Dear Cousins,

As Dennis Rice and George King labor over the Rice computer database, trying to verify entries with primary documentation, I am struck by the comparison of our effort and much of the material masquerading as genealogy on the Internet. There is so much junk posted that it is becoming increasingly difficult to extract meaningful data. Not that I am saying the data on my Rice branch that I submit will be completely free of errors or that I can prove every connection, but my evidence will be clearly stated so future researchers can judge for themselves.

Screening Internet information is one concern for genealogists. Another hindrance to our research is the growing trend toward proposed laws tightening the release of vital records.  Canada has recently proposed such legislation.

The development of DNA (or more specifically, mitochondrial DNA) fingerprinting, as it is usually called, is one development, however, that promises to help genealogical research. Genetic material is inherited from both parents but mitochondrial DNA is only passed on by mothers and continues to pass almost unchanged through the generations from mothers to their children.

At the moment, DNA fingerprinting is being used primarily by forensic science to prove or disprove guilt in criminal court cases but that is beginning to change.  In a highly publicized case, ancestors of Sally Heming proved their descent from Thomas Jefferson and in another case; skeletons of the Czar of Russia and his family were authenticated.  DNA fingerprinting may become a useful research tool for genealogists as automation and increased volume simplifies the procedure and reduces the cost.

There are two organizations in New England working with the connection between genealogy and DNA research.

Dr. Edwin Knights, a retired pathologist and genealogist and Dr. George Fischer, technical director of medical laboratories of a large Boston hospital, established GeneSaver to make it possible to stockpile one's own DNA for future use. All that is required is to mail in a small blood sample from a finger prick to the company in New Hampshire. The sample is freeze-dried and returned in a contaminant-proof container for future use, either by the donor or future generations of the family. This prevents any unauthorized person or organization from obtaining one's sample. There is growing concern, for example, that insurance companies may deny coverage for people with genetic diseases. We can predict if we have inherited a long of short life span from the age of our parents at their deaths, but by using our DNA, our descendants and we can discern proclivities for genetic diseases or trace various inherited traits.  As Dr. Knights says, " …genetic tests will one day help confirm or disprove "oral family history" for which there had never been acceptable primary evidence."

(Knights, Edwin Munroe, Jr., Partners in progress: genealogy and molecular genetics, NEXUS, (XIII, no 6, Nov.-Dec. 1996), pp. 200-01.  See also, Knights, Edwin M., Preserving our genetic heritage, NGS Newsletter, (Nov./Dec. 1998), p. 392; Knights, Edwin M., Genomics –and its challenge for medical genealogists, NGS Newsletter, (Nov./Dec. 1999), p. 305.  See also,  www.genesaver.com)

Dr. Thomas Roderick, a geneticist and genealogist, is a senior staff scientist at the Jackson Memorial Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine who has set up the Center for Human Genetics in Bar Harbor. He is interested in umbilical lines and uses mitochondrial DNA analysis to trace such lines from the present back to the seventeenth century. Mitochondrial DNA is passed on to offspring only through females. These are mother's mother's mother's lines for mitochondria are passed from female to female excluding males. (Roderick, T.H., M.C. King and R.C. Anderson, "Mitochondrial DNA: a genetic and genealogical study", NEXUS (IX, no.5, 1992), pp.145-46)

The Human Genome Project has the mind-boggling goal to map 100,000 genes and sequence three billion DNA bases of the genome. The work is nearing completion ahead of time with this spring now the target date. Dr Knights sees this as an enormous opportunity for genealogists to press for an emphasis on preventive medicine, to fund research on identifying and preventing inherited diseases.

We are very fortunate to have Dr. Roderick as our speaker at the Rice Reunion on September 22 & 23, 2000 in Marlboro. We also have tentative plans to offer the Gene Saver DNA blood sample preservation at the reunion.

Sincerely,
Robert V. Rice, President

Editor
Keith Capen Allen

Send articles, corrections, member news, items of interest, obituaries, queries…to:

Keith Capen Allen
E-mail: editor@edmund-rice.org

Why Winter in April?

