A common error in research is the connection of an individual with the correct name to the wrong individual or family.
I have three Malachi Rivers in my database. The repetition of names from generation to generation makes it easy to mix families resulting in errors in your family history.
Back in the early to mid-1800, there were two Malachi ‘Mally’ Rivers with wives by the name of Sarah. They were Mother and Daughter and not only did they share the name Sarah but both had Boatwright in these names. The Mothers surname and the Daughter middle name was Boatwright. The commonality of the wives name has resulted in errors in many family histories. Oftentimes, I see family trees with children and spouses connected to the wrong individual or family because of commonality in names.
The first Malachi Rivers was born 22 August 1812. He married Sarah Ann Boatwright about 1837. He was the son of William Rivers and Elizabeth ‘Betsy” Rivers Rivers.
Malachi and Sarah Ann had a large family of sixteen children. One of those children was an older Daughter they named Sarah Boatwright Rivers. Sarah Boatwright Rivers was born 8 March 1848.
Sarah Boatwright Rivers married Malachi J. Rivers about December 1865. Malachi J. Rivers was born 20 August 1842, a son of Frederick C. Rivers and Sarah Ann Hurst.
Malachi J. Rivers and Sarah Boatwright Rivers had a family of eight children; a daughter and 6 sons. The daughter, Cora, was the seventh child born to this family.
Sometimes we let simple things trip us up. Don’t let the commonality of names trip you up. Keep the two Malachi Rivers correctly positioned in your family history by remembering that “The younger Malachi is the Son-in-Law of the older Malachi Rivers.”
Malachi ‘Mally’ Rivers is my 3rd Great Grand Uncle.
Sarah Boatwright Rivers the wife of Malachi J. Rivers is my 1st Cousin 4 times removed.
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