Hello everyone, it has been a couple months since my last post and I have been very busy. Our client projects have taken off for our company, OurAncestories Genealogy and I have been actively involved with The Family History Guide and the Association of Professional Genealogists Southeast Chapter.
Last night I was preparing for a NGSQ Study Group where we are discussing a recent article by Thomas W. Jones titled "History of a Genealogical Error: The Misattributed Parentage of Atlanta Pioneers, Meredith and Merrell Collier." (1) This article focused on how a published genealogy has mislead genealogists for nearly 140 years. In 1887, George Brown Goode published his original work in a volume titled Virginia Cousins which included 6 pages on the Collier family. (2) This book tentatively identified the parents of Meredith and Merrell Collier as Joseph Collier of South Carolina. In 1911, Stella Picket Hardy published Colonial Families of the Southern States of America. (3) Hardy's book used information from Goode's book but stated more definitively that Joseph was the father of Meredith and Merrell. Now we have two sources that support this conclusion (not really since one relied on the other for the information). Hundreds of online trees and applications to DAR, SAR, and other lineage societies have used these sources to confirm their lineage, spreading the disinformation far and wide. I suggest that you read Thomas Jones' article to see how he unraveled this family and found a more likely lineage for the two men.
Now, I want to focus on how this relates to my client research. Our clients have signed contracts giving us permission to use parts of the research in educational materials including blog posts and presentations.
One of our recent projects had a research goal to find the parents of Elisabeth Franklin, married to Jacob Tomlin, Revolutionary War patriot. The Tomlin Genealogy is laid out in a book written by Charles Tomlin in 1932. (4) Page 6 of this book states that Jacob Tomlin, son of Matthew Tomlin, Jr., married Elisabeth Franklin and had two sons, James and Jacob. It also states that "Jacob is the Revolutionary patriot who is buried at Somerset, N. J., who when honorably discharged attempted to walk home after the surrender of Cornwallis. Information of him and his is desired. He was a private in the Gloucester Co. Militia and N. J. State Troops." This all seems like important information when doing genealogy research.
On page 26 it repeats an entry for Jacob Tomlin, son of Matthew Tomlin, Jr. This entry states he had two sons, James and Jacob, and that he was "A soldier in the Revolutionary War. After the surrender of Cornwallis, Jacob, receiving an honorable discharge, proceeded to walk home, but weakened from service and exposure he died on the way and was buried by his companions in the forest at Somerset, N. J. We think his wife was Elizabeth Ware."
We have two entries for the same person, only 20 pages apart, with contradictory information. One states his wife was Elizabeth Franklin, the other says Elizabeth Ware. We also have slightly differing accounts of his death. Both agree that it was after Cornwallis' surrender which occurred on 19 October 1781 and both agree that his sons were James and Jacob. Several online trees have taken this to mean that he died about 1781-1782. We need to read these entries carefully and notice several red flags. Note that one says "Information of him and his is desired" and the other states "We think his wife was Elizabeth Ware." How definitive are these statements. Similar to the statements that Thomas Jones noted in Goode's book, these statements leave room for doubt. However, many online trees have repeated this information over and over until it has become accepted truth.
A third entry occurs on page 21 of the Tomlin Genealogy. This page states that Elizabeth Franklin was the daughter of Jeremiah Franklin and _______ Zane. According to this entry, Elizabeth married Francis Tomlin and had three children; James, Jacob, and Drucilla. She then married John West and had a child James West. Then she married James Colatly. There are some significant differences in this entry for Elizabeth Franklin which raise serious concerns but it hasn't stopped people from adding this information to their online trees and combining it with Elisabeth Franklin, the wife of Jacob Tomlin.
- Is this the same Elizabeth Franklin that was previously listed as the wife of Jacob Tomlin?
- What evidence is there that Jeremiah Franklin is her father?
- Who specifically are the other husbands?
A reasonably exhaustive look at the records leads me to the conclusion that this set of entries has significant errors that need to be addressed. I will try to lay out the evidence below in a manner that hopefully explains the problems and provides solutions.