As you can imagine with a one-person operation, when a personal problem or scheduling conflict arise, there is no one else to take up the slack and the newsletter production falls behind. The reason   this winter issue was delayed until April was my mother's recent death.

- The Editor

Everyone it seems has caught the genetics-DNA analysis bug - sometimes the most unlikely people.

Alexander Thynn, the 7th Marquess of Bath, is listed not only in Burke's Peerage but also in the Sunday Times Rich List as one of Britain's 1,000 wealthiest. He talks about the Cheddar Man*, a 9,000 years old skeleton found in a cave on his property.  Researchers have taken DNA samples from the skeleton and local people, including Lord Bath, to see how they might be related. To his apparent delight, Lord Bath's DNA is identical to that of an imprisoned criminal. The DNA sample from Lord Bath's butler, who comes from Scotland, identifies him as descended from one of the most ancient groups known in Europe.

Lord Bath speculates that genealogical books in the future will be written from the clan point of view, rather than that of the individual, to emphasize the gene pools of specific locations. He further speculates that with advances in genetic testing he might turn out not to be a Thynn at all. (Conniff, Richard, "Class dismissed", Smithsonian, (1999), p.107)  What Lord Bath is actually talking about, of course, is genetic analysis using mitochondrial DNA to establish umbilical descent lines.

As you read in the President's Column, our speaker at the annual reunion this September 22nd & 23rd will be Dr. Thomas H. Roderick, geneticist and genealogist at the Center for Human Genetics in Bar Harbor, Maine who is involved in research using mtDNA analysis to study long umbilical lines. Tom and I heard him give a very interesting and informative paper on this subject at the New England Historic Genealogical Society Sesquicentennial Conference in July 1995.
Dr. Roderick told us "ones umbilical line is that unique maternal line which passes through the mother's mother's mother's mother's mother's…mother and so on back." (Roderick, Thomas H., "Umbilical lines and mtDNA analysis in genealogical research", Syllabus, NEHGS Sesquicentennial Conference, 13-15 July 1995, p. 52) He explained it means that in an ancestor table this line is specifically limited to individuals (women) numbered 1, 3, 7, 15, 31, and so, and therefore each usually with a different surname. Since genealogy is organized around surnames, umbilical lines are the least known in our genealogical research but can be of the greatest value because of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). "In a way the mtDNA type a person has is analogous to a female surname." (Ibid.)

What is mitochondrial DNA? Dr. Roderick gave this definition: "…mtDNA is a relatively small chromosome represented in many copies in the cytoplasm, not the nucleus, of all the cells in our body. These little bodies replicate independently of the nucleus, but when the cell divides, the mtDNA passes roughly equally to each daughter cell, just as does nuclear DNA…however…when a sperm enters an ovum (egg), the mtDNA of the sperm is left outside, and thus the fertilized egg contains only the mtDNA of the mother." (Ibid.) So, whereas men have mtDNA just as women do, they can't pass it on.

Five years ago, the Center for Human Genetics had received over 350 documented umbilical lines leading back to individuals living in all the early settlements of North America. It's going to be fascinating to learn what Dr. Roderick and his fellow researchers have learned since.

-Keith Capen Allen

*(Professor Bryan Sykes, a Professor of Human Genetics at Oxford University, has just published his findings on the link between the Y chromosome (contains the gene for maleness) and surnames establishing paternity to a single founder male. "His past discoveries include the recovery of DNA from the Ice Man and Cheddar Man. In the latter case he established a 9,000 year genetic link, this time through the maternal line, between Cheddar Man and a local schoolteacher who lived down the road from the caves in which the fossil was discovered". Oxford scientist links genes and genealogy, Oxford University Press Office, April 1, 2000.

