I am an eleventh generation British American descended from John Knowles who immigrated to New Hampshire in New England in 1660. I have one sister and one brother, we live very far apart. I have lived on all three salt water coasts of the U.S. I will testify that the gatherings you describe are unusual (but maybe not rare) in this country. My family line has now extended to 13 generations, that is 13 generations in 360 years, averaging 27 years per generation. This does not make for big families.

Family does not mean a lot in my family nor my wife's. Three of my grandparents were dead when I was born. When I turned 18 I left home and traveled to school 1600 miles away. My parents did not accompany me. My Dad did help make the arrangements including paying my first year's tuition.