Hi, Karen. The will of David Tompkins is troubling because it gives Rhoda two different last names. Though this could have been a mental mistake or a transcription mistake, on the surface it looks as though there might be two different Rhodas here, and the fact that David mentions yet a third (Rhoda Waldron) perhaps indicates that Rhoda was a common name in this time, place, and family. And yet there is that 1855 census which does in fact seem to indicate that the two Rhodas (Lavare and Clarke) are the same person... Does that census name the relationships, by the way, or are you presuming them? If it names the relationships, that helps, but otherwise the census record strikes me as not quite strong enough on its own. Perhaps you could give some more of the info from the two marriage records of Rhoda as well as what the census record actually says. Does her second one, for example, indicate that she was the widow of Epaphroditus Lavare? Or does it give her name as Rhoda Lavare, daughter of Gilbert Tompkins and Mary? Or does her gravestone or death record somehow indicate that the same Rhoda married the two men? Further, what evidence do you have that the David Tompkins who mentions all the Rhodas is the son of the Micah you're after? Finally, I seem to recall reading somewhere about potential problems in Little Compton Families, but I can't remember where. Perhaps I'm imagining things, or perhaps someone else on the list will be able to provide more info. As a suggestion, do you know if there are Little Compton church records somewhere out there that might provide Mary's maiden name? Good luck with this. Most of the info you provide is consistent with your theory, but my own view is that you need a little more info to support it. In particular, you need to prove fairly strongly that the reference to the two Rhodas in the David Tompkins will is an error and that the two Rhodas really are identical. If I recall where I saw that reference to a problem with Little Compton Families, I'll post again. Ruy Cardoso > Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 21:24:53 -0500 (EST) > From: KARENE1@webtv.net (~Karen E~) > To: MAYFLOWER-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [MFLR] Mary Tompkins, Alden line > > Hi Everyone > > I need some advice since I'm practically brain dead > right now from > looking at censuses and other microfilms all day, > hahaha. > > Background: Rhoda Manchester, widow of Epaphroditus > Lavare and James > Clarke, was born in Westport, MA, Dec. 1800, to > Gilbert Manchester and > Mary (unknown) according to her gravestone and hard > copy death > certificate. There is no birth cerfiticate to be > found but both of > Rhoda's marriages are listed in the MA Vitals to > 1850, Westport. > Gilbert and Mary were listed as being from Little > Compton, RI. > > I am trying to prove that the Mary in question is > actually Mary > Tompkins, daughter of Micah, and granddaughter of > Sarah Pabodie Coe. I > cannot find a will for either Gilbert Manchester or > Mary Tompkins > Manchester. > > Facts: Mary Tompkins is listed in Little Compton > Families as a sister > of David Tompkins in David's will. "To sister Mary > Manchester, widow, > 20 dollars. To Arnold Levere, son of Rhoda Levere, > widow, my shoe > bench, shoe making tools, lasts and all > appurtanences. To sister Rhoda > Waldron a cupboard in her possession, then to Rhoda > Clark, daughter of > Gilbert Manchester, deceased." > > Rhoda Clark and Rhoda Lavare are the same person. > From reading this > will, one could easily presume that Rhoda was a > niece of David Tompkins. > > Little Compton Families states, and I have seen the > references in > person, that Mary Tompkins Manchester died in Oct. > 1855. In fact, the > full reference states the date as Oct. 29, 1855, age > 92 yrs, 8 mos., and > Mary is listed as the wife of Capt. Gilbert > Manchester. The 1855 > Westport, MA, census has Mary Manchester, age 92, > living with her > daughter Rhoda Clark, and grandsons Arnold and > William Lavare (228-277). > > With no will from either Mary Tompkins Manchester or > Gilbert Manchester, > and only Gilbert's full name on Rhoda's death > certificate, would I have > enough proof from the above to show that Rhoda > Manchester Lavare Clarke > is the daughter of Gilbert Manchester and Mary > Tompkins and therefore a > Mayflower descendant through John Alden and > Priscilla Mullins? > > Karen Flanders Eddy > __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com