that we shared a
common ancestor with Ebenezer Goss.
We have since learned that Ebenezer’s father Phillip Goss is our common
ancestor This Phillip Goss married a Mary Kendall.
Many of the Kendall Family Members of North America were known to have the
extras, and there are considerable references to the Kendall’s with the
“Extras” dating back to the Early 1600s, and possibly into the 1500s in
England.
I contacted the National Institute of Health (NIH) about their studies of
polydactyly and syndactlyly. They were extremely interested and made
arrangements for me to visit their facility. The NIH conducted various test,
including X rays, DNA, photography, brain scans, and other tests.
Two medical doctors and a genetic counselor visited me at my home and we
made arrangements for other relatives who were born with the extras to meet
them, these relatives agreed to participate in the study.
It is my understanding that some descendants of the Kendall families who had
the extras will also participate in the studies.
It is our understanding that these test and test results are for medical
purposes and research, and not for the purpose of proving genealogy
descendents, but we may find that this Kendall and Goss polydactyl trait is
not co-incidental.
Information recently received from descendants of William Davidson Gibbons,
who was the son of Mary Goss and Lemel l Gibbons indicate that this
polydactyly has continued in the Gibbons Families. Two of the Gibbons
descendants have agreed to participate. This participation only requires a
small submission of blood for DNA studies. The NIH, of course must adhere to
all HIPPA regulations and other such privacy regulations.
Mary Goss is my direct ancestor, through her Daughter Mary Polly Davidson,
who in all probability married her first cousin, John Goss another direct
ancestor, and the son of
Nathaniel Goss and Hannah Scott, Nathaniel being the brother of Ebenezer
Goss
A physical peculiarity has characterized the Kendall family for many
centuries, — that is, an occasional ex- cess in the number of the
extremities, hands and feet, an extra finger or an extra toe. An old English
medical book says that from "as long as the 14th century this mark has been
traced, sometimes almost disappearing, and then coming forth again in full
vigor." Abigail KENDALL was born on Apr 6, 1666 in Woburn, Middlesex,
Massachusetts. She died on Oct 12, 1734. ABIGAIL HAD AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF
FINGERS AND TOES. Parents: Francis KENDALL and Mary TIDD.
Spouse: Capt. William REED. Capt. William REED and Abigail KENDALL were
married on May 24, 1686 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Children were:
Abigail READE, William READE (twin), Mary READE (twin), Benjamin READE,
Samuel READE, Joshua READE, Ruth REED, Hepzitah READE, Elizabeth REED,
Rebecca
References:
Kendall Family Genealogy Forum
