G2G: How do I deal with an ages old theory that has been linked on a merge of profiles?

Question

A recent merge of two couples was proposed on a line I am actively researching.  The husband is [[Harkins-507|John Harkins (abt.1775-abt.1836)]].  The two males were merged with no problem but I resisted merging the two wives including [[Hughes-20396|Nancy (Hughes) Harkins (1795-1870)]].  The problem stems from a many decade theory that the wife of John Harkins had a last name of Hughes.  In the 40 years of research I have NEVER found anyone with an actual source for this theory.  Any of the proposed family links I have been able to run down resulted in a verification that it was not correct.  This name of Hughes has propagated to most Harkins trees.  

So I finally said the two could be merged but before I could get back to the merge the work had been done and Hughes last name was used.  There is still NO SOURCE for this name.  So what do I do now?  Remove the HUGHES and go back to Anonymous?  Leave it with my research notes attached that indicate no sources?  

I have worked 30 years to confirm the first name of John Harkins after over 70 years of a researcher's assumption that his name was James.   

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:John_Harkins_origins

Suggestions???

Thank you

Catherine

Answer 1

Add research notes section with what you stated here: where you researched, what your findings or non findings have been, why you are uncertain, etc. Add space page link, if it is not linked

Answer 2

Catherine,
I have HUGHES in my line also.

If you'd like me to, I will do some backtracking and see what I can find out on my side and if it even connects with the right line. My mom left me all of her genealogy and I also have a 2nd cousin that does a lot with that side of the family that I can ask if he's ran across the names above.

(My Great Grandmother married her first cousin, which ALWAYS throws a wrinkle on our side if you're not aware of the details.)   =}

~Lisa Hathaway

Comments

I added the names of the most common parents used with Nancy Hughes to the research notes of Nancy.  

Any help would be appreciated.  I have not worked on this issue in years as it always turned out to got the wrong way.

Thanks

Catherine

Answer 3

I don't have experience doing research in this time and place, but just based on WT best practices, it's my view that the LNAB of the wife in question should be Unknown if there are no currently known sources to make it something else.