Possible ERROR Mayflower silver book???

Question

Is it possible to have an error in the Mayflower Silver Books?

I was researching in the silver books online (free right now on AmericanAncestors.org), and I’m noticing an interesting discrepancy in my ancestors’ line.

My ancestor Barrows-747 (son of Ebenezer Barrows and Sarah Pratt) has been listed as married to Jemima Johnson, but is shown in the Vol.8 silver book as “perhaps” married to Sarah Morton: https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2728/i/48509/165/1415588158

The only problem with this marriage is that in the “Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001”, it lists Sarah Morton marrying a John Barrows JR! Wouldn’t that mean that he was a son of a JOHN, NOT an Ebenezer? "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-1WFV : 3 November 2017), John Jr. Barrows and Sarah Morton, 30 Nov 1769; citing Marriage, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 945,014.

I’m very confused on what to do next....does anyone have any guidance or suggestions for me on how to proceed? I’m afraid my “Super Sleuth” cape has been worn out for today.

Thanks for any help y’all can give!! :)

Kristi

Comments

Kristi often it did not mean his dad's name was John too - it is not the same as now they used the Jr thing differently

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Adding on to Navarro: it may only mean that there was an older John present in the town at that time. Not necessarily a father. But it would certainly make me look more closely at what's going on.

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Oops.  See someone else already said as much below. Where's my coffee?

Answer 1

Current research can certainly impact older  published works. I would suggest consulting the major journals, such as the Register, the Mayflower Descendent (Mayflower Quarterly?), or TAG. You could also contact the Mayflower Society Historian General about your question.

Comments

"a John Barrows JR! Wouldn’t that mean that he was a son of a JOHN, NOT an Ebenezer?"

Not necessarily. Jr after the name usually meant he was just the younger person of that name and that an older person of the same name existed at the same time, in the same area but didn't always mean that the younger was the son of the elder one...he could have been a nephew, a cousin, a grandson etc.