I'm doing some research for a long-time friend. And I've come up against a question. Simeon Inscho Powers is her great grandfather. Right now, I'm looking to extend her ancestry past Simeon's great grandmother, Mary Inscho. Aside from the uncommon name passed down as a middle name, I've confirmed Mary's maiden name, Inscho, from her son Dyer's death certificate.
Mary was born in Pennsylvania, and she and her husband, Dr. Simeon Powers, were enumerated in Lawrence, PA in Tioga County for the 1850 & 1860 Census. I've not located death or burial records for either one of them, but two of their children lived long lives and are buried and/or died in Lawrenceville. The other two lived there until at least 1850, so also to adulthood.
We have a woman with a profile on WikiTree who fits the bill. This Mary Inscho was born in Pennsylvania in 1788, died in Lawrenceville, PA In 1868, though without a death or burial record, so who knows where the 1868 came from. Looks like a good fit. Even to the point of family occupation. Obadiah Incscho, father of Mary Incscho-3, served as sheriff in Tioga County. So did the son of Mary Inscho-48, Simeon Inscho Powers.
But Inscho-3 has a different husband: Aquilla Belt. They were married in 1804 in Ohio, sourced weakly if at all. There's expired links to ancestry.com member trees, something called "Family group sheet, FGSE", which is unfamiliar to me, and "U.S. and International Marriage Records", a hodgepodge compilation of records of various & unknown provenance.
There's Findagrave records with Aquilla & his wife Mary both dying in 1848, buried in Indiana; she born in New Jersey, but no indication how that birthplace was determined. There's a variety of configurations on ancestry trees, none particularly well sourced. WikiTree's Aquilla Belt & wife Mary had children born as follows:
- Elizabeth Belt, b. 1800 in New Jersey (mother would have been 12, and not yet married)
- Milcah Belt, dau, b. 1803 in Ohio (mother would have been 15, not yet married)
- Aquilla Belt, Jr. b. 1808 in Ohio
- Kitturah Belt, b. 1811 in Illinois
- Richard Belt, b. 1812 in Ohio
- Aaron I. Belt, b. 1814 in Ohio
- Naomi Belt, b. 1818
- Angeline Belt, b. 1820
- Mariah Belt, b. 1821 in Ohio
- Benedict Belt, b. 1822 in Ohio
- Aaron J. Belt, b. 1826
- Frances Asbury Belt, son, b. 1827 in Ohio
- Henrietta Belt, b. 1829 in Ohio
I have found the following children for "my" Mary Inscho, who m. Simeon Powers, both born in PA, and both living in Tioga County, PA until at least 1860:
- Simeon I. Powers, b. 1820 in Pennsylvania, buried there 1892
- Dyer Power, b. 1822 in PA, died there in 1908. Both parents named on death record. Residing with parents for 1850 Census,
- Caroline, b. 1827 in PA. Residing with parents for 1850 Census. May have married Blackwell and/or Prutsman
- Samantha, b. 1830 in PA. Residing with parents for 1850 & 1860 Census. As aunt of David L. Powers in Corning NY for additional Censuses.
It's my unproved hypothesis that Aquilla Belt married some other Mary than the daughter of Obadiah Inscho. Obadiah's children were all born in Pennsylvania, with all but the first two born in Tioga County. The last was born 1812. WikiTree's Mary (Inscho) Belt died in 1868 in Tioga County, PA, which seems a stretch for a woman wed in Ohio nearly 50 years earlier, and with all her children born there.
I've been puzzling over this for a few days now. Decided to call in reinforcements, in case someone here could provide some brilliant insight. Much of the sourcing for Aquilla Belt & his family come from "ancestry family trees." I've looked at several member's trees @ ancestry. None has impressive sourcing, and there's a wide variety of relationships, dates &c. Inconsistent.
If anyone could offer additional insight, it would be MUCH appreciated!!