Rhoda J. Mitchell (abt. 1855 - abt. 1911)

Born about 9 Nov 1855 in Pennsylvania, USA [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 25 Jun 1911 at about age 55 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rick Heiser [send private message]

Biography

Rhoda was born about about November 1855. Did the middle initial J. stand for anything? Jane? Jean? Janet? Joan? Justine? Or just J - meaningless?

Her surname is uncertain too! Most records show Mitchell but a daughter's death certificate said her mother's maiden name was Thompson. And a death certificate at Philadelphia in 1911 - that might or might not be the same person - showed maiden name Breembach! Was it this person? What was her name, really?

She married John Williams, details of date and place not found. They were shown together in the 1880 U.S. census at Sandy Creek, Pennsylvania, with two daughters: Gertie, age 2, and Vera, age 0, so likely they married around 1877-78. The same 1880 census showed that Rhoda was born in Pennsylvania about 1859.

Marriage certificate of daughter Bessie Jane Williams, 1904 at Cleveland, Ohio, showed her mother was "Rhoda MITCHELL". But the same daughter's death certificate, 1951 at Shaker Heights, Ohio, said her mother was "Rhoda THOMPSON". Which was it? I assume Mitchell to be correct since that information came from the daughter herself, while the death certificate information likely came from someone else.

There was a woman named Rhoda Williams who died on 25 June 1911 at Philadelphia. But is she the correct person? Unknown. Death certificate shows her birth was on 9 Nov 1855, maiden name was Breembach, she was married but husband's name not even shown! Until there is contrary evidence, I assume she was the correct person because the name Rhoda is rare and the age is about right.

So much confusion about names and dates! It should have been a simple matter, to get the facts straight. Pennsylvania record-keeping during late 1800s to early 1900s seems appalling.

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Sources

• 1880 U.S. census, Sandy Creek, Pennsylvania

• Marriage record of daughter Bessie Jane Williams, in 1904 at Cleveland, Ohio.

• www.familysearch.org

Footnotes

1. ↑ Entered by Rick Heiser, Apr 29, 2013

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Rick Heiser for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Rick and others.