My brick wall is William (either E. or W.) Ford and finding his parents & origins, place of death and date?

Question

My 2nd Great grandparents, William Ford (abt 1828-abt 1858) and Lorinda Jane Goodwin (abt 1836-abt 1856) both disappeared from the records in the mid-1850's, leaving their children behind with relatives. Did they die in an epidemic or go to the Gold Rush to make their fortune?             

       William Ford was born in New York state and his wife Lorinda Jane Goodwin was possibly born in Canada. They were married in 1852 in Austin, Sanilac, Michigan. They had two known children, William A., b.1852 to 1858 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and Julia, b.abt 1856, who also disappeared from record.

Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi,

1.  The marriage record 01 Jan 1852 is sourced at 

"Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VN2B-TN3 : 22 April 2016), William W Ford and Lorinda Goodwin, 1852.

2.  The pastor's record (you can access it; look for the camera icon on Family Search) shows Lorinda Goodwin was 16 years old, William W. Ford was 24 y/o.

3.  Lorinda Goodwin was living in Sanilac, Michigan, in the 1850 Census with her parents and siblings; see below.

4.  Could the couple have moved to Placerville, California?  Family Search shows a William W. Ford living there in 1852.  A name match may be misleading; more research is in store.  

I hope this helps a bit,  Janine

Name:	Lorinda Goodwin [Jane Lorinda Goodwin]
Age:	15
Birth Year:	abt 1835
Birthplace:	Connecticut [Canada]
Home in 1850:	Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan, USA
Gender:	Female
Family Number:	184
Household Members:	Name Age William Goodwin 50 Manda Goodwin 43 Lorinda Goodwin 15 Benjamin Goodwin 12 Willson Goodwin 10 Joseph Goodwin 7 Winfield Goodwin 2 William Wilson 28 Alpha McMillan 47 Margaret Horton 9 Richard Goodwin 34