What Does That Say?
Throughout the years I have been told my handwriting looks like chicken scratch, a doctor’s, a grade schooler’s, that of a serial killer – the list goes on. I often empathize with anyone that attempts to make heads or tails of my handwriting as it is pretty illegible. While early American script is beautiful, it is often like reading a foreign language, not unlike my own in the sense of hard to read.
Three of the many essential skills that genealogists should master are –
determine what documents might provide an answer to a research objective,
where to search for the documents,
and, if/when an original document is found, the skill to read the script.
This past week, I used the above toolset to help substantiate there may have been a valid marriage between two research subjects – David Lusk and Chloe (Bailey) McComas.
Chloe is the daughter of Richard Bailey who lived in Virginia and was a part of the American Revolution.
Chloe’s first marriage to David McComas is documented and has been accepted as valid by researchers. Chloe’s second marriage to David Lusk is a bit murky.
Although a record of a marriage between Chloe and David Lusk was not found, a marriage between the two can be deduced based on –
land transactions between David Lusk, his wife Chloe, and grantees;
David and Chloe’s children used the surname Lusk; and
a Chancery Court case file provides evidence that the two presented themselves as married.
Found within the case file of David Lusk v. Jospeh Hare is the deposition of David French. While Chloe is not explicitly named, combined with previously found evidence, French clearly states that Chloe and McComas considered themselves separated and she the wife of David Lusk.
(Keep in mind transcriptions stay true to an original document’s characteristics – spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc.)
The next question(s) to ask – how reliable is David French as a witness? Is it possible his statement was based on bias?
Research into David French reveals that he was a Justice of the Peace. It is doubtful a member of the court would falsify information he provided to the court. Also found within the case file, an obligation for payment signed by David Lusk and Eli Bailey. Eli was Chloe’s brother – this document provides further evidence of a close connection between David Lusk, Chloe, and Eli.
Court documents are considered highly reliable sources for genealogy research, making it well worth the effort to locate any cases that our ancestors may have been involved, directly or indirectly. Also worth the effort, developing the skill to read old handwriting – which can be the difference between a solved genealogical puzzle and one that remains unsolved.