When Genealogical Evidence is Wrong, Wrong, Wrong
Posted on August 8, 2022 5 Comments
The great thing about having half a century of genealogical research under my belt is that it’s easy to recognize when an official has got it very wrong. But what about when you are starting out and you tend to take these pieces of evidence: birth, marriage, death, census records as pronouncements of truth? Well it can really mess with your research let me tell you. I recently came across my great grandmother’s 1930 census record and it was so badly wrong I just had to share it with you. And it’s an honest mistake by the census enumerator.

As above it has Karl B Anderson’s birthplace as Illinois and his parents born in Ohio and Indiana. Well this is a simple transposing error as it is Lulu who was born in Illinois and he in Sweden.
I have a 3rd great grandfather, John L. (Loy or Lafayette?) MOSER, who was born 27 MAR 1800 in Orange County, North Carolina, USA. However that did not prevent his children from inventing all sorts of places for his birth. And not a single one I have found got it right!
- 1880 John Wesley Williamson MOSIER said his father was born in AL (not yet a state)
- 1880 William James Jasper MOSIER said his father was born in Tenn
- 1880 Madison Columbus MOSIER missing
- 1900 John Wesley Williamson MOSIER said his father was born in PA
- 1900 Madison Columbus MOSIER said his father was born “At Sea“
- 1900 William James Jasper MOSIER said his father was born in PA
- 1910 John Wesley Williamson MOSIER said his father was born in SCOTLAND
- 1910 William James Jasper MOSIER said his father was born in AL
- 1910 Madison Columbus MOSIER missing
So we have PA, Tenn, AL, At Sea and Scotland as the place of birth of their father! None of which is correct!!! Their 2nd great grandfather Frederick MOSIER was born in Breitenau, Ansbach, Bayern [Bavaria], Germany. He immigrated to PA with his father Johan Martin MOSIER. Their grandfather Nicholas MOSER was born in PA then moved to Orange County, NC, then to Madison County, AL and finally to Anderson County, TN. Their mother Nancy WILLIAMSON’s family is believed to have roots in Scotland so this may be where some of these places have their genesis. What is clear is that with 7 CENSUS records NONE is correct. This should be a cautionary tale to others. All records are fallible. Not everyone knows where their parents are born. Please take all evidence with a teaspoon of salt.
The above are extreme examples but they are more common than you might think. And let me tell you, they can send you on some wild goose chases if you aren’t careful!
Kelly Wheaton © 2022 All RIghts Reserved.
Genealogy Intersections: Revisiting the 1719 Deed of Little Packington in Warwickshire
Posted on August 7, 2022 Leave a Comment
You can’t do genealogy for long before you realize what a small world we live in and how everything and everyone seems to have some sort of relationship. I call these genealogical intersections and they often crop up when doing gophering. I wrote about a very important one in my story of A Tale of Two Soldiers. Quite a few blog posts ago I wrote Who Should own Historical Documents about an Indenture I purchased between George SHAKESPEARE of Coleshill and Waldive WILLINGTON of Kingsbury (both in Warwickshire). This involves a Messuage or tenement and lands, meadows etc in Cliffe in Kingsbury Parish and a Messauge & lands known as Fisher’s Farm and Bromefields in the parish of Little Packington. So I thought I would take a little closer look at some of those names and some interesting intersections.
I find this kind of research quite rewarding and I highly recommend it even if it appears to have no connection to any of your own families, you just never know what might turn up. I know I have many families in Warwickshire. And I know of many families that intermarried with the SHELDONS of Warwickshire. To date I cannot connect my SHELDONs to those of Warwickshire but I suspect they do connect. Let’s do a little Kevin BACON 6 degrees of separation. The document I purchased:

