Do you notice who is not listed in records where other family members are? In going through a series of “gossip columns” for a family in the early 20th century, I noticed that one individual’s husband rarely attended anything. I’ve made a notation about his frequent absence in my compilation of the columns.
There are other records where sometimes people who “should be listed” are not. This happens in more than the gossip columns of local newspapers. Are you making a notation of this in your analysis of the record?
Some absences mean more than others. Missing family functions may just mean there’s been some sort of disagreement, that someone is a loner, is not able to get away from work, or needs time away from their spouse. Failing to appear in a city directory may mean a move, failing to appear in personal property tax rolls may mean a change in financial status (or move), etc.
Absences matter and not just when Uncle Herman refuses to attend the annual cookout.
One response
I ran into something curious, myself. I was applying to the D.A.R. but had no way to tie my 3rd great-grandmother to her father. It was advised that I seek records from Probate, since my 4th great-grandfather died intestate. His second wife, Mary, wished not to be in charge of the estate, so a gentleman stepped up to petition the court so that he could become the executor. The children were all listed, those who had passed and those who had married. The number of children listed was twelve. They managed to list my branch of the family (his first wife) but the widow, in her grief, I’m guessing missed two of her own children. I have census record proof of the two missed, too. Oh, well. It does make me wonder just how valid the information on this petition truly is. I did get into the D.A.R. but I hope the names listed were legitimate, all the same. What do you do?