My latest supplemental line for the SAR is for Reuben Heard. No has gone in to the SAR on him ever. There are four DAR lines for him all through his daughter Olive Heard.
I've done all this research decades ago and it's fun (and a little frustrating) to go over the evidence to present it for an application. Reuben born in Dover but lived in Rochester which is low on vital records. He had all his children baptized in the Rochester church but my ancestor who is noticeably absent. Why we'll never know.
But his son Jonathan Heard left the perfect deed which I have transcribed on this blog. In the deed Jonathan gives land to his well beloved son Frederick Heard that was his late honored father Reuben Heard's. The language is specific. That ties those three generations together. Unfortunately the SAR is so genealogically challenged that using a deed for evidence is quite unique and needs explanation even in this case where the relationships are openly stated.
All the generations are proven to my mind. But there is no direct evidence for Benjamin W. Hurd being the son of Frederick Heard. So we have to build a genealogical proof argument for the application. Here it is:
Proof Argument 06-01
Benjamin W. Hurd - Parentage
Proof that Gen 06 Benjamin W. Hurd is the son of Gen 07 Frederick Hurd and Nancy Hayes.
Problem: No single document of direct evidence has been found that records the parents of Benjamin W. Hurd. Analysis of three other primary source documents provides indirect evidence through which his parents can be conclusively proven.
Evidence:
1. 1850 U.S. Census, Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, p. 4b, Line 16 Entry for Benjamin Hurd, Head of Household.
Analysis: In the 1850 U.S. census, the household of line 16 Benjamin Hurd, age 25, includes his inferred wife, line 17 Abiah, age 25, and two inferred daughters. It also includes line 20 Nancy Hurd, age 55. Considering her stated age and surname, she is the mother of Benjamin Hurd.
2. 1860 U.S. Census, Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, p. 714, Line 4 Entry for Abiah Hurd, Head of Household; and Line 9 Entry for George Hurd, Head of Household.
Analysis: In the 1860 U.S. census, the household of line 4 Abiah Hurd, age 29, now includes three inferred daughters. At line 8 is Nancy Hurd, age 65. It has previously been established through analysis of the 1850 census that she is the mother of Benjamin Hurd and therefor the mother-in-law of Abiah. Most importantly in looking at this 1860 US census page is the consideration of relationships between the family 588 entries and the next entries for family 589. Family 589 begins at the line 9 entry for George Hurd and his inferred wife, line 10, Louisa. Based on the analysis discussed below in paragraph 3, George Hurd is also a son of Nancy Hurd, and Louisa Hurd is the sister of Abiah Hurd.
3. Massachusetts, Newton Marriages, Entries for Benjamin Hurd & Abiah Learned, 31 Dec 1846; and George Hurd & Louisa Learned, 7 May 1846.
Analysis: The separately enclosed record of the marriage of Benjamin Hurd and Abiah Learned at Newton, Massachusetts also includes the entry for the marriage of George Hurd and Louisa Learned. The later entry is significant because it also cites that the parents of George Hurd are Frederick and Nancy. By inference, the parent’s surname is Hurd. This is also a case of two brothers marrying two sisters.
Correlation and Summation: The analysis of the evidence discussed in paragraph 1 and 2 establishes that the mother of Benjamin Hurd is Nancy Hurd. The paragraph 2 analysis establishes that Nancy Hurd is also the mother of George Hurd who by correlation and association is the brother of Benjamin Hurd. The separately enclosed Gen 06 marriage record that includes George Hurd and Louisa Learned discussed in paragraph 3 establishes that his parents are Frederick and Nancy Hurd. Through the established sibling association, the parents of Benjamin Hurd are also Frederick and Nancy Hurd. The separately enclosed marriage records of Gen 07 Frederick Heard and Nancy Hayes proves the maiden name of Nancy Hurd. The separately enclosed death record for Gen 07 Frederick Hurd shows that the spelling of the surname had changed from Heard to Hurd.
Conclusion: Benjamin W. Hurd is the son of Frederick Hurd and Nancy Hayes.
So we'll see if the national office OKs this lineage.
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