Genealogy Chat

Thanks for your replies. I was concerned about the other ones - Dotty n Dick - because I know so little about them! The more I sifted through reams of paper the more I became convinced they weren't the right parents, but I've been stung before by making assumptions.

I agree with Julie, I would go for the ones with the name connections. Lets face it you gave to go with one or the other so why not go with the connection??? Can I ask you why you would consider the second family when Odgar and Zenobia are so unusual. I reckon Thomas & Elizabeth are your couple. Good Luck whichever you decide Kate Pat x

Looks very plausible to me - otherwise the other family would have a least one common name with John descendants.

I'm at a crossroads with my relative, John Goldsworthy b1791. I have his wife, his children, grandchildren etc but need to find out his parents' details. There are three things to remember: He was a schoolmaster. He gave some of his children the middle name 'Odger', including his son Henry Odger Goldsworthy. In 1841, a man whom I believe to be John's son Thomas is living with a 55 year old woman named Zenobia Odger and gives his occupations as schoolteacher. There are two possible sets of parents, both of whom had sons named John Goldsworthy born in 1791 in the same tiny village, both of whom survived to become adults. The first potential parents are Thomas and Elizabeth, nee Odger. I have been given Thomas' line back to the 1500s. The family appears to be at least semi- literate. They had a son named Henry. There is a family tradition of naming girls Zenobia, at least two of whom could have been 55ish in 1841. The second set of potential parents are Richard and Dorothy. They disappear until they start having kids. I have no idea if they are literate. I cannot connect them to the surname Odger. There does not appear to be a naming tradition, as none of the names they gave their other children - Loveday, Bennat, James, William etc - are used for my John's children, grandchildren etc. I'm almost certain that Thos and Elizth are the right parents but I really really want that to be the case so I'd like an objective opinion. I'm unlikely to get any more info so it's either make a decision or admit defeat.

Please see below....