Doing a bit of follow up to some research I did while I was at Rootstech and the Family History Library, this past March.
I don’t know about you, but it generally takes me quite a while to get back to some of this research I do while I was at the FHL.
One family I found information on while I as there, was the Richard Everett family of Dedham, Massachusetts. This family is linked to my Mayflower line, and may lead me to another Mayflower line, yet to be determined.
In this case I am trying to prove the marriage & children of Richard Everett and his wife, Mary Fuller. They would be my paternal 7th great grandparents. And, I’d like to have more proof of their relationship and the children they had together.
NOTE: When we are researching our ancestors back in the 1600’s we must do a bit of digging. Because we all know just because someone else’s tree says it’s so, doesn’t mean we believe it.
What have I located so far, in the way of proof?
Let’s begin with the birth record for Richard Everet (also spelled Everett) in 1683 in Dedham, Colonial Massachusetts.
(Please click on any image to enlarge it)
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| Birth record - Richard Everit, son of John and Elizabeth born 24 Aug 1683 |
Now, how about a marriage record for Richard & his wife, Mary Fuller.
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| Marriage record - Richard Everet to Mary Fuller - 3 Ma 1708 in Massachusetts |
NOTE: These are images of the actual records and not an index that has been interpreted by a transcriber. It’s important to find the originals whenever we can.
Here’s another source with names, dates and places. Remember these kinds of documents are submitted with proof, however, the proof is not provided with these images. It is a document/application submitted by someone. However, what it does give us is leads, that combined with other evidence allows us to draw a conclusion.
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| Application for Sons of the American Revolution provided by a descendant of Richard Everett and Mary Fuller |
Here’s another reference to the marriage of Richard & Mary.
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
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Name |
Mary Fuller |
|
Gender |
Female |
|
Spouse Name |
Richard Everett |
|
Spouse Birth Place |
MA |
|
Spouse Birth Year |
1683 |
|
Marriage Year |
1708 |
|
Number Pages |
1 |
One of my favorite sources are wills/probate records. When our ancestors were dying or suspected they were nearing that age, they often made wills. It was important to them that their spouses, children and any other heirs were taken care of. These can be gold mines of information, including married names for daughters, locations of living descendants, names of other family members etc.
Here then, is the will of Richard Everett dated 1745/6 in Dedham, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
In it he names his “dearly beloved wife” Mary and his sons, Joshua, Jeremiah, Jonathan, Israel and Timothy. He later mentions his “beloved” daughter Mary Maxey, “beloved” daughter Bethiah Day, “beloved’ daughters Hannah & Abigail Everett.
What I learned from this document, was that there were 2 sons and 3 daughters I had not yet discovered for this couple. More research into these additional children will be done.
And, I went back to the Massachusetts Town & Vital Records and located the births of Timothy, Jonathan, Isarael, Bethiah born 18 Nov 1721 and another Bethiah born 9 October 1722 and Hannah. Because there are two daughters named Bethiah, born within a year of one another, I will look for a death of the first one.
In conclusion.
- Have I found enough evidence to prove that Richard Everett married Mary Fuller?
- And that they had 5 sons and 3 or 4 daughters? Yes, I believe I have.
Do you have any input? Would you have come to a different conclusion?
Sources:
1Massachusetts, U.S. Town & Vital Records 1620-1988
2 U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
3 U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
4 Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991
5 FindAGrave memorial for Mary Fuller Everett #64356211
6 Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850
If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch. Let’s exchange information.
Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl
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