Too many people will take tradition or the easy answer as facts. I spoke a couple of weeks ago about how two consecutive census records a Rosa Lee as a Corker and indicates she was the daughter of a Gordon Corker. [i] By looking at her marriage application in 1948 we learned that she was never a Corker but a Myrick and that her mother had married a Holly Myrick, who died, before marrying Gordon. [ii]
The easy answer would have been to accept the direct evidence found as being correct but truly “Reasonably Exhaustive Search” as defined by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) requires looking for any additional evidence which might shed light on the question.
What about when there is no direct evidence. Then we rely on indirect and I will give you some examples below.
Was Daniel H. Ricks (Circa 1795 – 1878) the son of Richard Ricks (Circa 1765 – 1844) and Elizabeth Herring (1767-1819)?
Richard was married twice, first to Elizabeth Herring and then to an unknown lady also named Elizabeth and will be shown in a moment. Shortly before Richard died, he signed a will and as happened all too frequently, he neither named his wife nor any of his older children. [iii] We learn his wife’s name was Elizabeth when she sells her Dower a few years later. [iv]
To find the older children takes doing a timeline on the elder Richard and seeing all of his interactions with other Ricks or Herrings. In 1811 Richard was given land from his brother-in-law, Abraham Herren, son of Arter and Elizabeth Herren, in Laurens County. [v] Land that was formerly in Wilkinson County. The record states that Richard had been residing in Montgomery County, Georgia. At the same time, Abraham gave a slave to his nephew, and son of Richard RICKS, John RICKS. [vi]
Between 1826 and 1837, several plats were drawn for various RICKS’ who appear to be part of a family. [vii] In January 1835, Arthur RICKS had 643 acres surveyed and the Chain Carriers (CC) were Richard RICKS and Daniel H. RICKS. Also in January, Daniel H. RICKS had 1,000 acres surveyed, and Arthur RICKS and Daniel H. as CC. Another in January was 115 acres surveyed for Richard RICKS and Richard are CC.
Finally, Daniel H. Ricks’ next appears as a witness to a couple of land sales involving Richard RICKS, Junior. [viii] Plus, Daniel H. first appeared in 1817 as a witness to a land sale of Arthur HERRING. [ix] We have determined that Arthur was Richard’s Father-in-Law and Elizabeth’s grave marker further states she was the first wife of Richard and daughter of Arthur a Revolutionary War Veteran. [x]
Therefore we can conclude this Proof Argument
Since Daniel witnessed the sale of land belonging to Arthur HERRING in 1817 when he would have been about 22 and is Elizabeth’s father, and in 1811 Richard was given land from his brother-in-law, Abraham Herren, son of Arter and Elizabeth Herren, in Laurens County. [xi] Plus all the interactions between Daniel R., Arthur, Richard Jr., Richard Sr., and John, we can conclude that he must be another son of Richard and Elizabeth.
Next week, another proof argument using indirect evidence.
[i] 1920 U. S. Census, Bibb County, Georgia, population schedule, Macon City, Supervisor’s District 6, Enumeration District 23, p. 7 A (inked), Family 161, Dwelling 166, 317 Harris Alley, Household of Willie Brenn and 1930 U. S. Census, Bibb County, Georgia, population schedule, Macon City, Supervisor’s District 8, Enumeration District 11-10, p. 2B (inked), Family 49, Dwelling 58, 220 Division Street, Household of Gordon Corker, image, www.Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com: accessed 3 April 2022), citing NARA T625, roll 23 (1920) and T626 roll 23.
[ii] Bibb County, Georgia, Application for Marriage Licenses, Sarah Lee Duncan, Bibb Probate Court, Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.
[iii] Laurens County, Georgia, Will Book 2 (1840-1868), page 15-18, Will of Richard RICKS, Laurens County Courthouse, Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia, image, FamilySearch.org (www.FamilySearch.org: accessed 18 April 2022).
[iv] Laurens County, Georgia, Deed Book L, p. 164, RICKS – Yapp, Laurens County Courthouse, Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia, image, FamilySearch.org (www.FamilySearch.org: accessed 18 April 2022).
[v] Laurens County, Georgia, Deed Book C, page 4, Herren-RICKS, Laurens County Courthouse, Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia, image, FamilySearch.org (www.FamilySearch.org: accessed 18 April 2022).
[vi] Laurens County, Georgia, Deed Book C, page 5, Herren-RICKS, Laurens County Courthouse, Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia, image, FamilySearch.org (www.FamilySearch.org: accessed 18 April 2022).
[vii] Emanuel County, Georgia, Plat Book B, pages 290-291 and 331, and Book K, pages 204, 346, and 347, Laurens Courthouse, Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia, image, FamilySearch.org (www.FamilySearch.org: accessed 18 April 2022.)
[viii] Laurens County, Georgia, Deed Book H, page 44-45, and 46, RICKS-Young, Laurens Courthouse, Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia, image, FamilySearch.org (www.FamilySearch.org: accessed 18 April 2022.)
[ix] Laurens County, Georgia, Deed Book E, page 234, HERRING – Fountain, Laurens Courthouse, Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia, image, FamilySearch.org (www.FamilySearch.org: accessed 18 April 2022.)
[x] Find a grave, database and images (www.Findagrave.com: accessed 18 April 2022), memorial # 78222662, Elizabeth HERRING RICKS, birth 1767, death 1819.
[xi] Laurens County, Georgia, Deed Book C, page 4, Herren-RICKS, Laurens County Courthouse, Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia, image, FamilySearch.org (www.FamilySearch.org: accessed 18 April 2022).