Mastering Genealogical Proof Chapter 7 Revisited

Thomas W. Jones, Mastering Genealogical Proof (Arlington, Virginia: National Genealogical Society, 2013). [Book available from the publisher at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/r/mastering_genealogical_proof , also availablein Kindle format through Amazon.com]

Chapter 7 RevisitedGPS Element 4 & 5 Resolving Conflicts and Assembling EvidenceThe Written Conclusion

We are suppose to use what we have learned and write a proof. It does not matter what kind of proof, just a proof. So I will do a proof summary. I will be doing some analyzing of information found in a Mother's Civil War Pension Packet.  A copy of the pension file can be found at http://bakerrootsresearch.weebly.com/wilson-l-starkey---mothers-pension-papers.html]

Would Wilson and Sarah Lambert have been old enough to witness the of marriage of Benjamin Starkey and Mary Ridgway?

In the Pension Packet we find the following statement:


That he [Wilson L Starkey] was the son of Benjamin Starkey. That said Benjamin was the first husband of Deponent [Mary Ridgway Starkey Lewis] and she was legally married to him by Elder Kirkpatrick November 27^th 1821 at the house of Wilson Lambert in Lambertsville Hunterdon County in the state of New Jersey. That she has not for about forty years known said Minister and she believes he is now dead as he was then an old man. That she never had any certificate of said marriage. That she knows of no public Record thereof and believes she cannot obtain any legal or church Record and that none was kept as she believes, after due inquiry: That she has not any family Record and that the [manor and ------?] or family Record was taken to one of the western states by her son.....

[and continued] That she is the same person who was married to said Benjamin Starkey as stated in the affidavit hereto annexed of Wilson Lambert and Sarah R Lambert.

  Mary C Lewis letter dated 12 June 1863, in Mary C Lewis, mother’s pension packet, Pension No. 90,060, for service of Wilson L Starkey (Corporal, Co. C, Reg’t 15, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Civil War); Pension Packet in possession of Betty-Lu Baker Burton [A copy of the  pension file can be found at http://bakerrootsresearch.weebly.com/wilson-l-starkey---mothers-pension-papers.html]

State of New York

Ontario County

On this 29^th day of May 1863, before me the subscriber, personally appeared, Wilson Lambert and Sarah R Lambert, residents of Geneva in said County who being duly sworn says That on the 27^th day of November 1821. Benjamin Starkey married Mary C Ridgeway at said Lamberts dwelling home then situate in the Town of LambertsVille County of Hunterdon in the state of New Jersey by Rev. Mr Kirpatrick

                             Wilson Lambert

                             Sarah R Lambert

Sworn to before me this 29 day of May 1863.

 Wilson Lambert and Sarah R Lambert dated 29 May 1863, in Mary C Lewis, mother’s pension packet, Pension No. 90,060, for service of Wilson L Starkey (Corporal, Co. C, Reg’t 15, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Civil War); Pension Packet in possession of Betty-Lu Baker Burton [A copy of the  pension file can be found at http://bakerrootsresearch.weebly.com/wilson-l-starkey---mothers-pension-papers.html]


So first, who are Wilson and Sarah Lambert? and how are they related to each other.
The 1860 US Census does not give relationships, but there is a 1865 and a 1875 New York State Census that does give relationships and they are listed as husband and wife.

	1855	1860	1865
Wilson Lambert age	68	73	78
Birth place	New Jersey	New Jersey	New Jersey
Est Year of birth	1787	1787	1787
Sarah Lambert age	58	63	68
Birth place	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania
Est Year of birth	1797	1797	1797
Location	Seneca, Ontario, New York	Seneca, Ontario, New York	Rochester, Monroe, New York

Wilson Lambert would have been about 34 years old and Sarah Lambert would have been about 24 years old in 1821 when the marriage took place. So both Wilson Lambert and Sarah Lambert would have been old enough to have witnessed the marriage between Benjamin Starkey and Mary Ridgway, as the statement said. They would of also have been old enough to have been married to each other at the time of the marriage between Benjamin Starkey and Mary Ridgway, thus allowing the marriage to happen at their home as their statement said.