1. Edmund Rice = Thomasine Frost
2. Thomas Rice = Mary King
3. Grace Rice = Nathaniel Moore
4. Sibyl Moore = Isaac Ward
5. Mary Ward = John Woodbury
6. John Woodbury = Lydia Gunn
7. Hannah Woodbury = William Bent
8. Joel Bent = Elizabeth Huston
9. Ella Bent = Orrin Stevens
10. Donald Stevens

Bent lineage:
1. Robert Bent (1566-1631) = Agnes Gosling (- 1639)
2. John Bent (1596-1672) = Martha (-1679)
3. Peter Bent (1629-1678) = Elizabeth
4. Hopestill Bent (1672-1725) = Elizabeth Brown (1678-)
5. Elizah Bent (1713-1797) = Susannah Stone (1720-1801)
6. Joel Bent (1750-1812) = Mary Mason (1746-1840)
7. Joel Bent (1770-1821) = Esther Lawrence (1771-1837)
8. William L. Bent (1806-1855) = Hannah Maria Woodbury (1810-1864)
9. Joel Woodbury Bent (1846-1906) = Elizabeth Huston (1844-1917)
10. Ella F. Bent (1879-1965) = Orrin Stevens (1873-1927)
11. Donald Stevens
12.
Moore lineage:
John Moore = Elizabeth Rice     Edmund Rice = Thomasine Frost
Mary Moore = Richard Ward Jacob Moore = Elizabeth Looker Thomas Rice = Mary King
(-1703)           (1635-1666)  (1645-1690)      (1647-)  (- 1681)             (1625-1714/5)
Obadiah Ward = Joanna (Mixer) Nathaniel Moore = Grace Rice Grace Rice
(1663-1717)      Harrington (1666-)  (1678-1761)           (1675-1768)
Isaac Ward = Sibyl Moore    Sibyl Moore
(1707-1771) (1717-)
Mary Ward = John Woodbury
(1750-1829) (1752-1821)
John Woodbury = Lydia Gunn
(1780-)   (1782-1828)
Hannah Maria Woodbury = William Bent
(1810-1864) (1806-1855)

Comment:
Cousin Donald Stevens included his Bent line and two Moore lines to show where they join his Rice line.

This is a chart of my Rice lineage as I know it so far. My sources are Ward, other ERA publications, VR of Massachusetts towns to 1850, and recent family information. Because places of residence interest me, I make an effort to include them; a Massachusetts location is assumed if not identified differently.

1. Edmund Rice  = Thomasine Frost
     (c1594-1664)       (1600-1653)
     Stanstead; Berkhamstead Herts. Eng; E. Sudbury; Marlborough
2. Thomas Rice  = Mary King
     (1625-1681) (- 1714)
     Eng; E. Sudbury; Marlborough
3.  James Rice  = Sarah Stone   3.  Jonas Rice  =  Mary Stone
     (1669-1730)       (1675-17-)        (1672-1753)     (1677-17-)
     Marlb; Sudbury; Worcester        Marlb; Sudbury, Worcester
           1st permanent settler, Worcester
4.  Jotham Rice  =  Mary Earle   4.  Jonas Rice  =  Jane Hall
     (1696-1782)          (1706-1803)        (1707-1793)    (1699-1769)
     Marlb; Newpt RI; wife Freept?;        Sudbury; Worcester; Barre, 1753
     Newpt RI?; Leicester?
5.  Daniel Rice  = Keziah Snow   5.  Thomas Rice  =  (2d) Sarah Nurse
     (1732-1810)      (1733-1815)        (1741-1822)                (1749-1799)
     Newpt RI?; Worcester; Barre;        Worcester; Barre; wife Rutland
     wife Lancester?
6.  Joseph Rice  =  Susan Hawes   6.  Francis Rice  =  Nancy Brigham
     (1778-1818)      (1780-1855)        (1782-1877)        (1789-1873)
     Barre           Barre
7.  Daniel Rice  =  7.  Juliana Rice
     (1815-1863) (1819-1857)
      Barre           Barre
8. Jennie Rice  =  George Johnson
     (1857-1929) (1847-1931)
     Barre; husband Hardwick; Jennie adopted by aunt, Abigail Rice & husband M. Eaton
9. Roscoe E. Johnson  =  Mary Moore
     (1892-1966) (1892-1968)
     Barre; wife Braintree; Malden; Barre
10. Hope Johnson  =  John Pobst

The Stone sisters (gen. 3) appear to descend from Elizabeth? Frost (Thomasine's sister) and Henry Rice (Edmund's brother?).
My Johnson line (gen. 8) probably traces back to early Marlboro. And, in answer to a newsletter inquiry for Plymouth Colony connections:  In generation 8 my Johnson grandfather was a descendant of  the Brewster, Prence, Freeman, Hopkins and Merrick families.

