In my never-ending search to find and prove that Mary Manchester, wife of Gilbert and mother of Rhoda Manchester Lavare Clarke, is actually Mary Tompkins, daughter of Micah and an Alden descendant through the Coe line, I have come up with one more small piece of evidence. Not enough to guarantee proof, but getting closer. Rhoda Manchester, who married Epaphroditus Lavare and then James Clarke, was the daughter of Gilbert Manchester and Mary (unknown) of Little Compton according to her certified death certificate. Mary Tompkins of Little Compton married Gilbert Manchester. The widow Mary Manchester lived with her daughter Rhoda Clarke and grandsons William Lavare and Arnold Lavare in the New Bedford 1855 census. Mary was aged 92. Today I went to Westport, MA, and got Mary Manchester's death certificate. She died at age 92 on October 30, 1855. This would make her birth year at 1763. Mary Tompkins, daughter of Micah, was born April 14, 1763. Unfortunately, Mary Manchester's d/c does not list her parents but does say she was the widow of Gilbert Manchester. As far as I am concerned, the Mary Manchester who is the mother of Rhoda Manchester Lavare Clarke was born Mary Tompkins, daughter of Micah. As an aside, I also found out today that Rhoda's middle initial was T. Her daughter Lavinia was also given this initial. I wish I could find out what it stands for but I would bet money that it stands for Tompkins. Karen Flanders Eddy