New York, State Census, 1855, Ontario County, Seneca, First election district, page 15, Wilson Lambert household (Lines 8 and 9); digital image, LDS FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 6 July 2015), image 8 of 46; count clerk offices, New York.

“1860 United States Federal Census,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 3 July 2013); entry for Wilson Lambert, born in New Jersey, age 73, and Sarah Lambert, born in Pennsylvania, age 63,  Post Office Genoa, Seneca, Ontario County, New York, page 88, lines 37 and 38.

New York, State Census, 1865, Monroe County, Rochester, Fourth Ward, page 69, Wilson Lambert household (Lines 23 and 24); digital image, LDS FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 6 July 2015),  image 47 of 64; State Library, Albany.

The next step would be to determine if Sarah Lambert is Mary Ridgway's older sister.

Mastering Genealogical Proof Chapter 3

Thomas W. Jones, Mastering Genealogical Proof (Arlington, Virginia: National Genealogical Society, 2013). [Book available from the publisher at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/mastering_genealogical_proof , also available
in Kindle format through Amazon.com]

Chapter 3
This chapter has to do with the GPS (Genealogical Proof Standard) Element 1 or Reasonably Exhaustive Search.

So, how do you know if you did a reasonably exhaustive search?
First, you need to know what you are looking for and what time period and location you will need to search in order to answer your research question. Looking for a birth day in the 1920's is different than looking for the same information in the 1820's.

Dr Jones lists 6 things to consider:

1. Find at least 2 sources that are independent of each other. Records are independent of each if the individual records were made by different people and/or made for different reasons. A birth record recorded shortly after the birth and a census record would be independent of each other.
2. Look in a Wiki and see what records might be used. You want to search the common records for the time and location of your research question. Ask yourself "If another genealogist looked at my sources would they suggest another record group?"
3. Have you located any primary records. A record or records that were made at or near the time of the event. Or have you found an eyewitness account. If you use only secondary records you have a higher chance of coming to a wrong conclusion.
4. Are you using original records or authored works as your sources? Authored works have more room for error. The further the record is from the original, due to transcribing or translation, the higher the chance of error.
5. If you used an authored work or an index, did you locate the records used to make them. There is always a possibility that there was a mistake when an index or an abstract was made. I know of a well used abstract that had a wrong relationship. This abstract was used in several authored works with no one tracking down the original will.
6. After you have done your research, have you looked at any additional suggested by the records you have. For example if the census record indicated your ancestor owned land have you located the land record.

Even after all this you need to keep in mind that later a record may come to light that changes everything.

Studying the book "Mastering Genealogical Proof"

Over the next few weeks I will be participating in a study group on the following book.

Thomas W. Jones, Mastering Genealogical Proof (Arlington, Virginia: National Genealogical Society, 2013). [Book available from the publisher at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/mastering_genealogical_proof , also available
in Kindle format through Amazon.com]

Since some how I have messed up my Google Drive I will be posting my homework here.

Chapter I Homework:

1) Genealogy is the study of ones ancestors.

2) In my own words; the 5 parts of the GPS (Genealogical Proof Standard) are:

1. Searching in as many different types of records you can think of and/or locate.
2. Citing all the records you find in a way that you or someone else can go back and locate the records in case the originals or images get misplaced.
3. Look at the records you have found and determine how accurate each record is and then compare the information and determine the best conclusion to the genealogical question.
4. Reasonably explain any and all information found in the records.
5. Write up your conclusion in a way that others will understand.

3) The proofs explain why I came to my conclusions. The proofs are there so others can understand my thinking and reasoning.

4) A conclusion is complete. A partial proof indicates a work in progress.

5) You have to first decide on what you want to know.