Beth McAleer is descended from four sons of Edmund and Thomasine (Frost) Rice: three ways from Henry, three ways from Edward, one each from Thomas and Samuel. You will find her complete chart below.

I noticed with interest that both Beth's grandmother and great-grandmother were adopted. Beth very kindly sent copies of two letters pertaining to the adoptions to share with us saying,…" please publish whatever you wish about the adoptions.  Your publication is excellent, and I'm learning a lot by reading it.  Thank you for all of your good work. Let me know if I can do anything else for you."

Bath says: Last May, I took Marcia Melnyk's Genealogy 101 at NEHGS and now I'm hooked. My mother's aunt and sister told me that we are descendants of Thomas Brigham, but after I traced my lineage to Thomasine and Edmund Rice four times I decided they are important ancestors of our family. I called Bill Drury and joined the Association, and with the aid of Bill's indexes and the publications of the Association, found four more lines, …so far. The Rice Association documentation also helped me find several Brigham lines.

My daughter graduated from the Chicago Institute of Art a few years ago; it was there she met and fell in love and married Jared Joslin. While studying genealogies in Charles Hudson's History of the town of Marlborough, I noticed the Joslin family. After more research, I discovered that Jessica and Jared have many ancestors in common, including Edmund and Thomasine through Dorcas Rice and Thomas Forbush.

I'm also an avid Red Sox fan, and recently purchased a new shirt, which I hope I can wear both to opening day at Fenway Park and to the Association reunion next year. The name on the back:
    RICE
    14
I'm continuing the research and looking forward to meeting some of my cousins this year.

Edmund Rice = Thomasine Frost

Henry Rice = Elizabeth Moore

Mary Rice = Thomas Brigham

Capt. Nathan Brigham = Elizabeth Maynard

Lt. Nathan Brigham = (2d wf) Hepsibah Ward

William Brigham = Lydia Chamberlain

Ephraim Brigham = Lucy Rice

Peter Brigham = Lydia Maynard

Josiah Merrick Brigham = Betsy K. Little

William Frederick Brigham = Rachael Cole, (adopted name, Lucy Goddard)

Mabel  Brigham  (adopted name, Dorothy Hopkins) = Leland Winchenbach

Barbara Lee Winchenbach = James A.  McAleer

Beth McAleer
 

Edmund Rice = Thomasine Frost

Henry Rice = Elizabeth Moore

Mary Rice = Thomas Brigham

 Jonathan Brigham = Mary Fay

Ruth Brigham = Joseph How b. 1697

Joseph How, Jr.= Grace Rice

Levina How = Peter Rice

Lucy Rice = Ephraim Brigham

Peter Brigham = Lydia Maynard

Josiah Merrick Brigham = Betsy K. Little

William Frederick Brigham = Rachael Cole, (adopted name, Lucy Goddard)

Mabel  Brigham  (adopted name, Dorothy Hopkins) = Leland Winchenbach

Barbara Lee Winchenbach = James A.  McAleer
 

Edmund Rice = Thomasine Frost

Henry Rice = Elizabeth Moore

Mary Rice = Thomas Brigham

Gershom Brigham = Mehitabel Warren

 Benjamin Brigham = Hannah Merrill

 Hannah Brigham = Hezekiah Maynard

Abel Maynard = Nancy Rice

Lydia Maynard = Peter Brigham

Josiah Merrick Brigham = Betsy K. Little

William Frederick Brigham = Rachael Cole, (adopted name, Lucy Goddard)

Mabel  Brigham  (adopted name, Dorothy Hopkins) = Leland Winchenbach

Barbara Lee Winchenbach = James A.  McAleer

Beth McAleer
 

Edmund Rice = Thomasine Frost

Edward Rice = Agnes Bent

John Rice = Tabitha Stone

Deliverance Rice = John How, Jr.