For those who might be interested here is the transcription. Feel free to scroll through. (the hastags are in the original):
This Indenture made the ffirst ####### day of April### in the ffifth year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Georg of Great Brittain ffranc & Ireland King # defender of the faith & Anno Dui One Thousand Seaven hundred and Nineteen. Between George Shakepeare of Coleshill in the County of Warwickshire of the one part & Waldeve Willington of Kingsbury in the said County ow Warwick Gent of the other part Whereas in and by one indenture triparte bearing date the sixth day of September in the one and twenty of year of the Reign of our late sovevainge Lord King Charles the second and made between John fflamstead of Little Hallam in the County of Derby Gent Robert Dix[ie] also Repington of Cliffe in the sd County of Warwick Yeoman of the first part Thomas Coton of Coton Bridge in the County of Warwick Gent Samuell ffrankland of the Citty of Coventry Gent and John Ensor of Whateley in the said County of Warwick Yeoman of the second part and Alice Ensor of Whateley aforesaid widow of the third part the said John Fflamstead for the consideration of the sum of one hundred fforty six pounds therin mentioned did grant bargain & sell release infeoffe and confirme unto the said Thomas Coton Samuell ffrankland and John Ensor their heires All that messauge or tenenment with the appteuments scituate standing and being in Cliffe in the parish of Kingsbury in the said County of Warwick with the barnes & buildings gardens orchyards abd backfields there unto belonging to have and to hold the same unto the said Thomas Coton Samuel ffrankland and John Ensor their heirs & assignes forever And afterward & by Ind. Bearing the date the sixth day of october in the said one & twentieth year of King Charles the Second Renteing the said indenture of ffeoffement the sd Thomas Coton Samuell ffrankland John Ensor & Alice Ensor did declare that the said dum of one hundred fforty six pounds in the siad indenture of ffeoffement mentioned to be paid by said Alice Ensor to the said John fflaumstead was not all the said Alice Ensors proper money only part there of viz of Ninety pounds & that twenty pounds other part thereof was the money of George Repington son of the Robert Dix[ie] & als Repington & grandSon of the said Alice Ensor ## and thirty pounds residue of the said One hundred fforty six pounds was the proper money of Isabella Repington daughter of said Robert Repington and grandDaughter of the sd. Alice Ensor therefore ##the said Thomas Coton Samuell ffrankland & John Ensor declare their names to be used in trust for the said George Repington Isabella Repington & John Ensor for the raising Severall sums of money out of the rents & profits of the premises and offer uses there in mentioned And it is by the same Indenture declared that the said trustees and heir heires shall stand seized of the premises to the use of the said George Repington and the heirs of his body Lawfully to be begotten and for want of his issue to the use of Isabella the daughter & the heirs of her body Lawfully to be begotten And it is by the Same Ind. # further declared that if the sd. George & Isabella both dye without issue then if Robert Repington his heirs or assignes pay Alice Ensor Ninety pounds then the trustees shall be seized of the premises to the use of Robert Repington his heirs and assigns forever. And Whereas the sd. George Repington son of the said Robert Repington Long since dyed without issue and the said Isabella survived ## and marryed to Thomas Knight of Nether Whitacre in the County of Warwick Gent while Isabella is since dead Leaving issue two daughters Jane the now wife of the said George Shakespeare party to ## kepe Payents and Mary now the wife of Thomas Swift of Hinckley in the County of Leicester Yeoman The said Thomas Swift & Mary his wife by lease & Release bearing the date the ninth and tenth dayes of October in ## the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred & Nineteen made or eclipsed to be made between the said George Shakespeare and Jane his wife of the one part and Waldive Willington of the other part for the consideration in that Release mentioned Did convay all the said mesuage or tenement with the closes lands meadows pastures grounds & premises with the apptentues there unto mentioned to the said Waldive Willington and his heires. Now The Indenture Witnesseth that the sd. George Shakespeare for the consideration in the said in part impart rented Indenture of Release mentioned and for the better ## securing the said mesuage or tenement closes lands meadows, pasture grounds & premises with their apptennmens therein mentioned to the said Waldive