This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/oEI.2ACEB/226
Message Board Post:
I just did some research on the LDS FamilySearch site and found a ton of totally erroneous
information.
For starters, Anna Hoover -- my great-great-grandmother -- did NOT marry "Francis
Merriam Catt" -- she was married to John and Leah's eldest son, Josiah Franklin
"Frank" Catt. On the marriage certificate in Kosciusko County, Ohio, he is
listed as "Jessiah". They were married March 4, 1857 and divorced in Dunn
County, Wisconsin on September 15, 1892, after which Josiah Franklin -- NOT "Francis
Merriam" -- moved to Springdale, Arkansas where he died October 6, 1914 and was
buried in the same city.
My data is verified by the marriage certificate of John Catt (son of George Catt and Mary
Smith) who married Leah Hammon on January 3, 1833 in Stark County, Ohio -- NOT Leah Louisa
Rupert, who married a different John Catt!
I realize it is difficult to trace John and Leah (Hamman) Catt -- whose maiden name is
spelled Hammon and otherwise -- vs. the John and Leah (Rupert) -- since these two Johns
were first cousins and both moved out to the Hancock County, Indiana area about the same
time. However, my data is absolutely correct.
To support the Josiah Franklin "Frank" Catt and Anna Hoover information, for
instance, I have marriage records, detailed divorce records, Civil War pension application
and - after his death - proof of death records, all of which verify their marriage place
and date, their children's names, etc. In addition, I census, land and other records
- and the family Bible which belonged to Anna Hoover prior to her death and in which all
the dates and correct names of their children are listed.
MORAL: Do NOT download GEDCOM files! Just because you see it -- DON'T BELIEVE IT!
Not everyone is careful about their data or cross-referencing research.
I am anxious to contact Pat Morgan, the person who is listed as "submitter" to
find out how she plans to correct all the convoluted and incorrect family relationships --
and recommend that you do not trust her information.
I, for one, am VERY disappointed -- but grew suspicious after some emails to me that had
quite odd information -- and I am at least glad to see where it comes from.
I am sure Ms. Morgan does not mean to create confusion, but all of this data out there on
the web that is being downloaded and passed around by relative novices is just going to
cause grief in the long run.
Disappointed and feeling a bit uptight...I remain your
Catt Cousin Freda near Seattle