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Subject: Elizabeth Ann Florantha George Colby (1820?21?-1874)
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2004 05:35:29 +0000

I am trying to sort out conflicting information regarding the birthdate and birthplace of my 2nd great grandmother, Elizabeth Ann Florantha GEORGE.

Elizabeth Ann Florantha GEORGE was the second child of Moses GEORGE and Abigail
Bodwell LADD. She married William Wallace COLBY 26 Nov 1840 in Haverhill. She died 21 July 1874 in Methuen.

According to Keith H. George (George Genealogy, publ 1991, p. 394), Elizabeth was born 4 Sep 1821 in Haverhill. Her tombstone in Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence is inscribed 1821-1874.

Her death certificate, however, gives her age at death as 53 years, 10 months, 17 days. This computes to a birthdate of 4 Sep 1820, exactly one year earlier than the date given in the George Genealogy. This age of 53 years at death is supported by a biographical sketch of her husband, William Wallace COLBY, which was published during his lifetime (Histories and Genealogies of Essex County, Massachusetts, Plus Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens).

Moreover, the death certificate gives her place of birth as Charlestown instead of Haverhill. This seems odd to me, since this is clearly an Essex County family.

In general, I have found Keith George's book to be fairly reliable, but his
information regarding the birth, death, and parentage of William Wallace COLBY is way off base. Could he also be wrong about Elizabeth's birthdate and birthplace? If so, why does her tombstone give 1821 as her year of birth?

So: Was Elizabeth born in 1820 or 1821? And was she born in Haverhill or Charlestown? Can anyone suggest a resolution of these inconsistencies?

Guy I. Colby IV
Irving, TX

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