Elizabeth (Grant) Gifford (abt. 1620 - bef. 1683)

Born about 1620 in England

Descendants

Died before 16 Jul 1683 before about age 63 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Plymouth Colony [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Nace Few [send private message]

Biography

Elizabeth Grant may have been the wife of this William Gifford, but as the NEH&G Register states on pg. 242:

"In view of the fact that highly skilled professional genealogists have found no proof as yet of such connections [between the Gifford's of Dry Drayton & Wm. Gifford, a definitive connection of Wm. Gifford to Elizabeth Grant.] it can only be said that evidence has yet to be found to confirm these wishful thoughts."^[1]

In fact, the authors of this article, titled, "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d. 1687)", on pg. 250, do not offer a name for Wm.'s first wife when listing their children.^[1] What they do offer is a suggestion that:

"a Guilielm Gifford married 11 Feb. 1635, Elizabeth Grant (The Record of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London (1619-1636) ..... In the same work, pg. 133, is shown the marriage of an Ananias Gifford 18 Nov. 1621 to Maria Read. The rare name Ananias (also spelled Hananias, Hannaniah, Annaniah) was given to William Gifford's son and was carried down in the family."^[1]

No other connection, except this unusual naming pattern, has been found to support the marriage of Elizabeth Grant to this William Gifford.

Regardless, the first wife of this Wm. Gifford had to have died before the marriage of Wm. Gifford to Mary Mills. The above referenced article states on pg. 247, that the:

"marriage took place... the 16 day 5mo.: 1683.."^[1]

Calendar corrected, that is the 16th of July, 1683.

Previous Research

The below data was deleted, but should be included, in case others have copied this incorrect information.

The below statement is utterly false:^[2]

"They were divorced sometime before 16 July 1683 when William Gifford married his third wife, Mary Mills. The following is from Documents relating to the Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, Vol IV concerning a meeting in Trent on December 20 (year unknown). Included in the acts passed was: : Item #2. 'An Act to dissolve the marriage of William Gifford, with Elizabeth his wife.' (Documents relating to the Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, Vol IV)"

The cited New Jersey history (which now has a direct link) is from 1779/1780! Just about a hundred years after Elizabeth died & Wm. Gifford married Mary Mills. The year is found in the upper right hand corner of the two pages.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d. 1687)", by Almon Daniels & MacLean W. MacLean, edited by Anne Borden Harding, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 128, Oct., 1974, Pgs. 241-261.
2. ↑ Documents relating to the Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. IV, pgs. 116 & 150.

New England Historical Genealogical Society: americanancestors.org

Acknowledgments

This person was created through the import of MASTER2011WIKITREE.GED on 27 January 2011 by Doris Muller Wheeler