Tabitha How = Hezekiah Maynard

Hezekiah Maynard, Jr. = Hannah Brigham

Abel Maynard = Nancy  Rice

Lydia Maynard = Peter Brigham

Josiah Merrick Brigham = Betsy K. Little

William Frederick Brigham = Rachael Cole, (adopted name, Lucy Goddard)

Mabel  Brigham (adopted name, Dorothy Hopkins) = Leland Winchenbach

Barbara Lee Winchenbach = James A.  McAleer
 

Edmund Rice = Thomasine Frost

Edward Rice = Agnes Bent

Jacob Rice = Mary Barrett

Gershom Rice = Lydia Barrett

Thomas Rice = Abigail Hapgood

Nancy Rice = Abel Maynard

Lydia Maynard =  Peter Brigham

Josiah Merrick Brigham= Betsy K. Little

William Frederick Brigham = Rachael Cole, (adopted name, Lucy Goddard)

Mabel  Brigham (adopted name, Dorothy Hopkins) = Leland Winchenbach

Barbara Lee Winchenbach = James A.  McAleer

Beth McAleer
 

Edmund Rice = Thomasine Frost

Edward Rice = Agnes Bent

Benjamin Rice = Mary Rice

Simon Rice = Grace Newton

Grace Rice = Joseph How, Jr.

Levina How = Peter Rice

Lucy Rice = Ephraim Brigham

Peter Brigham = Lydia Maynard

Josiah Merrick Brigham = Betsy K. Little

William Frederick Brigham = Rachael Cole, (adopted name, Lucy Goddard)

Mabel  Brigham (adopted name, Dorothy Hopkins) = Leland Winchenbach

Barbara Lee Winchenbach = James A.  McAleer
 

Edmund Rice = Thomasine Frost

Thomas Rice = Mary King

 Peter Rice = Rebecca How

Abraham Rice = Persis Robinson

Peter Rice = Levina How

Lucy Rice = Ephraim Brigham

Peter Brigham = Lydia Maynard

Josiah Merrick Brigham = Betsy K. Little

William Frederick Brigham = Rachael Cole, (adopted name, Lucy Goddard)

Mabel  Brigham (adopted name, Dorothy Hopkins) = Leland Winchenbach

Barbara Lee Winchenbach = James A.  McAleer

Beth McAleer

Edmund Rice = Thomasine Frost

Samuel Rice = Mary Dix

Mary Rice = Benjamin Rice

Simon Rice = Grace Newton

Grace Rice = Joseph How, Jr.

Levina How = Peter Rice

Lucy Rice = Ephraim Brigham

Peter Brigham = Lydia Maynard

Josiah Merrick Brigham = Betsy K. Little

William Frederick Brigham = Rachael Cole, (adopted name, Lucy Goddard)

Mabel  Brigham (adopted name, Dorothy Hopkins) = Leland Winchenbach

Dear Keith,

My great-grandmother Rachael Sarah Cole, daughter of George E. Cole and Maria Philips, was born in England.  George was a flag master in the British army, and came to this country when Rachael was an infant and enlisted in the Civil War becoming a Lieutenant in the Massachusetts Second Heavy Artillery.  After the war, he settled in Cambridgeport, Massachusetts where he was a clerk for the City of Cambridge.  One evening in December 1867, he went out saying he was going to a prayer meeting at the Congregational Church and was never seen or heard from by his family again.  Rachael's mother Maria died the following year.  Charles Goddard and his wife Sarah Moore adopted Rachael, then six years old, in July 1868 and changed her name to Lucy Sarah Goddard.  I am still investigating but have not yet found any blood relationship to the Goddards.

