Knowledge of American History Helps to Understand Ancestors' Decisions
While working on my husband’s genealogy, I found myself at another brick wall. Emily Danforth Rhoads was born June 10, 1815. She married Benjamin Talbert Rhoads on April 28, 1838 in Warrick County, IN. She died January 10, 1869 in Warrick County, IN. Emily and Benjamin are buried in Bethany Cemetery in Warrick County. This information was supported with tombstone inscriptions and marriage index records from the county. My research goal was to first confirm the location of birth for Emily. Despite many searches, I wasn’t having any luck. When I’m needing inspiration and ideas, I turn to other researcher’s family trees (only to look for ideas, not to use as ‘facts’). While doing this, I found a post from a man who (I’ll call him John) was struggling with the same problem I was. He was a descendant of the Danforth family, and he just could not find any records before Emily’s marriage to Benjamin. This man submitted his DNA, hoping for some answers. Boy, was he in for a shock…. Emily Danfo...