Saturday, February 23, 2013

Finding Evidence to Support a Conclusion

Algernon Ridley’s wife Margaret Hilton Ridley, died 23 August 1948 at Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, California. Her death certificate lists her parents as D. C. and Margaret Hilton, and her birth place as Salisbury, Missouri.[1]

This is a classic example of finding all of the records that pertain to a particular question and building a case for a genealogical conclusion. In this case, the question is, "Who were Margaret's parents?" Her death certificate provides one piece of evidence and gives her parents names as D. C. and Margaret Hilton.

However, there is more to the story. I have compiled all of my research into a "Draft" proof summary, and invite you to read through it and give me your help. It appears as though her parents are Jacob Eccles (Ecles) and Mary K. Riddell (Riddle). But, the evidence is inconclusive.

I would LOVE to hear your comments and suggestions for solving this mystery. Please contact me directly, or leave your comments.

Click here to view the document.


[1] California, Department of Public Health, Certificate of Death, no. 12414, filed 25 August 1948 (5 October 1948); Margaret Hilton Ridley, died 23 August 1948 at Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, California; digital image, "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1849-1994, Los Angeles, Death Certificates 1948 no. 10900-13250," FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 6 February 2013), image 1587 of 2447.

4 comments:

  1. Record added:
    “Missouri Marriage Records, 1805–2002,” digital image, _Ancestry.com_ (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 February 2013), entry for Abner M. Green and Miss Maggie Hitton [Hilton].
    a. Name: Abner M Green; Age: 21; Birth Date: abt 1868; Marriage Date: 10 Jan 1889; Marriage Location: Missouri; Marriage County: Chariton; Spouse Name: Miss Maggie Hitton; Spouse Age: 18; Spouse Birth Date: abt 1871
    b. It is unlikely that Margaret was 18 when she married Abner Green.
    c. I have not located a death or divorce record for Margaret and Abner.

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  2. Records added:
    1870 U.S. Census, Chariton County, Missouri, population schedule, Salisbury, p. 262 (stamped), page 2, dwelling 8, family 8; family of James Green; digital image, _Ancestry.com_ (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 February 2013); citing FHL microfilm publication 552,267.
    a. James Green, 27, carpenter & builder, real estate $300, personal property $150, born in England;
    Susan Green, 25, keeps house, born in Canada;
    Ida T. Green, 5, at home, born in Canada;
    Abner M. Green, 2, born in Canada.

    1880 U.S. Census, Chariton County, Missouri, population schedule, Salisbury, ED 162, p. 424 (stamped), sheet 48D, dwelling 333, family 349; family of I. [J.] H. Green; digital image, _Ancestry.com_ (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 February 2013); citing FHL microfilm publication 1,254,680.
    a. J. H. Green, 38, carpenter, born in England (parents in England);
    Susan Green, 37, wife, keeps house, born in Canada (parents in Ireland);
    Ida ?. Green, 15, daughter, at home, born in Canada (parents in England and Canada);
    Abner M. Green, 12, son, at home, born in Canada (parents in England and Canada);
    Oswald N. Green, 9, son, born in Missouri (parents in England and Canada).

    Both records provide approximate age, parents, and place of birth for Abner M. Green.

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  3. Thanks to Mary Rueter for help in adding these records:

    1860 U.S. Census, Bremer County, Iowa, population schedule, Washington, p. 20 (written), dwelling 170, family 157; family of Lamuel Sheartin [Samuel Martin]; digital image, _Ancestry.com_ (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 February 2013); citing FHL microfilm publication 803,312.
    a. Lamuel Sheartin [Samuel Martin], 26, farmer, real estate $3000, personal property $1000, born in Illinios;
    R. Martin, 25, born in Illinois;
    J. C. Eckles, 23, farm laborer, personal property $70, born in Illinois;
    J. Y. Eckles, 22, born in Illinois;
    N. A. Heckard, 27, teamster, born in Ohio.
    b. Thanks to Mary Rueter for finding this record. She says, “I found Jacob Y. Eccles and his brother Jonathan C. Eccles living with their sister Rebecca and her husband Samuel Martin in Washington township in Bremer County Iowa. Washington township is on the county border with Butler County so Mary and Jacob were living within a few miles of each other at that time.”

    Kenneth Weant, _Chariton County, Missouri_ (Arlington, Texas: K.E. Weant, ©2008).
    a. An index of marriage notices published in the _Brunswicker_ mentions A. M. Green and Miss Hilton, publication 12 January 1889 (p. 54).
    b. The book does not mention a death date for Abner Green, or any mention of Jacob Eccles, or the Hilton’s. There is one mention of a William W. Riddell, who married Mrs. Mary Mauzey (publication 18 May 1889, p. 68).

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  4. Cemetery inscriptions, recorded by the Indian Springs Chapter, DAR, Chandler, Oklahoma, indicate that Jacob Eccles died May 1, 1907, and his wife, Rebecca A. (Buoy) Eccles died January 31, 1915. Both are buried in the Meeker Cemetery, Lincoln County, Oklahoma. I have updated the draft to reflect this new information.

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