Lucy married William F. Brigham. They had a boy and three girls, one of them my grandmother, Mabel Gertrude Brigham.  Lucy and William both died when the children were quite young.  "Grandpa" Charles Goddard adopted one of the little girls, Lillie May.  The others were sent to the New England Home for Little Wanderers until they were placed in homes.  Mabel was adopted by Franklin Weeks Hopkins and Arvilla Hannah Noyes who changed her name to Dorothy Shepherd Hopkins.

I am just beginning to work on the documentation for all of this. My aunt and great aunt did lots of work, with dates, no places or sources. I recently sent away for my birth certificate and my parents' marriage certificate.  The change of name of Rachael Cole is officially documented but mispelled "Cold."

Blessings,
Your cousin, Beth

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Grafton Nov. 13th 1893
Mrs. Noyes---
 Dear Madame
Yours of the 8th last is recvd---in reply will Say we adopted their mother in Aug. 1868---We had her name changed to Lucy Sarah Goddard from Rachael Sarah Cole--daughter of Geo. E. & Maria Cole---She was born in England New Brompton (I think) her grand-mother is living there now.  Lucies Mothers only brother---name John Phillips is an officer in the British army---Stationed at Gibraltar--Lucies father was flag master in the B. army---came to this country when She was a babe and enlisted in the army here in the Civil War--- after the war closed lived in Cambridgeport---wrote for the City Gov.---They were members of the Congregational Church---in that place he went out one eve in Dec., 67 Saying he was going to a prayer meeting and was never Seen or heard from by them after-wards---her mother died the following June and Lucy came to live with us in Aug. 68 She was then Six years of age her oldest daughter Lillie May Brigham is living with us and is the Same age her mother was when we adopted her---  We would like to know which one of the little girls you think of taking?  Photos recvd Thank you for them Lillie May was much pleased to See them---
In regard to Lucy their mother would Say, She had a very gentle, loving disposition with a Strong will---Strictly truthful and honest---
She united with the Baptist Church in Hamilton Mo. when quite young---
She died two years ago the 20eth of this month---
Wm. F. Brigham their father died the 14th of last Sept.
 We trust the little one has found a good home and hope She will prove a blessing to you---
Yours Respectfully
Mr. & Mrs. Chas. Goddard---

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Letter from Grandpa Charles GODDARD to Arvilla Noyes HOPKINS, foster mother of Dorothy Shepherd HOPKINS (adopted name, Mabel Gertude BRIGHAM (birth name). Transcribed from an old photocopy by Beth McAleer (Lucy's great granddaughter), July 1998.

