I have worked on some challenging research cases lately that involved trying to prove Mayflower lines. While I am well versed in creating proof summaries for cases that don’t have cut and dried evidence, trying to prove the Silkworth and Merrithew lines has really tested my abilities. Both cases involve problem generations where no direct evidence could be found; therefore, linking grandchildren to grandparents became a plausible option. After conducting exhaustive research, my clients and I decided to proceed with proof summaries, although we are still waiting to see if they will be approved by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.
My research on the Silkworth family was daunting given the lack of direct evidence for the following generations:
7: Nancy Lester and William Silkworth
8: John Silkworth and Maria Wood
9: Sarah Silkworth and James Bagley
John Silkworth was particularly lacking in evidence for both a connection to his parents Nancy and William and to his daughter Sarah (Silkworth) Bagley.
The Revolutionary War pension for William and Nancy (Lester) Silkworth proves that they were living at Kingston, Ulster County, New York in 1832 and at times in New York City.[1] William Silkworth died on 3 June 1835 in New York City.[2] His residence was noted as Second Street. This could have been Second Street in New York City, which was close to locations we found for his suspected son John Silkworth. Or it may have been the Second Street in Brooklyn, located near the Second Street Methodist Episcopal Church that Sarah Silkworth, his suspected granddaughter, attended in 1842.
Census records and city directories prove that John Silkworth also lived in Kingston and New York City during similar time periods. John’s New York addresses included the street names Delancey, Rivington, and Lewis, all in close proximity to known locations for his father, William Silkworth, and his presumed daughter, Sarah Ann (Silkworth) Bagley.[3]
Census records for the household of William Silkworth indicate that he and Nancy Lester had three or four sons born between their marriage (in 1783) and 1800.[4] In order to strengthen our argument we had to rule out other men of Ulster County who were born around this time as possible fathers of Sarah (Silkworth) Bagley.
Sarah Bagley died in Brooklyn 25 February 1857. She was 32 years, 7 months, and 16 days old, indicating that she was born 9 July 1824.[5] Census records provide New York as her birthplace.[6] The 1830 U.S. census for the household of John Silkworth of Kingston in Ulster County shows that there was a female age 5 to 9 years old living in the home.[7] We found no other Silkworth households that were a fit for Sarah Ann Silkworth.
All in all, the fact that William Silkworth died in the same area we found John Silkworth and Sarah (Silkworth) Bagley was a strong point for this argument and helped to bridge the gap between these generations.
My research on the Merrithew family was equally frustrating. The goal was to link the following generations:
6: Roger Merrithew and Patience Burgess
7: Benjamin Merrithew (1741-1825)
8: Benjamin Merrithew (1776-1861)
Roger and Patience (Burgess) Merrithew are proven Mayflower descendants, but evidence for the Benjamin Merrithews is lacking. An article from The Maine Genealogist, “Refugees to Maine: The Family of Roger Sr. and Patience (Burgess) Merithew, and their Godfrey and Robinson Kin,” provided a very thorough summary of the research that has been done on this family, particularly to link Roger to a son Benjamin, although there was no mention of anything about the children of Benjamin Merrithew (1741-1825).
The 1851 census for Benjamin Merrithew at Cayuga, Haldimand County, Ontario proves that he was born in Nova Scotia about 1776.[8] Based on a search of early Nova Scotia census and land records, the family of Roger and Patience (Burgess) Merrithew was the only Merrithew family found in Nova Scotia during this time. The 1773 census for Yarmouth, Nova Scotia shows that Patience, Benjamin, and Jonathan were all living in Yarmouth. Both Jonathan and Benjamin had one boy in their home. While Benjamin Merrithew was not born until 1776, this record shows that both Jonathan and Benjamin were the right age to be having children.[9]
A major issue here is that we could not determine if Benjamin or Jonathan may have been the younger Benjamin’s father. Either way, if Benjamin Merrithew was born in Nova Scotia in 1776, he was undoubtedly a descendant of Roger and Patience (Burgess) Merithew. The Merrithew proof summary has yet to be completed, although it will certainly focus on linking Benjamin Merrithew (1776-1861) to his grandfather Roger Merrithew. Further research will consist of trying to gather more information on the children of Benjamin and Jonathan Merrithew to see where Benjamin Merrithew may fit in.
I still don’t know if the Mayflower Society will accept my arguments. However, it was interesting that both arguments relied upon a grandparent link and involved unique surnames. My clients and I will continue to work together in the hopes that our diligent research might prove a new line for future generations. If not, we go on with the knowledge we have and write it down anyway. Not every line can be documented with perfect accuracy. If the evidence points to a certain conclusion, the acceptance of the lineage society is just a bonus!
[1] Widow’s Pension of William Silkworth, New York, W.24964.
[2] Widow’s Pension of William Silkworth, New York, W.24964; Death of William Silkworth, 2 June 1835, City of New York, Department of Health, Borough of Manhattan, Register of Deaths, Liber No. 9 (14 December 1833 to 1 January 1836), FHL Film #447548.
[3] City of New York Map (1834), Library of Congress.
[4] Household of William Silkworth, 1790 U.S. census, Newburgh, Ulster County, New York; page: 238 <ancestry>; Household of William Silkworth, 1800 U.S. census, Marlborough, Ulster County; page: 265 <ancestry>.
[5] Sarah Ann Bagley death announcement, New York Tribune, Saturday, 28 February 1857, p. 8; Household of James Bagley, 1850 U.S. Census, Williamsburg, Kings County, New York, Page 263b <ancestry>.
[6] Household of James Bagley, 1850 U.S. Census, Williamsburg, Kings County, p. 263b <ancestry>.
[7] Household of John Silkworth, 1830 U.S. Census, Kingston, Ulster County, p. 68 <ancestry>.
[8] Household of Benjamin Merrithew, 1851 Canadian census. Library and Archives Canada, pp. 63, 65.
[9] Households of Jonathan Merithrew and Benjamin Merithrew, 1773 census of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Census Returns 1767-1787. Nova Scotia Archives.