- Who did Jacob Tomlin marry? The following records confirm that Jacob Tomlin married Elizabeth Franklin.
- We found a marriage record from Trinity Episcopal Church dated 7 February 1771 for the marriage of Jacob Tomlin and Elizabeth Franklin of Gloucester County. (5)
- In 1795, Elizabeth filed for her widows pension. Her application includes an affidavit signed by Jeremiah Franklin and his wife Martha Franklin which states "they saw Elizabeth Franklin married to Jacob Tomlin by the Rev. John Wicksell." (6)
- When did Jacob Tomlin die?
- Elizabeth's widows pension application include several affidavits to Jacob Tomlin's death. These state that he died on 4 March 1777. (6)
- An abstract of the Will for Matthew Tomlin [Sr.], of Greenwich, Gloucester Co., New Jersey, dated 8 June 1782, identifies his great-grandson, James Tomlin, as the son of his grandson Jacob Tomlin. It also states "If great-grandson, James, dies under 21, then I give his land to his brother, Jacob." (7) This information is consistent with the family described in the Tomlin Genealogy - father Jacob, sons James and Jacob. Note that Jacob Tomlin, the grandson, didn't receive an inheritance in this Will. That is likely because he is deceased.
- Elisabeth's widows pension application states several times that Elisabeth Franklin is the wife of Jacob Collatter and that they were married on 9 May 1780. One affidavit spells it out precisely "I do hereby certify that Jacob Collata and Elisabeth Tomlin late widow of Jacob Tomlin both of the County of Gloucester and State of New Jersey were on the Ninth day of May One thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty were lawfully married by me the Subscriber..." (6)
- Jacob Collatter's pension application also identifies his wife as Elisabeth Franklin. It also provides us with her approximate birth and death dates. In a statement dated 10 July 1820, he states "My family consists of a wife Elisabeth aged 72...". Another document in the application, dated 19 March 1828, states "my wife has been dead about seven years..." (8)
These documents clearly identify Elisabeth Franklin as the widow of Jacob Tomlin and wife of Jacob Collatter.
We can now focus on Elisabeth's parents. Were they Jeremiah Franklin and _______ Zane?
- Jeremiah Franklin and his wife Martha Franklin signed an affidavit stating they witnessed the marriage between Elisabeth Franklin and Jacob Tomlin. This affidavit is in Elisabeth's widows pension application. (6)
- A memorandum signed by Samuel F. Brink, Lt. Colonel, AF, NJANG, Adjutant General on 17 October 1957, provides background on the service record for Jacob Tomlin. In this memorandum, he states "Widow's petition shows affidavit by Jeremiah Franklin and his wife, Martha. While no relationship is indicated, it is presumed that they were her parents." (9)
It appears that this affidavit may be the source for some of the confusion about Elisabeth's parents but it doesn't completely explain why Jeremiah was thought to be her father. We still need to find out who Jeremiah's wife is with the last name Zane.
Further research leads to a different father for Elisabeth.
- There is a Will for John Frankling dated 20 July 1774. This Will names family members including Mary Frankling (wife), John West (grandson), Elizabeth Tomlin (daughter), Ann Frankling (daughter), Joseph Frankling, James Frankling, Jeremiah Frankling, and John Frankling (sons). (10)
- The mention of Elizabeth Tomlin as a daughter of John Frankling is an important piece of the puzzle. The timeline of 1774 fits neatly between the marriage date of 1771 and death date of 1777 for Jacob Tomlin.
- Additionally, there is a grandson, John West, mentioned.
- There are also some additional bits of information that will help us later. These are that John Franklin owned a gristmill and a sawmill and that his neighbor, Jacob Spicer is the Executor of his Will.
- Another important piece of information is the value of Elizabeth's inheritance. She was provided ten pounds.
