I remember your messages well Mr Hodges, and your gracious content donations
are well represented in the RootsWeb Lists & web content (F Hodges message
is below, his later response is incorporated in all caps),
=====================================
From: Francis Hodges <frhodges42(a)yahoo.com>
To: cbarrywether(a)hotmail.com
Subject: Bangs/Carruthers families
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 09:53:36 -0800 (PST)
Hi!
We've corresponded before. I am descended from John Carruthers (d. 1752)
through the Hodges connection (I think!)
Has Content, John's wife, been definitively proved as a Bangs?
Something else which is confusing: Abiah Bangs claims she is the sister of
John Carruthers in her 1755 will.
Yet John had been dead about three years by the time that will was
written. So why is he mentioned as her brother? I am wondering if it might
not have been a John from a different generation.
Thanks!
Francis R. Hodges
(discussed further below bw)
=====================================
In my opinion, Content's surname of Bangs has been about 80-85%
established. It is probably up to the Bangs &/or Carruthers Lists to place
the final imprimatur, since they are well populated and motivated Lists, but
I'm rather satisfied.
Christine Tomlin (copied), who conducted this epiphanic research,
suggested, somewhat offhand, that Covel/l might also be a maiden surname
candidate for Content.
=========
IF THE BANGS AND CARRUTHERS CAME FROM NEW ENGLAND, I AM NATURALLY INCLINED
TO WONDER IF SOME OF THE OTHER FAMILIES MENTIONED IN JOHN'S 1751 WILL DID
NOT COME FROM THERE AS WELL fh
Francis, It is perceptive of you to focus on the New England aspect of
this research, because that was one of Christine's primary insights, as you
will see in her approx 15-20 lines of research report in the messages you
can Browse in the Archives (see below)- few of us were looking outside of
the mid-Atlantic belt for clues, although Jean had spent some time also up
there, but I don't think focusing on Carruthers.
==========
Have you had the opportunity to review the evidence? As a well respected
historical researcher, your informed opinion could count for much.
WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE? I VISITED THE BANGS SITE ON "GEN FORUM," BUT
COULDN'T FIND MUCH.
The evidence is all rather neatly contained in a few messages, mostly
last month (Jan) that also quoted earlier relevant messages, in the
Archives. I suspect either Bangs-L or Carruther-L Archives (you might find
it easier to 'Browse' the January messages - The subject line should alert
you) have essentially the same thing:
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/surname/b/bangs.html
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/surname/c/carruthers.html
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/surname/w/witherington.html
==========
As for the Abiah will of 1755 naming bro John, while that does introduce
a note of uncertainty, let me inquire - did Abiah revoke an earlier will?
Sometimes, a person might have an earlier will, for example here, in which
the brother was alive, and just not want to remove his name in the
subsequent codicil - perhaps to not appear to be disloyal. Just a thought,
but as the King of Siam said, "a puzzlement"! If you have some suggested
approaches, please let us know. If I had the opportunity, I'd love to spend
a week going through Yale's 60 boxes of Bangs memorabilia.
NOT THAT I KNOW OF. I THINK THERE WERE AT LEAST THREE JOHN CARRUTHERS IN
CRAVEN IN THE MID 18TH CENTURY--OUR JOHN, HIS SON, AND POSSIBLY A NEPHEW.
===============
Francis, I do want to post this to the Lists. Perhaps someone can use
this to follow up on our Content Bangs Thread, in case there are still
outstanding issues that need clearing up.
Would you mind if I posted this message (including yours) to the Bangs,
Carruthers & W'ton et al Lists?
BY ALL MEANS--PLEASE DO POST IT.
========
Best,
Barry Wetherington
La Jolla CA
PS: Please allow me to digress a moment - did you follow our discussion with
Harold Smith of a couple years ago? He did agree that his early
(1600s-1700s) American ancestors Walter & son Richd? Smith, both MD state
officials [Atty General(s) I seem to recall], did fit into 'our'
Carruthers/Witherington, Dare, Easterling, Fitchett, Smith Tree. What was
your assessment of that view. (There was a terrible scandal involved in one
of the relationships of that period). Our Mike Smolek is Director of the MD
~Jefferson Historical Park, near St Mary's, and his office looks out on the
prior homes of Richd & Walter Smith, which his staff has and is still
excavating.
DIDN'T FOLLOW IT.
=============
PPS: Have you had the opportunity to visit w/our Jean Witherington (copied),
mentioned above, living in St Cloud FL? She is our Lists' official
'Historian'.
PPPS: In case you don't know, Robt D Dare died recently. He WAS the Dares,
and shared willingly w/us! Have you heard from Henry Easterling in the last
couple yrs?
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