People will be people. You can never be too sure that the grandfather who appears on your tree is the same one on the will, deed, court record. You must sometimes take the preponderance of evidence as it appears to you. How many John, James, etc. Smith's lived in the area in question. As a trained life long Scientist, I usually like to find several documented facts such that a preponderence of the evidence suggests that this is my ancestor. Of course, the farther back you go, the less conclusive evidence is available. In no spicific order, I like two or more known names, on the same document (deed, will, etc.) in the same geographic location, at the same time, with children who were named the same, etc. and no conflicting circumstances. "If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck and looks like a duck, then it's probably a duck".but one or two of those facts that match would not put me into a tail spin, if someone disagreed. Remember, in 1450, most people believed that the world was flat. Keep searching, keep an open mind, be patient with others and make the best reasoned judgement that you can. Be open to the suggestion that your judgement might be wrong and change your mind when better evidence is presented. The American Revolution is a formidable barrier as legal documents are less available.