Willington & his heirs free & cleare from the clayme Of any person whoever by vertue of the said in part willed Deed of trust Hath demised rented bargained & sold lett & to farme lett and by those presents doth demise grant bargan lease lett and to farme lett into the said Waldive Willington his { Etes Adm. Es and assigns Ass those two closes of pastures pacells or enclosures of Land with their ap#purtements lyeing and being in Little Packington in the sd. County of Warwick comonly called and knowne by the names of the Broomefields contayning by estimation thirteen acres of land (be the same more or less) and are parcell of a farme of his the said George # Shakepeare there commonly called or knowne by the name of ffishers farme are now in the tenure or outbarow of Richard ffalkesbridge and # his assignes or undertenants togeather with all woods underwoods wayes waters watercourses commons here ditam ts & apptenueumens whatsoever to be the said two closes of pasture grounds & premises belonging or in any wise appurtaining or there witnsesed or injoyed # To have and to hold the said two closes of pasture grounds & premises with their appt#en#es unto the said Waldive Willington his { and et es Adm.es & assigns from the day before the date of these p’ymentsfor & during and unto the full end & terme of ffive hundred years from hence eo & Feusueing fully to be compleate and ended Yielding and paying herefore yearly & eny year dureing the said terme ## unto the said George Shakespeare his heirs or assigns the yearly rent of one peper due att the ffeast of St Michaell the arc Angell (if the same be lawfully demanded &) Provided always Nevertheless ## and upon this p’ys conditon abd ut is the true intent and meaning of those pYents & of all parrtyes here unto thay is the said mesuage or teneme. And ffarme with the Closes Lands meadows pastures & apptenuences there unto belonging and only part there if the said in part writed Indentures of Lease & Release men’oned & are lyeing and being in Cliffe in the parish of Kingsbury aforesaid and granted bargained & sold # to the said Waldive Willington and his hers doe & shall from time to time & att all times hereafter be remaine & routine unto said Waldive Willington or his heirs and assignes forever free and clear and freely and # nearly acquitted & disaryed or herewise we & huely lar’d harmless and kept indemmifyed by the said George Shakespeare his heirs assignes of & from the Lawfull entry clayme & demand wilsoever of # the heirs or assignes of the said Alice Ensor Robert Repington George Repington Isabella Repington or any person claiming or to clayme from by or mq or them or any of them by vertue of the said in part # writed deed of trust and from all costs or damages that may arise or happen in here upon that thou his pYent indenture of Lease & every Coven clause & ayreemt herin contayned shall lease end determine and be # uttelry bound frustrate & of none effort in the Law Any thing herin contayned to be contrary there of in any wise not withstanding AND the said George Shakespeare for himself his heirs & et es and Admin es. Doth # herby covenant ? Puise and grant to & with the said Waldive Willington his E er es. Admin es & assigns that he the said Waldive Willington his er es. Admin es & assigns shall & may imediately after breach of # the said proviso peaceably & quietlly have hold possess & injoy the said two closes called the Broomfields with their ap#ptu#mes hereby demised & for the said terme of ffive hundred years without the lawfull lett suits trouble hinderance molestaton or disturbance of the said George Shakepseare his heirs and assignes quietlly and peaceably to have hold & injoy he herby demised pLinjes with the said George Shakespeare his heirs and # assignes that it shall & may be lawfull to & for the said George Shakespeare his heirs and assignes quietlly and peaceably to have hold injoy the herby demised pLinjes with their ap#ptu#mes until the Premisses in the # said in part rited & Indentureds of Lease & Release mentioned or any part thereof shall be legally entered & upon claymed & demanded by the heirs of Assignes of the Said Alice Ensor Robert Repington George ## Repington or Isabella or and of them by vertus of the said Deed of Trust without the Lawfull lett suite trouble hindrance molestation or disturbancce of the Said Waldive Willington his E er es. Admin es & assigns or # any other person by his or their Act Deed means title covnent or purement those Pyents or anything here in contayned to the contrary here of in anywise notwithstanding In WITNESS where if the parties above named to these pYent [present] indentures interchangebly have putt their hands & seales the day and year first above written #

