Re: A confusion of Joseph Abernathys!
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In reply to:
Re: A confusion of Joseph Abernathys!
Otis Fuller 1/14/05
> I don't suppose you've ever noticed that the The David and Joseph in 1820 Giles are living almost next to Robert Tinnon, whose
> wife was Elizabeth or Betsy Abernathy, d/o Joseph son of David Sr.
Of course I have noticed. But I also know of no official document (such as his will) that definitively proves Betsy Tinnon as daughter of Joseph, although it's generally accepted that she was. Nor am I absolutely positive that the Joseph in question was unquestionably a son of David Sr, despite the circumstance of a son Joseph mentioned in David Sr's will.
For that matter, I have a few doubts about the evidence of David Sr being a son of Robert Abernathy (3rd) and wife Mary.
There has been a lot of genealogy guesswork that's been taken as gospel, but over many years of research (about half your lifespan, if I am not mistaken about your age) I have discovered that not all of it can be substantiated. Indeed, sometimes the core 'fact' is the one item that generally can't be proven. I have also discovered that all too many accept as absolute facts that which has been speculated upon but not proven. And all too many of them insist on proclaiming them to the world in one of the better imitations of propaganda tactics I've seen. It behoves all of us genealogy researchers not to be caught in that trap, but being human, we oftimes succumb to it's tempting lure.
> Of course Matthew Johnston was right there too, but I think I'll make you guess on that one.
I don't need to guess on that one, Otis. But propinquity in a census or tax list is not necessarily the proof you clearly think it is.
While I have not been concentrating on the Abernathy surname nearly as long as, say, John Abernathy Smith has, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for yourno doubt sincere attempts to educate me by bringing to my attention items of which I was already aware.
By the by, how are you progressing on finding all those missing sons and daughters of David and Jane, hummm?