Many of you may know that Josiah V. Thompson spent a lot of time in the early 1900's
researching the Jacks, Carnahans and related families - he left us invaluable notes - but
here is something in his journal we all need to take note of. (This exerpt from Charlee
Wilson):
Josiah VanKirk Thompson Journals, Volume 20, p 359:
A letter dated Mch 8, 1927 from Chas A. Hanna no 15 R ockledge Road, Montclair NJ call my
attention to an error i n my letter of June 24, 1924 to him, in which I gave Hannah Power
as marrying Mch 11, 1740 1st James Carnahan b 171 9 ob 1788 2d Rev Jacob Jennings which I
copied from Anjou' s Carnahan History page 102 where as this Hannah married Capt James
Carnahan born 1743 a son of the 1719 James. He gives 1788 as date of death of this James
whereas that was th e year his son Capt James was drowned in Allegheny Rive r & Anjou
says he died in 1795 another error. His father may have died then. Anjou has them woefully
confused. Mr Hanna says the tombstone at Dunlaps creek g.y. which I no doubt have, says
that Hannah Jennings was born 1749 & died in 1838 aged 89. While Rev Jacob Jennings
was born 1743. He thinks & rightfully that this Hannah was the wife of Cap t James who
was drowned in the Allegheny River in 1788.
Do we all know who Anjou is? Here is some information about Anjou from Fraudulent
Lineages compiled by Robert Charles Anderson, Derry, NH and published in the Genealogical
Journal of the Utah Genealogical Association:
Professional genealogists and serious researchers alike, have been aware of the forgeries
and frauds committed by GUSTAVE ANJOU (1863-1942) and we of this Society believe this
material should be brought to the attention of all who may come in contact with any the
publications listed below.
The sad fact is that Gustave Anjou was not a genealogist, but a forger of genealogical
records that have been passed on for years to unwary clients and then through researchers
who believed, or wanted to believe, they had a true lineage. They in turn republished the
material in their own works and the cycle continues even today.
Gustave Anjou produced these "genealogies" for wealthy clients at a price of
around $9,000 and the client. needless to say, always received what they wanted.
Anjou did a lot of work on the Jacks and Carnahans. What about that Carnahan lineage that
goes clear back into Scotland? All those exact birth dates for the children of James
Carnahan and Margaret Janny - that we are now unable to find? He was a master at making
up dates. He would throw enough real data in to make it plausible. We need to be really
careful.
Linda Hansen