Walker McCord married Jeannett Moore in the Spring of 1825, Mercer County, PA

(authored 2018 cosmetic changes 9/2024 - Homuth side)

The title phrasing is taken from Walker McCord's obituary published in the Boscobel Dial, December  2nd 1881.    Just as important is the declaration of what we assume to be his wife's maiden name, Moore.  She lived on to 1884 so we further assume she put the obituary together but even so other anecdotal accounts raise some questions - more later.

The principal purpose of this entry is to record what I and others know or surmise about her family origins.

Walker McCord Obituary - Boscobel Dial,
December 2nd, 1881 (WI SHS microfilm, Newspaper Collection)

This begins the story of a number of additional information sources about the McCord's and Jeannett Moore's ancestry - some explored here.  Mercer county is a far western county in Pennsylvania on the border with Ohio.

I reopened my files/recollections by seeing what now existed in the FHL (Family History Library) and was surprised to find her placed as a child of Daniel Chestnut and Isabella Blain.  I was aware of the Chestnut name being involved with her or the McCord's but did not recall this "placement as child".

FHL - Chestnut/Moore Questions

As I dug into it I determined that FindAGrave.com was the source for a more recent update of the FHL (Jeannett Moore - FindAGrave.com) now Jennett C Morr,  (but not on the gravestone, 1803-1884) nor in the FHL.  The FindAGrave contributor is not accepting messages so this identifying Jeannett as "Jennet Chestnut Morr McCord" or as above "Jennet Caldwell Moore" remains a mystery.  I pondered this and tried contacting by email several people who seemed to have been involved in the "Jeannett" mystery and got replies but no insights.

I next got into my paper records of the McCords, mostly from when we lived in California (1990s).  I had some handwritten notes of an 1880 Census record Boscobel, Grant County WI.  What popped out at me were the questions about where were your father and mother born.  Walker's parents were both identified as born in Pennsylvania.  Jeannett's parents were different.  My notes said her father was born in Ireland and her mother in Pennsylvania.

This is substantial evidence Jeannett is not a Chestnut by Daniel and Isabella.  To be absolutely certain I would need to find some of her "Chestnut" brothers or sisters living in 1880 and see how they responded or her "father" Daniel Chestnut born in the colonies.  I offer the latter, Daniel was born in Virginia not Ireland as she reports about her father in 1880 Census.

Daniel Chestnut in FHL records

So I decided to track it down again, some twenty years later.  Both Ancestry and FHL have the 1880 Census online, images and transcripts included.  They have worked from microfilm, I assume, but not necessarily the same "originals"?  However they generate the transcripts they both say her father was from Indiana.  I looked at the images and felt it looked more like "Ireland" than Indiana.  I scanned the image looking for other instances of "Ireland" and "Indiana".  Ireland is the winner with the FHL image, although faint, it is more legible.

Below is the Census entries for David McCord household which includes his living parents.  The first image is the lefthand side ... see lines 18 and 19

1880 Wisconsin - David McCord family

Walker McCord (Ireland father?) - 1880 WI Census

I also recalled that the Archives at the State Historical Society had manuscript (Series 1678 Vol 8 Shelf 2M/72/05-F2, Page A #51, Boscobel) copies of the 1880 Census.  So I proceeded to examine them in person and again "Ireland" was the winner.  Her father was not from Indiana - so remember always verify for yourself.  Her parents born in Illinois - seems unusual?

1880 Census Wisconsin - McCord

Bible presented to Abigail Gates by Thadeus Betts her Father February 1819 (Images)

(authored 2018, image caption added 9/1/2024)

As I rather fuzzily recall I came into possession of the photograph via Al Covell or Bob Gates.   I may be able to clarify that later. According to image properties it was shot with a Nikon June 27, 2007, 2.9 MB. If you had asked me I would have said I had it earlier, as in by 1999. Perhaps I was told about it – good reason you should keep a journal – you can count on your memory failing you.   I have another document in this blog that discusses or rather "questions" the bible in depth, "Thaddeus Betts Bible Chronology" authored in 1999.

I do recall as provided the information from the bible, before I saw the image, it did not occur to me that the entries might not be contemporaneous, nor written by the grantor or grantee.  Some probably were but some of the entries might also have constructed in hindsight. I have decomposed the image and minorly attempted to enhance the “script”.  You can extract the images for your own entertainment.

Abigail's husband Noah dies circa 1814, specifics unknown.

I have lifted the following text from the above mentioned “Chronology”, which incidently makes it obvious I had text in 1999 but the image came later –

A Bible titled the "Life of Jesus Christ" is presented to Abigail (Betts) Gates by Thadeus Betts, her Father, in February of 1819 (or 17). Abigail gives the Bible to her daughter Augusta. Hiram B. Gates receives the Bible from his Mother (Augusta) in 1841. Elmer Gates reports that this Bible is currently in Florida (email 1/23/99) and was/is in the possession of Ted Gates. Elmer Gates has further provided photcopies of the inscriptions of the Betts Bible which suggests that Hiram B. is the son of Augusta (2/24/99)? Elmer recieved photocopies in 1995 from Ted Gates.

As Transcribed by Elmer Gates - email to WmAGates 2/25/1999, edited.

Presented to Abigail Gates by Thaddeus Betts her Father February 1817.

Abigail Gates to her daughter Augusta.

Hiram B. Gates - Book presented to him by his Mother, Augusta.

Presented to Harriet Jackson by Hiram Gates her Father in December, 1859.

Presented to Dan J. Gates by Harriet Jackson, his sister, 1898.

Presented by Dan J. Gates to his son, Leon John Gates, 1915 - (died 1925).

Leon John Gates to Eleanor Gates Roberts, his daughter.

Eleanor Gates Roberts to Fay R. Gates, his Cousin. July 27, 1958.

Fay R. Gates to Edward J. Gates, his son. Jan.'77.

I now have one major question with the transcript and the text. Abigail does not have a daughter “Augusta”.  I believe this is an example of a later addition of the event at an unknown time. Abigail has a daughter “Angeline” who I will document more thoroughly later. Not the only one.  Angeline was Hiram's sister.  At the time Elmer presented this transcript I was unfamiliar with Hiram B Gates's genealogy (and have not reviewed it now) so I assumed this Hiram was a grandson not a son of Abigail.

Images of Bible presented to Abigail Gates by her father Thadeus Betts 1819(?)

Miscellaneous

I need to find images of Birmingham Cemetery and identify them clearly … I want Abigail's birth date and age … will lead the most positive evidence I have for her birth date.

Ted R. work …. ROOD, Abigail d. 31 Jly 1845 a. 80y 3m 9d w/o Caleb @Birm. Matches 22 Apr 1765.

I need to look at Al Covell's GEDCOM and see if "Augusta" can be clarified.