Wednesday, July 23, 2008

You are related to Joseph Smith

One of my goals in doing research lately is to try to learn the parents of my 2nd great grandmother, Jerusha Towne. I found the marriage record of Jonah Johnson and Jerusha Towne in New Salem, Massachusetts. New FamilySearch has an Eliphalet Town with a daughter, Jerusha so I decided to research records in the FHL in New Salem, Massachusetts. I found the marriage record of Eliphalet Town and Jerusha Rogers in Greenwich, Mass. I then found an index to the probate records in the area. The index listed the docket no. of the Wills of both Eliphalet and Jerusha Town. The library had not filmed the actual Wills so I wrote to the Probate Court in Greenwich, Mass. I was hoping that their Wills would mention the daughter, Jerusha Johnson so I could connect them as her parents. The copy of the Wills arrived on Thursday, July 10. The father mentioned Jerusha as his daughter along with five other siblings but did not refer to her as Jerusha Johnson. However, the Will of Jerusha Rogers Town did mention her as Jerusha Johnson along with five other siblings. I was so excited when I was able to connect Jerusha (Town) Johnson to her parents, I immediately went in to tell Susan. She could tell how excited I was. I was able to extend the Towne pedigree back 10 generations to 1501. In the process I learned that my 6th ggf, Jacob Towne married a Phebe Smith. She is the daughter of Robert Smith, my 7th ggf who is the 3rd ggf of Joseph Smith, Jr, the founder of the LDS Church. Robert Smith is a common ancestor of myself and Joseph Smith, Jr., which makes Joseph Smith my 4th cousin 4 times removed. How interesting is that for someone who is the only member in his family line that joined the church. I have prepared a chart showing the Horsley line related to Joseph Smith. I will include it in the next letter to the grandkids and to Ruth so all can have a copy.