Nathaniel Billings (1814 - 1900) Two sisters on his memorial but we’re they both his wives?

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Nathaniel Billings was born February 20, 1814 in East Long Meadow, Massachusetts. He married Caroline Rhodes and possibly her sister Nancy D. Rhodes. They are both inscribed on his monument stone however he has no dates under his name and Per obituary he is buried in Massachusetts. He died May 26, 1900 in Springfield Massachusetts. 

So was Nancy his wife as Find-A-Grave  states? 

Thank you

I took photo of gravestones to help in their genealogy research

WikiTree profile: Nathaniel Billings
in Genealogy Help by Andrew Simpier G2G6 Pilot (681k points)

1 Answer

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Best answer

I can only find a marriage to Harriett Ashley in 1839.

"Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHGC-3JT : 24 January 2020), Nathaniel Billings, 1839.

I put his birth and death record on his profile.  His parents were Samuel Billings and Nancy Lathrop.

Aha!  He married Caroline in Connecticut 29 Jan 1862:

"Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7LZ-PHM : 11 January 2020), Nathaniel Billings, 1862.

by Living Tardy G2G6 Pilot (765k points)
selected by Andrew Simpier

I was able to find Samuel Billings and his wife Nancy Lathrop 

See Samuel Billings on Find-A-Grave

Added Samuel and Nancy Lathrop Billings as parents and created the Category: Billings Hill Cemetery, East Longmeadow, Massachusetts

He was still married to Caroline in Connecticut in 1880. 

Nancy died a Rhodes in 1900 (specific date not given):

"Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLMW-WP2V : 29 November 2018), Nancy D Rhodes, Wethersfield, Hartford, 1900.  Father George Rhodes.

Here's Caroline and Nancy with their family in 1860:

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHR8-615 : 18 March 2020), Nancy D Rhodes in entry for George Rhodes, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, 1860.

You make a very valid point. The gravestones show Nancy D. Rhodes. Even the smaller stone has last name initial as Rhodes. I am thinking she didn’t marry Nathaniel and that Nathaniel only was married to Caroline Rhodes.

The smaller stone for Caroline has the initials C.R.B.

Ah! You found the marriage of Caroline and Nathaniel !!!
Thanks for the star Andrew!  I agree, I doubt he ever married Nancy.

Thank you was a big help!!

I see we have another marriage in the middle of the civil war! 1862!

Ok I added Nancy D. Rhodes to Wikitree and her Wills Probated 

More research shows Nancy D. Rhodes passed away from Brights Disease and her prefix is Miss (never married)

Nice work Andrew!  yes

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