What is the guidelines for only one possibility of marraige on record, with no mention of names in wills or deeds?

Question

What should I do in the case of a match that is only a bit unclear just because no spouse identification from a will or deed? But a marriage date that is clearly an only match on location and chronology that narrows it all the way down too only one possibility? I guess my question is does this qualify as a confident match? what do you, the community think? I vote yes, because it is the rare case of narrowing down too one possibility from all records even if there were other "Sarah Young" in the location,they have all been eliminated as a possibility.  So what should I do? Uncertain, or confidant?

Answer 1

I think you have to make a judgment call, and provide your sources either way.

I'm working on one ancestress right now where I have a similar problem.  I haven't linked her WikiTree profile to her parents just yet, but I have a note in her bio indicating the possibility.  

In other cases, when the circumstantial evidence is strong enough, I have made the link. When I do this, I am transparent about the doubt in the bio, (She was likely/probably/possibly the daughter of... ), and I provide a clear explanation with links to the sources so others can add to the information.

For example in this case I agree that the daughter of Jonathan Young and Abigail Came seems to be a likely candidate, but I'm not sure I would state she's the only possibility -  I see another Sarah Young born in 1723 in Bideford, daughter of David and Mary. Its a fairly common name, and I'm sure there are possible candidates within a reasonable distance, depending how far Ebenezer travelled in the normal course of things. 

Comments

Can I see that record of David and Mary?

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You might find some hints in the Buxton centennial 

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:A_report_of_the_proceedings_at_the_celebration_of_the_first_centennial_anniversary_of_the_incorporation_of_the_town_of_Buxton%2C_Maine%2C_held_at_Buxton%2C_Aug._14%2C_1872

Or in the church records 

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:The_Records_of_the_Church_of_Christ_in_Buxton%2C_Me

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Sure Troy, 

I found the record in an article called Early Vital Records of Saco and Biddeford, Me, by Edgar Yates of Boston Mass. It was published in the April 1917 issue of NEHGS Register, Volume 71, page 128: https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhistor71wate#page/128 

Happy hunting! 

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Sarah Redlon, wife of Ebenezer, joined the Church of Christ in Buxton September 7, 1778.

Obviously too late for the marriage but there might be family clues in the Rev Coffin’s records.

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I looked all over and I found it here on page 1179 as well. https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalfami03litt#page/1178/search/Redlon

And in a few other places that the elder Ebenezer Redlon had a wife named Sarah Young. It just appears that her parents are unknown. His son Ebenezer Married a Sarah as well (Sarah Hancock) which makes it confusing when a source does not give a maiden name like "Sarah and Ebenezer Redlon",you can't be certain if it is the same couple. ahhh It's annoying.

Answer 2

In your 'dissertation' in the bio, I think I'd add what sources you checked that lead you to believe that there is only the one *likely* possibility. Since there isn't proof, per se, I wouldn't call it confident yet. Have you checked for probate records for her parents, siblings, aunts? If so, note that and the results, positive or negative, in the bio (under a Research Notes section). In other words, list all your negative findings, not just the positive ones.

Comments

good advice - save others from doing what you already did

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Alright yeah I checked and worked on other Sarah Young profiles as possibilities. I'm not sure who else too rule out or where the proof is. So I'm asking for help on that. Thx