Oct. 30, 1891
Two °clock
Westboro, Thursday. P.M.
My dear mother,
Received your nice long letter some time ago, but I do have so much to do, I've not answered, Will' is at work, Charlie at school and the three girls taking their after dinner nap. Will' works for Tyler Brother's, they hire Mr. Robinson's farm and do market gardening.  They have a wholesale store in Worcester. Will' is one of their four men, has had work there nearly all of the time. Their farm work is nearly done, but they have given Will' their husking to do, and that will keep him busy for some time.  He makes about $1.10 a day on his milk route has from fifty to sixty cans, gets two cents a can, he gets our flour, milk and butter that way and grain for his horses. A barrel of flour lasts us just three months. I make ten loaves of bread a week besides Johnny cakes for breakfast.
Charlie goes to school in town eats his dinner at Jennie's, I pay her fifty cents a week. He does not learn so easily as I did but has to study hard.  Enclosed are some of his exam files.  I help him evenings.
Lillie has to take Charlie's place now and help me.  Florence works hard but her work is all mischief.  Mabel wears drawers and talks all the time, we have no baby now and we do not grieve about it.  Lu and Maria want to  me to give Lillie to them but I can't spare her.  It is very hard for me to take care of four children all so small, but they will soon be as large as Jennie's and then I shall not have to work any harder than she does.  Jennie says she could not stand it to work as I do.  She is having the lettering done on Wilson's tablet The date of his birth and death and, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh"  How very appropriate that is to his death.
Jennie's sickness was caused by lifting she thought.
Mr. Houghton that lived near the old S.R.S. died last week he had not been real well for some time but was able to be about, was sick only twenty four hours, Cancer in the stomach, was sixty three years of age.
I'm thankful to say Mr. Babbitt preached his farewell sermon last Sunday. Now I shall go to the Baptist.
You spoke of the children coming to see you and wait upon you. They will be all ready trained for they have to wait upon me.  I don't know what I could do if Lillie was as helpless as I was when I was seven and she is only four and a half she can bring in the wood undress Mabel wash her face unbutton and button both Florence & Mabel a dozen times a day, set the table & do a great many things that you would be surprised to see her do. Every one loves her. Aunt Susie says "she is as lovely as the flower whose name she bears." I think Lillie Goddard is a very lovable girl don't you? Perhaps all Lillies are.
I am making over my black dress.  Tis the fourth time it has been made over since ‘twas made.   Think I have to go without clothes as you did when we lived out west.  I can look back now and see how hard you and father worked and how lonely you must have been.  Where and how is Frank and family.
Children are up and their noise confuses me.
I'm not very strong lately I have a real bad time every three weeks and it makes me feel tired all the time.   You must write Jennie real cheery letters. She has a notion that she is going to be like Aunt Hattie.  I don't think she will be but we must all cheer her up lots What she wants is sympathy Don't let this worry you. I run in and cheer her up often Must close, love to you & father.
 Lucie.

* * * * * * *  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** *
Lucy Sarah GODDARD Brigham (birth name: Rachael Sarah COLE) died 20 Nov 1891.  This was her last letter to her mother.Transcribed from an old photocopy by Beth McAleer (Lucy's great granddaughter), July 1998.

Census records from the 19th and early 20th century can provide valuable information for your family search. Of course, you must know some information about your family so that you will know where to look and what names to look for. When I find a potential family, I make sure that I can confirm at least three pieces census information with information I already know about the family. This usually means three names or two names and one birth year or age. When I do find a family in the census, invariably, I can confirm at least five pieces of information.

Let's begin by understanding some of the limitations of a census enumeration. In the 19th century the enumerators and our ancestors had limited educations by today's standards and in Canada, there were problems caused by using both English and French speaking enumerators. It is not certain that enumerators visited every household and is very likely that enumerators talked with only one or two members of a household. Children were often identified only by nicknames. In the 1891 Nova Scotia census, I found large differences from one district to another when comparing the census information with that from other sources. Birth years are only approximate. In fact, a few respondents seemed to be 39 years of age and holding! Nevertheless, despite all these uncertainties, ages almost always agree within two years with those given in other records.

The 1850 US federal census was the first to enumerate all persons in a household. The first federal census for Canada was in 1871 and also enumerated everyone in the household. However, the 1880 US census and the 1891 Canada census were the first ones to record the relationship of everyone to the head of the household.
Be aware that:
... one never knows if a child is adopted,
... the presumed wife may be a second wife and not the mother of all of the children,
... before 1880/1891 one cannot determine if there are daughters-in-law or grandchildren in the household.

For the US, the 1880, 1900, 1920, and some of the 1910 census returns have been indexed by state using a Soundex code. If you are searching one of these years, you should learn to use the Soundex code to help locate your family. You can search an entire state with the Soundex. Many genealogy texts and every LDS Family History Center will help you use the Soundex index for these returns. If you find your family in the Soundex, be sure to request a copy of the original census enumeration for more complete information about your family.

Do not overlook US census returns before 1850 or Canada returns before 1871. We have many examples in our Rice family history of excellent information from earlier census returns. It just takes more effort and imagination to confirm your family in the early returns. Your research can provide very compelling information about your family.

When you have found your family in a census return:
... you can be confident that family resided at the place and time enumerated,
... the birth order of children is reasonably accurate,
... the ages, birth dates, and places of birth are only approximate,
... the relationships to head of household are reasonably accurate,
... you cannot assume that the senior female is the biological mother of all the children.