- A Court Summons was issued to Jacob Spicer, the Executor for John Frankling's Will on 30 May 1776. The summons commanded Jacob Spicer to appear before the Court of Common Pleas to address a complaint filed by Jacob Tomlin “in case of a Debt to answer Jacob Tomlin For a Legacy Left Elizabeth Tomlin Wife to the Said Jacob Tomlin by the Last Will and Testament of John Franklin Deceased to the amount of Ten Pounds." (11)
- This document not only links Elisabeth Franklin as the wife of Jacob Tomlin, it also firmly ties her to the ten pound inheritance as stated in John Frankling's Will.
- There is one more set of documents that help define these relationships and provides another name that we need to address.
- John Franklin and Elizabeth Franklin, were plaintiffs in a legal case against John West in Gloucester County, New Jersey on 22 April 1767 for a debt of £40. (12) (13)
- There is a court case where John West is accused of the crime of fornication with Elizabeth Franklin, a single woman on 21 July 1767 [this should be 1766]. (14) (15)
- Documents in this file provide additional details. They state that the event occurred "in the dwelling house of John Franklin" of Greenwich Township, Gloucester County and that "John West is the only father of the said child." (16)
- Looking back to the Will for John Frankling, we note that he has provided for his grandson, John West who is a young boy in 1774. This is likely the son of John West and Elisabeth Franklin Tomlin.
We can now go back and revisit Elizabeth Franklin, the supposed daughter of Jeremiah Franklin. As stated in the Tomlin Genealogy, Elizabeth was married three time. First, to Francis Tomlin - Could this have been Jacob Tomlin? Second, to John West with a child James West - Could this have been the affair with John West in 1766 which resulted in the birth of her son John West? Third, to James Colatly - Could this have been Jacob Collatter? Is she listed as the daughter of Jeremiah because he signed the affidavit to her marriage to Jacob Tomlin? These are all questions that need to be addressed to determine why Jeremiah is listed as the father of Elizabeth. However, the primary sources that have been gathered provide direct evidence that Elizabeth's father was actually John Franklin and that Jeremiah was most likely her brother.
- Elisabeth was born about 1742 since her husband, Jacob Collatter, states she was 72 in 1820.
- In 1766, she is involved with John West and he is accused of fornication.
- In 1767, she is pregnant and the court recognizes John West as the father. A bond for £40 is posted by John West but he defaults. John Franklin and Elizabeth Franklin sue John West for default.
- Elizabeth Franklin marries Jacob Tomlin in 1771.
- John Franklin's Will in 1774 recognizes his daughter Elizabeth Tomlin and grandson John West.
- Jacob joins the Gloucester Militia and fights in the Revolutionary war in 1776-1777.
- Jacob Tomlin dies in March 1777 on his way home after his military service.
- Elizabeth marries Jacob Collatter, another Revolutionary War veteran, in 1780.
- Elizabeth files for her widows pension as the widow of Jacob Tomlin, in 1795.
- Elizabeth dies about 1821.
I know this has been a long read but I hope it gives you the encouragement to question published genealogies and look for the records yourself. Sometimes the actual story is better than the fiction.
(2) G. Brown Goode, Virginia Cousins: A Study of the Ancestry and Posterity of John Goode of Whitby; A Virginia Colonist of the Seventeenth Century (Richmond, Va.: Randolph & English, 1887).
(3) Stella Pickett Hardy, Colonial Families of the Southern States of America: A History and Genealogy of Colonial Families who Settled in the Colonies Prior to the Revolution (New York: Tobias A. Wright, 1911).
(4) Charles Tomlin, Tomlin Genealogy - Know Your Relatives, (1932), page 7; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/577791/); FHL US/CAN 929.273 T596t.
(6) Elizabeth Tomlin, widow's pension application no. 10200 - New Jersey, service of Jacob Tomlin (Private, Capt. David Pauls Company, New Jersey Militia, Revolutionary War); New Jersey. FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BJ-J7CQ-6) Military Records April 2, 1969; DGS 007724668, images 604-611 of 1002.
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