Re: Scudder, John Thomas wife mixups

Back many years ago, a genealogical researcher named H.F. Waters published an item entitled, "Genealogical Gleanings in England."In it he wrote about a will from 1645 for John Lowers of Darenth, Kent, England.In the will, John spoke of his daughter, Elizabeth, and her children, all surnamed Scudder.Since Thomas Scudder of Salem was from the same area in Kent, and the childrens' names in the will were similar to Thomas', Waters assumed that Thomas' wife was Elizabeth Lowers.Some other researchers in reading this old will, read the name to be Somers.

Later, a will of Henry Scudder of North Cray, Kent, dated 1641, was found.This will proved that Henry, not Thomas of Salem, was the husband of Elizabeth Lowers, daughter of John Lowers.The surname of Thomas' wife is still unknown.

Many family historians, being somewhat lazy or unversed in research, accepted Waters' assumption as fact.That's why we still see Thomas of Salem married to Elizabeth Lowers or Somers.

In some cases, adding confusion, other family historians confuse Thomas with John Scudder of Barnstable (actually Thomas' nephew) who was married to Hannah, surname unknown.In other cases, family historians confuse Thomas with his son, John Scudder, who married Mary King.