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How many of you have ancestors who don't seem to have a legitimate parent?

Question by daneil2229

Two facts I have learned while doing my family tree, sometimes an ancestor seems to NOT have a legitimate father. I found that true with my maternal grandfather. His father had an ilicit relationship with my greatgrandmother resulting in her pregnancy. Since he already had a sizable family, he did not recognize my grandfather as an heir. My greatgrandmother gave him her maiden name.

Family tradition says that the parents of Elias Myers 1832-1912 were Molly Clutter and Daniel Myers. There was one Daniel Myers that lived in Knox County, but he did not have a matching time span. I have found a few girls named Molly Clutter, but none that lived in Knox County at the time.

But then I found a note in my family folder. The writer, which I believe is the handwriting of my grandfather, stated that his grandfather had step-brothers and step-sisters by the name of Clutter. I was able to find the Clutters and wondered why Elias had the name of Myers. His mother had to be Rhoda Myers 1815-1897 as she was married to James I. Clutter on August 18, 1844. So Rhoda Myers had Elias 12 years prior. There is no record of a previous marriage of Rhoda and any Myers, so could it be that Elias is also a product of an out of wedlock birth?

Census reports for that period do list an Elias Clutter of the appropriate age, but no Elias Myers. This may have been a way of disguising that fact that Elias was illegitimate.

I have seen on several sites that illegitimate children were often given to a relative to raise, so that is also a possiblity, that Rhoda was the sister or aunt of some younger girl who became pregnant. Elias may not be a Myers after all.

Knox County has probably the spotiest and sketchiest record keeping in the entire state of Ohio. Even the genealogical sites display only a very few records, so it is practically impossible to find any reliable info.

I am trying to find out if Knox County has a Bastardly Bond files. I am also hoping to find some Probate records for Rhoda Myers, but so far nothing has popped up.

Wow, what a rocking ride this has turned out to be. Is there anybody else who has run into the same problem?

Daniel

Surnames: BENNER CLUTTER MARTCH MARTZ MERTZ MYERS
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by daneil2229 Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2011-09-17 19:45:54

daneil2229 has been a Family Tree Circles member since Jul 2011. is researching the following names: MYERS, HENNERDINE, RUECKER and 10 other(s).

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