One of my Warwickshire ancestors is Nicholas BROME (1450-1517) my 13th great-grandfather. In an obscure thesis I find reference to the Manor of Little Packington which originally belonged to the cathedral Priory but was then at the dissolution granted to William WILLINGTON and William SHELDON. This is William WILLINGTON father of Mary WILLINGTON (1502-1553) who married William SHELDON (c1495-1570) of Beoley son of Ralph SHELDON of Sheldon tapestry fame. And just a few years later it is in the possession of Thomas BROME and his wife of Woodloes. Thomas BROME is the great grandson of Nicholas BROME [my 13th great grandfather] of Baddesley Clinton and Woodloes. In 1653 the manor was sold to Thomas Fisher and it has since generally followed the descent of Great Packington. What is interesting is that the Indenture contains both a Brome fields and a Fisher’s farm. The parish church of St. Bartholomew Little Packington is no longer a church but has been turned into a residence. George SHAKEPSEARE in his will dated 30 May 1719 gave to the churchwardens and overseers £10 to be laid out in land or secured, in order to lay out 10s. in bread yearly to the poor of Little Packington. (on map below it is shown as Pakington parva. Also Bermingham=Birmingham; Colshill=Coleshill)

At this point I do not know of any SHAKESPEARE’s in my family tree—although my cousin Dale SHELDON has some. The George SHAKESPEARE of Coleshill and of the indenture, was born to Thomas and Grace (HARBERT) SHAKESPEARE and baptised 9 January 1657 at Little Packington, Warwickshire. Thomas was born 26 April 1610 at Little Packington and married about 1645 to Grace HARBERT who was born about 1624, making his mother about 33 when George was born but his father 47.
How these SHAKESPEARE’S relate to the famous William is yet to be discovered. But the deed is connected to my BROME family and perhaps to my SHELDON family. And whether the deed’s George SHAKESPEARE shares an ancestor with the scribe William SHAKESPEARE, who knows. And there are the surnames COTON, FRANKLAND REPINGTON and ENSOR which could lead in many directions. All good fun following the gopher holes.
Kelly Wheaton © 2022 All Rights Reserved,
ANCESTRY DNA’s Beta Chromosome Painting
Posted on August 4, 2022 Leave a Comment
This one sneaked up on me—I didn’t know it was there! It’s a new feature at ANCESTRY DNA currently in BETA. If you have tested there you should check it out. My favorite part was probably the questionnaire where it asked whether I would want to see the segments of my matches? HELL, YES! We dedicated genetic genealogists have been begging for this for many years. So PLEASE do me a favor and tell them you want this feature.
A CLOSER LOOK
If you followed my earlier posts on Ethnicity/Ancestral breakdowns at Ancestry you have heard my complaints about the assignments. The assignments have not changed but the painting of the assignments onto your chromosomes is new. So first off the Finnish on Ch 19 is actually Norwegian at least back to the earlier 1600’s. I know this from Chromosome painting at DNA Painter which shows that all of the segments on my mother’s side of chromosome 19 are Norwegian matches. And since I have this family well documented back to the 1500-early 1600’s I am confident this isn’t Finnish, at least not in the last 500 years. The next thing I looked at was the Germanic Europe segment on Chromosome 8. This one is a bit more intriguing. So at Ancestry it shows one half of chromosome 8 as Germanic Europe. The other half as Scotland with a bit of English Unassigned on the right most tip.

There’s many things I want to draw your attention to and scrutinize. First the 2 gray segments on Chromosome 8 & 10 are actually assigned at 23andMe. These are my African segments and neither of these chromosome paintings show them correctly! They are actually on my PATERNAL side.

