Trying to source birth and death of this daughter of an early LDS member

Question

Both birth and death are generally plausible based on Census data, but I'm unable to find any sources. Maybe it's getting too late at night for me.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

While this is not primary source data, she is recorded in LDS records as a twin with that birth date. It would be good to find the underlying data used by the compiler cited below because I find NO primary source documentation for a person of this name born this date in the state of Pennsylvania.

Name:	Twin Rachel Seeley
Relationship to Primary Person:	Child
Birth Date:	2 Sep 1801
Birth Place:	Luzerne, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, USA
Household Members:	Name Relation Justus Azel Seeley Self (Head) Mehitable Bennett Spouse

Source: Black, Susan Easton, compiler. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830–1848. 50 vols. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 1989. Private Donor.

Comments

Try name variants with your searching. My Seeley line has many spelling variants that don't come up in searches unless tried.

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Thanks for the source!

Her geni profile states she was posthumously baptised into the LDS church in 1888. If true, this suggests her details have been kicking around in LDS databases since then, which means they may have been added by someone that knew her. This adds a tiny amount of confidence as to her details.

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Yes, tiny amount. Have you checked 19th Century books on the county to see if the surname appears in appropriate years? That might also give clues to variant spellings.

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I'm pretty sure Luzerne County records are not available for that period at either ancestry.com nor familysearch.org, making name variations moot. I tried searching on Smith to test if any baptismal or marriage records existed.

I'm not related, it's just that half the time my connection to the member or profile of the week goes through Rachel and I'm trying to make sure it's a legitimate connection

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I wondered if something like the 1893 History of Luzerne County might offer some clues. I seem to recall at least two books of similar nature published some years apart.

Answer 2

The following is extracted as a resource for Rachel Seeley. It appears there is a family history organization for this family and they may have original documents for the person you are trying to find:

The documentation for this individual is found in the publications of the Seeley Genealogical Society (SGS): The seventh generation families : descendants of Robert Seeley (1602-1667) & Obadiah Seeley (1614-1657) author: Mills, Madeline M. availability: Online; Descendants ..

Notes

Katherine Mills Olsen and LaVona Seeley Lewis, from the Justus Azel Seeley Family Organization (JASFO) and the Seeley Genealogical Society (SGS) are helping to correct and document this record. If there are any concerns or questions or further documentation please contact Katherine Olsen (katherinemolsen@gmail.com) or LaVona Lewis (lavona.lewis@gmail.com). Please do not make changes to these accounts. Thank you

You may try to contact one of these people.