Sometimes The information listed in the town records is inaccurate. That someone was born or died is probable, but the name listed is incorrect. Such is the case in the Vermont Vital Record Index which lists Hannah Washburn died 28 Nov 1815 Middlebury wife of Alisha Washburn The only problem is that Hannah did not die then. She not only was alive in ALL of 1815, but was still living at the time the 1860 census was taken. Let's start the story at the very beginning Elisha Washburn was born 14 Jul 1741 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA, the son of William Washburn & Rebecca Curtis [Bridgewater Vital records] his marriage to Charity SNELL was recorded in the East Bridgewather Vital records as ____1763 [intention not recorded] About 1770 William Washburn and his wife Rebecca along with several other family members, which include Elisha Washburn and his wife Charity, move to Erving in Western Massachusetts. Elisha Washburn enlisted for service in the Revolutionary War from Ervingshire [see Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors in the Revolution vol. 16 p. 662-3] Erving[shire] is the parent town of Wendell, MA. Wendell was established in 1781. The Vital Records of Wendall record William Washburn died 27 Jan 1788 [p.261] Widow Rebecca Washburn died 14 Mar 1796 [p.263] Charity Washburn wife of Elisha Washburn died 30 Dec 1797 [p. 263] Elisha Washburn [Sr] had a son Elisha Washburn Jr. who was probably born about 1773 in Erving, MA Elisha Jr. married 1796/7 to Hannah CLARK intention recorded 26 Oct 1796 Wendell, MA marriage verified but exact date not given [before 30 Apr 1797] After the death of Elisha Washburn Sr. first wife he remarried to the widow - Ruth Tyrer "Marriage the 30th Apr 1799 to the 30 Apr 1800 Mr Elisha Washburn with Mrs Ruth Tyrer of Wendell" In 1800 Elisha resided in MA in 1810 Elisha Washburn Jr. resided in Moretown, Chittenden Co., VT He then moves to Burlington, VT where he remains until his death Vermont Vital Records Index records Elisha Washburn [jr.] died 11 Jan 1841 Burlington, VT the problem comes with the Entry Hannah Washburn died 28 Nov 1815 Middlebury wife of Alisha Washburn No she did not! There is a hash mark representation for a wife for Elisha Jr in the 1810-1840 census, but as you know a hatch mark does not identify a name or relation, it just represents a person of a certain sex and age range. However the 1850 and 1860 census shows the Widow Hannah Washburn residing in the household of her daughter Thankful Washburn who had married John KIRBY. Reports of Hannah's death in 1815 were largely exaggerated! Hannah was quite alive as much as 45 years later. So what are we to make of the index entry taken from the town records? Someone died, I suspect it was Ruth, the wife of Elisha Sr rather than Hannah, the wife of Elisha Jr. To begin with Elisha Washburn Sr died 14 Sep 1812 age 92 years at Middlebury, VT 1. Elisha Jr. never lived in Middlebury, VT It would make sense that the woman who died in Middlebury would be the Wife of Elisha Sr. not the Wife of Elisha Jr. 2. In the Vital record Index for Vermont the only Elisha being recorded at Alisha is Elisha Sr., So if Alisha's wife died they are probably referring to Sr. 3. Census records show that Hannah the wife of Elisha Jr. was still living 4. No reference is found to any other date for the death of Ruth, wife of Elisha Sr. Further proof can be found if cemeteries are searched. Who is buried next to each of the Elisha's and what is their date of death? If this information is available it will verify who died when. Susan Bingler Fairfax, VA