The PATERNAL side of Chromosome 8 includes mostly matches on my German lines of HENAGER and REMSBURG (RAMSBURG, RIEMSBERGER) and on my English SPARKS/BARNES lines. The segment shown as Ghanaian at 23andMe and Unassigned at Ancestry is from matches on the SPARKS/BARNES line which is from my father’s side so the painting is showing part from my Mom and part from my Dad on the same side of the Chromosome. Known of my MATERNAL matches on the Scandinavian (23andMe) or Scottish (Ancestry) has any African DNA. Furthermore the part of my tree in question had ancestors who were enslavers so my guess is somewhere a child was born between the Master or male relative of a plantation who later passed as white. (Another mystery yet to be resolved). One of the people in the tree below is likely responsible for my African segments.

The second African segment on Chromosome 10, I have no segment matches for. However the segments on either side of the African segment are both related to matches on the SPARKS/BARNES lines.
FOR A DEEPER COMPARISON
Let’s take a look a closer look at Chromosome 1 from Ancestry. Basically it shows MATERNAL side on top with mostly Swedish/Danish and a bit of Norwegian on Right Tail. On my father’s side it shows England and Northwestern Europe.

Let’s compare with the 23andme version:

In this matchup Ancestry wins. My maternal side shows matches just as shown with the bulk Swedish and some Norwegian on the right end. On Paternal side it is similar to the bottom half of what 23andME shows. SHould read Scottish/English/German/English which the broad Ancestry tag encompasses.
So what does this all mean? It means that all of these tools must be taken with a teaspoon of salt and yet there is important data to be mined here. To date none of these tools gets things precisely right—but as you can see they are useful. Particularly in trying to sort out where segments come from. Here is the major CAVEAT: Anything Northwest European can be mistaken ie Scottish might be Swedish, Swedish might be British and Finnish may be Swedish. If you are lucky enough to have some more DNA outside the NW European Bucket the accuracy of these predictions can go up.
If you are not already doing so keeping track of matches on DNAPainter is what allows me to know where individual segments come from. I highly recommend this tool.
Check it out and feel free to share your Opinions here or on The All Genetic Genealogy Facebook page.
Kelly Wheaton © 2022 All Rights Reserved.
Serendipity Strikes Again!
Posted on August 2, 2022 Leave a Comment
Most every Sunday, SheldonGenealogy.org sponsors a free Zoom chat, where anyone with SHELDON ancestry around the globe can join in to exchange information or get help on their SHELDON genealogy. Well this weekend we were joined by Steven SHELDEN who told a story about his grandfather and great uncle being surrendered to a VFW home in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, after their mother died and their father was unable to care for them. Steven belongs to the Godfrey line of SHELDONs which traces back to Derbyshire, England and I to the unrelated John SHELDON of Kingstown, Rhode Island, speculatively from Warwickshire. I have never been to Eaton Rapids, but knew the place immediately. The VFW home is located on a farm previously known as the Grand River Stock Farm. I found this plaque (sold) on Ebay—another touch of serendipity.
The 472 acres was originally acquired from the government by Matthew La “Rue” Perrine in 1838. At Perrine’s death in 1894 it was purchased by my great grandfather, Justus Warren SHELDON. Where according to the book The Only Eaton Rapids on Earth by W Scott Munn c 1952 Uncopyrighted: ” J Warren Sheldon, [who] erected a commodious farm house, a mammoth barn and outbuildings and it became known as the Grand River Stock Farm.” (p352). It was later purchased by Corey J Spencer who was instrumental in making the VFW Home a reality.
The farm which was originally timbered was the source of the oak that was used to build Justus Warren Sheldon’s Home in Eaton Rapids. More on that in a later post. Here is a colorized photo of my great aunt and great grandmother on the farm.
There are 2.43 BILLION acres of land in the US. What are the odds that two people would have knowledge of a 472 acre plot of land with connections to two different SHELDON families? Things like this happen everyday in the genealogy world. I guess that’s what I love about genealogy.
And a further bit of serendipity was shared by Steve SHELDEN. He had posted in a local Facebook Group in England where the Derbyshire SHELDONs hark from and lo and behold there are still SHELDONs living there! The first ones were in the 13th century!
Kelly Wheaton © 2022 All Rights Reserved. Also published on SheldonGenealogy.org