This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: apsaroke Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.iowa.counties.fremont/1713.1.3.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Walter, Thanks. I did not mean to criticize and hope that you did not take it as that. I meant only to point out that Sonoma is the correct word there. I think it's important that this be correct, and sometimes a second pair of eyes is helpful. You may want to have another look at the document. I have a good copy of it, and it is quite clearly written there as Sonoma three times on the page. It does not conflict at all with the timeline that includes John's marriage in Missouri. He got out of the Calif Battalion in spring 1847, went to Sonoma, then went to Missouri, and he left Missouri in the fall of 1848. His marriage in Dec 1847 fits perfectly. What do you mean by a faulty timeline? Sonoma was the place where his father Caleb was based. This guy guided Stockton and was on his way to Missouri to help retrieve the rest of the family. I believe that his father Caleb and brother Britton were with him as well, as they all returned together to California in 1848. It would make no sense that John would stop at some point near to Missouri, acquire horses and cattle at this stop, continue the short distance on, only to return and presumably sell them or pick them up and haul them on to California. It is true that John mis-stated "San Jose" Missouri, but the mere fact that he mis-stated the name of one town he'd been in 15 years before doesn't taint the rest for me. Virtually then entire document relates to California places with which he was well familiar. I've seen many documents where people say they were born in "Tennessee" and go on to describe their lives. The fact that they were really born in Virginia doesn't suggest to me that their whole life stories are suspect. On the 1844 trip, I agree with you completely as I noted in another post. I'd be interested to know what source DOES think that he had kids with him in 1844. As I noted there, if it was me it was in error, as I know these kids remained behind. Only three that I know of came to California at any time prior to 1848. At least three and my great great grandmother came for the first time in 1848. It is not clear whether the last one may have come before, but in any case none other than John and Britt came prior to 1845/6. What I don't know is whether some/all of these kids ACTUALLY stayed with Gemecker and, if so, for how long. I realize there is a source document, but I have not yet seen it. From your posts my understanding is that it relates to an arrangement Caleb made for Gemecker to keep some/all of his kids. The document undoubtedly will show this, but depending on what it actually says it may not prove at all what actually transpired. By way of example, I have marriage licenses for people that never went through with the marriages. Though these are obviously outliers, they prove only that a license was taken out, not that the marriages occurred. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.