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From: "Beth Gay" <>
Subject: Proving parentage and sharing family trees
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004 10:05:42 -0500

Dear List,

When entering data in a genealogy program, for the purpose of sharing family
trees via Rootsweb or another site, how does one submit information that is
not proven?
Below is the evidence I have collected regarding the father of Elizabeth
Ellis. For brevity, I have not listed the sources, but the numbers in []
refer to the sources. The brackets are necessary as this particular program
does not support superscript numbers.
For various reasons, no additional research is planned on this Ellis family.
Below is the evidence.

"Elisha Ellis is a likely candidate for the father of Elizabeth Ellis. A
soundex search of the 1850 U.S. census in Autauga County, Alabama revealed
three Ellis households in Autauga County in 1850. There is no Elizabeth
Ellis in the households of Precetta Ellis and Hugh Ellis. Precetta Ellis and
Hugh Ellis lived in the Chestnut Beat area of Autauga County. [1]

The Elisha Ellis household in Prattville, Washington Beat, Autauga County,
Alabama includes Elizabeth, age 15, born in Alabama. The enumeration is on
the second page [B] of the stamped number 15. [2]

Elisha Ellis-47-m-Manufacturer-NC-cannot read or write
Mary-46-f-SC-cannot read or write
Jacob-21-m-Post rider-Ala
Lafayett-17-m-operative-Ala
Elizabeth-15-f-Ala
Ann-14-f-Ala
Ellana-13-f-Ala
Nancy-12-f-Ala
Mary J.8-f-Ala
A. DeKalb-3-f-Ala
John-17-m-operative-Ala

Wm. E. Durden, husband of Elizabeth Ellis, is also enumerated in Prattville,
Washington Beat, Autauga County, Alabama on stamped page number 18. Wm. E.
Durden is in the household of Benjamin Durden. [3] William Durden and
Elizabeth Ellis married on 6 March 1851 in Autauga County, Alabama. [4] W.
E. Durden and Elizabeth are enumerated in the 1860 U. S. census in
Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama on stamped page 83 [B]. [5]

W. E. Durden-32-m-mechanic-500-250-Ala
Elizabeth-25-f-Ala
N. R. Medlin-10-f-Miss

Enumerated on the same page with W. E. Durden and Elizabeth in the 1860
census is a J. Ellis, probably Jacob Ellis, age 21, in the Elisha Ellis
household of the 1850 census. [6]

J. Ellis-31-m-mechanic-5-500-Ala-married within the year
Angeline-21-f-Ga-married within the year

The inclusion of N. R. Medlin in the household of Wm. E. and Elizabeth
Durden is an important fact and adds support to the conclusion that
Elizabeth Ellis Durden and the Elizabeth Ellis in the Elisha Ellis household
are the same person. In the 1860 U.S. census in Prattville, Autauga County,
Alabama, stamped page 87[B] in the Elisha Ellis household note the absence
of Jacob and Elizabeth and the inclusion of Louesa, Mary and John Medlin.
John Medlin was born in Mississippi as was N. R. Medlin. [7]

Elisha Ellis-57-m-Laborer-blank-100-NC-cannot read and write
Mary-47-f-SC-cannot read and write
Elaenia-17-f-Ala
Mary-15-f-Spinner-do-Attended school
Abraham-14-m-do
Louesa Medlin-34-f-do
Mary-15-f-Spinner-do
John-5-m-Miss"

The dilemma is that the evidence supports the premise that Elisha Ellis is
the father of Elizabeth Ellis; but without additional supporting evidence, I
am hesitant to enter Elisha Ellis in the genealogy program as the father of
Elizabeth Ellis. If I do not enter Elisha Ellis as the father of Elizabeth
Ellis, then Ellis researchers will not find this information buried in the
notes section of a family tree file on Rootsweb. I could lose valuable
contact information regarding the marriage of William Durden and Elizabeth
Ellis.

Advice greatly appreciated.

Kindest regards,
Beth G.

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