From the age of your ancestor in the census, you will have an approximate year and location to search for a birth record. From the age of the oldest child you will have an approximate year to search for a marriage record for the parents.

When you are recording census information for your family history do not overlook occupation, religion, or sources of income. These give much insight into how the family lived. Do be sure when recording the census source to include the census district, sub district or precinct, page and family number or street address. Source information is a vital part of your research record.

- George W King

 Carolyn W. Huddleston            Brackettville    TX
 John N. Pannullo                 Springfield      VA
 Doug W. Schueths                 Lincoln          NE
 Kathleen M. Hoeppner             Osmond           NE
 Neal Underwood                   Arlington Hts.   IL
 Nancy M. Rose                    Minneapolis      MN
 Phoebe Ann Glaze                 N. Hollywood     CA
 Jill Cochrane                    Jackson          TN
 Beth McAleer                     Brookline        MA
 Steven R. Rice                   Portland         ME
 Alan D. Rice                     Tuthill          SD
 Charles A. Rice III              Virginia Beach   VA
 Dorothy Rice Miller              Panorama City    CA
 John J. Pobst                    Barre            MA
 Jean E. Sanders                  Haverhill        MA
 Goodnow Library                  Sudbury          MA
 Margaret Stanulis                Fort Smith       AR
 Robert E. Sawyer                 Rockville        MD
 Elizabeth Scott                  Salem            OR
 Sharon L. Krisko                 Maple Grove      MN
 Bobbie L. Jarvinen               Cohoctah         MI
 Nancy R. Swain                   Harvard          IL
 Don Rice                         Saskatoon        SK
 Patsy Rice Boren                 Onalaska         WA
 J. Brad Davidson                 Pleasantville    NS
 Donald F. Timmons                Harrisonburg     VA
 Frank F. Maxwell, Jr.            Fayetteville     NC
 Gayle E. Rice                    Kennewick        WA
 M. Elizabeth Rice                Phoenix          AZ
 Janet Eidbo                      Des Moines       IA
 Elizabeth J. Alcorn              Worcester        MA
 Robert L. Rice                   Richmond         KY
 Thomas B. Rice                   Seattle          WA
 Christine L. Lincoln             Muir             MI
 Joan C. Roe                      Belgrade         MT

Keith,
I am late in getting this note to you.

In the Christmas letter from Fern Rice, I was notified that Roger E Rice died on 14 August 1999 after an extended illness.

Roger was the author of A Treatise on the Rice Family, first published in 1976 and subsequently updated and also incorporated into several of our Rice books.

It was Roger's work that originally ignited my interest in genealogy when I came home from work one day and found a copy of his work at my front door.

It was really exciting to learn that I was 11th generation of the Rice family, and now wish that I had become more involved in the Association back then.  The work that I have accomplished to date on the part of the Edmund Rice (1638) Association is due totally to Roger's sparking my interest.

- Dennis Rice

Find some questionable information on the web? Don't know how to check it out? Try the Genealogical Web Site Watchdog at <www.ancestordetective.com/watchdog.htm>

This excellent site maintains a list of web sites that contain misleading or inaccurate genealogical information. It also refers the user to accurate sources of information.

"A coat of arms does not belong to or represent all persons of a certain surname. A coat of arms is actually granted to an individual who is the owner of that coat of arms. They are considered real property and are inherited by the male members of that particular family."

"Consumer protection", NGS Newsletter (Jan./Feb. 1999), p.44

EDMUND RICE (1638) ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Published Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring by the Edmund Rice (1638) Association, 24 Buckman Dr., Chelmsford MA 01824-2156
________________________________________________________________________
The Edmund Rice (1638) Association was established in 1851 and incorporated in 1934 to encourage antiquarian, genealogical and historical research concerning the ancestors and descendants of Edmund Rice who settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts in 1638 and to promote fellowship among its members and friends.

The Association is an educational, non-profit organization recognized under section 501( c)(3)  of the Internal Revenue Code.

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