I began writing a blog on Sunday, December 22, from a hotel in southern Georgia as I prepared to testify in a court case the next day. However, since the judge’s ruling was not the final adjudication and I’m under contract not to discuss the case, that post is on hold for now.
This week, let’s talk about the dangers of jumping to conclusions in genealogy research.
When I first started researching my Thomas lineage, many had already linked our ancestor, James Thomas (c. 1760–1835), to a Gilshot Thomas. The two men served together in the American Revolution, [i] and researchers found that Gilshot had been named in his maternal grandfather’s will in 1743/44. [ii] They also discovered a baptismal record for Gilshot’s daughter, Elizabeth, in 1769. [iii] Based on this, they concluded that James and his father must have served together in the war.
But was that really the case?
When we jump to conclusions, we often stop digging for more evidence. Had those researchers looked further, they would have found records from 1756 and 1758 in the Colonial Records of Georgia, where Gilshot petitioned for land, stating he had four children—years before James was even born. [iv] Given that Gilshot was named after his mother’s maiden name, could there have been a Gilshot Jr.? In fact, there was. And it was this Gilshot Jr., not his father, who served alongside James. The proof came when I discovered a crucial detail on the backside of one of Gilshot’s military records, confirming that “Gill Thomas” was actually the junior.
I’m currently working on a research project involving a father and son, both named John Davis. Family records identify the younger John’s mother as Abigail. Since John’s mother was a Perkins and was named in his grandfather Peter Perkins’ will, one might assume Abigail was a Perkins. [v] But what if John’s mother died, and his father later married an Abigail?
Similarly, the younger John named his wife, Sarah, in his 1826 will. [vi] In 1801, Jacob Greathouse passed away, and in 1802, his estate was divided among a son, a daughter, and three sons-in-law. This seems to suggest that Jacob’s daughter, Sarah Greathouse, married John Davis Jr.
Or does it?
John’s will stated that Sarah would retain land she won “of her own right” in the 1807 Georgia Land Lottery. The only way she could have won independently was if she were a widow at the time—not married to John. It’s more likely that John’s wife, Jacob’s daughter, passed away between 1802 and 1826, and he later married a Sarah. Further evidence comes from tax records: in 1823, John paid property taxes in Columbia County, GA, including 202 ½ acres in Wilkinson County, District 23, Lot 44. [vii] Checking the original land lottery records, that lot was awarded to a Sarah Edwards.
These are just a few examples of how premature conclusions, based on incomplete research, can lead to inaccurate family histories. Reasonably exhaustive research is essential to uncovering the truth. I discussed this in my last blog from last fall. [viii] And Dr Thomas Jones discusses it on the BCG website. [ix]
[i] SC Revolutionary War Audit files # 7723 (Thomas, Gilshot, audit # 3988), and # 7724 (Thomas, James, audit # 3989), SC State Archives.
[ii] Cecil County, MD, Will Liber AA, no. 1, folio 427, (Lawrence Gailshott),
[iii] Church Record of Old Ebenezer Church, Effingham County, Georgia, 11 Febr 1769, “Elizabeth Thomas, Gilshott Thomas and his Wifes Daughter, was born the 11 Febr., 1769, and baptized the 15 Sept., 1769. Godfathers and Godmothers are both parents and John Caspar Wertsoh.”
[iv] Candler, Allen D, The Colonial Records of Georgia Vol VII (Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia, United States: Franklin-Turner Company, 1906), p 332 (Mar 1756) and p 816 (Oct 1758).
[v] Warren County, GA, Will Book A, p 58-59, (Peter Perkins), FamilySearch.org, (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 15 Jan 2025), citing img 81 of 362, Image Group Number 005761673.
[vi] Columbia County, GA, Will Book W, p 156 – 158, (John Davis, ), FamilySearch.org, (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 15 Jan 2025), citing img 94 of 383, Image Group Number 005782627.
[vii] Columbia County, GA, 1823 tax book, FamilySearch.org, (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 15 Jan 2025), citing img 316 of 360, Image Group Number 007900649 .
[viii] https://atlantagenealogy.com/what-is-reasonably-exhaustive-research/
[ix] https://bcgcertification.org/ten-minute-methodology-reasonably-exhaustive-how-do-we-know-were-there/