Rick and Mojave John, I just wanted to mention that the LDS Ancestral File is full of errors. It is info that was submitted by individuals, but do not necessarily have sources (such as birth, marriage and death records, or Bible records) to authenticate dates. BUT!! the LDS IGI (International Genealogical Index) is more reliable, since up until the late 70's, individuals were required to submit proof of the dates submitted. Some records submitted to the IGI or ancestral file are extracted records - these are highly reliable, since they are microfilmed from actual records. Volunteers go to town record sites, and microfilm them. So, it is helpful to indicate when quoting sources, which LDS record you get your information from - IGI, Ancestral File or extraction. And remember you should always verify any information gained from any secondary source. When you order microfilm from the Family History Centers, of course you would use the source where the documents originated - not LDS records. I don't claim to be an expert on this, but this little I've learned - and thought I'd pass it on to you. Sincerely, Beverly Plack ---jebush@ridgecrest.ca.us wrote: > > At 09:59 AM 12/25/98 +0700, Walter Harwood wrote: > >Good morning to the COOK list members, > > In my collateral database, I have a MARY COOK born July 15, 1678, in > >Salem, MA, who I show as having married JEREMIAH HOW(E) September 7, > >1708. MARY was the daughter of HENRY and MARY (HALL) COOK. The only > >problem is that I also show that she married NATHANIEL REXFORD July 7, > >1708. I find it a bit hard to believe that MARY would have married so > >soon after the death of a first husband, and suspect that if indeed she > >did marry NATHANIEL, the marriage date is incorrect. Since she was > >about thirty when she married JEREMIAH, she may easily have had a prior > >husband. > > JEREMIAH had previously married April 30, 1704, JUDITH COOK born > >February 28, 1678/79, in Wallingford, CT, died March 20, 1707/08. > >JUDITH was the daughter of SAMUEL and HOPE (PARKER) COOK, and I believe > >a cousin of MARY. > > If anyone on the list has any information on MARY's prior marriage, > >and is willing to share the information, it would be appreciated. > >Thanks in advance. > > A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. > > > >Rick in Thailand > > > > Hello, Rick > > My records which come from the LDS database only add to your confusion re > MARY COOK's marriages in 1708. They show her marriage to NATHANIEL REXFORD > in 1708 (no date). Also they show her marriage to JEREMIAH HAW on 7 Jan > 1708, and to JEREMIAH HOW on 7 Jul 1708. It would seem to be a good bet that > she married somebody on the 7th of some month in 1708. > > Another interesting point is the marriage of HENRY COOK and MARY HALL is > listed as 30 Sept, 1678, a couple of months after MARY COOK's birthdate. > > The LDS records do seem to agree with your data on JUDITH COOK. Yes, indeed, > JUDITH and MARY were 1st cousins. HENRY and SAMUEL COOK were sons of HENRY > COOK, b. 1615 and JUDITH BIRDSALL, b. 1618, both in Salem. > > If you are descended from these folks, then we're distant cousins. My family > is descended through 4 generations of HENRY COOKs. I am sending a Cc of this > to my brother, Peter, who is our family historian; he may be able to clear > up some of the confusion regarding MARY COOK's marriages. The LDS records > trace the COOK and BIRDSALL history back a few more generations. Do you have > it? > > Mojave John > > _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com