This week I obtained the final probate records of Stephen Goodger, my 3rd great grandfather. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t the most exciting thing that happened to me this week. It was.
From these documents I now know that Stephen died sometime before July of 1848 in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. The brass ring of wills and estate papers is the highly-coveted list of the decedent’s heirs (i.e., children). Stephen’s will did not disappoint, officially confirming his children as Marcus, Matilda (Miller) and Ulysses along with two children from his first marriage – Josiah and Caroline.
As I was reading through the list of names there was a moment when my heart skipped a beat. A while back I put forth a theory that the maiden name of Ulysses’ wife, Matilda Jane, might have been Daniel – Alexander Daniel was the name of their son, they lived next to a Daniel family in the 1850 census, and then there’s all of my DNA matches on Ancestry.com who descend from folks surnamed Daniel. Is this a coincidence?
As was the custom, when it came time to list heirs, son-in laws were listed first followed by the name of the married daughter. Caroline’s husband was identified as James Daniel.
Gasp. Laugh. Choke. Gasp again.
Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: 3rd great grandfather
Common ancestors: Stephen’s parents were Martin and Elizabeth (???) Goodger, my 4th great grandparents
Stephen Goodger is my 3rd great grandfather also….and Martin my 4th. Interesting that I have down that Stephen died in Alabama in 1850. One of his sons was Josiah and that is the line I come from. I have not hear of the children (Marcus, Matilda, and Ulysses)…only know of Caroline, Josiah, and James. I would love to know more about what you have found. My brother and I have found some Goodger’s in Virginia way back to the 1660s but haven’t been able to connect them to Martin.