G2G: Need help! Jeffords Family dead-end.

Question

My ancestor [[Jefferds-Jeffords-1|Ann Hopeful Jeffords Davis]] has been linked to father Nathan Jr. in Rush, NY but I can find no birth records for such. She may in fact be a "Gifford", or a daughter of "Obadiah Jefferds and Rebecca Fox" in Ohio, New York, according to one suspect source [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89066038845;view=1up;seq=11].  The 1855 New York Census for Ann Hopeful Davis indicates a niece "Harriet Jefford" living with the family. That gives me hope that the Jefford surname and family connection is legit, but I am stuck trying to find Hopeful's parents from original or official, verifiable sources. The surname is spelled at least 6 different ways, which make it hard to find her. Thanks!

Answer 1

Rush, NY is in Monroe county. Ohio, NY is in Herkimer county. Look at the 1855 and 1865 census images. Hopeful said she was born in Herkimer county. In 1855, she had lived in Little falls for 20 years, and the niece Harriet Jefford was born in Indiana and had been in Little Falls for 2 months.

Have you tried to track down other children of Obadiah Jeffords?

New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K67M-238 : 7 September 2016), Hopefull Davis in household of Joseph H Davis, E.D. 2, Little Falls, Herkimer, New York, United States; citing p. , line #79, family #254, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 845,904.

Comments

Thanks for the fast reply! Yes, I have Hopeful Davis pretty well-documented now as a definite Jefford(s) Jefferd(s) family member. Your note about Indiana was a great help. I now have confirmed the niece to be Harriet E. Jefferds (1847-), her father is James Wellington Jefferds born in New York, (1809-1880) and mother Jane Ann Day (1811-1880), as well as Harriet's siblings. The family moved around quite a bit unfortunately. Assuming Hopeful is indeed James Wellington's sister, his parents cannot be found yet either; I'm digging into various New York County birth records at this point.  The search goes on! Thanks again!