DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Blog: To Jump or Not to Jump

DearREADERS,

If you didn't know about polygamy in Utah prior to statehood, wouldn't it seem strange to see this 1870 Utah Territory census page? Or would you assume this wealthy farmer took care of an incredible number of widowed sister-in-laws (with no visible means of support) by putting them up in homes right next door? I wouldn't assume anything, even polygamy, until other documents are searched for additional info about possible relationships.

Family number 285
Call, Anson age 60 - 50,000 2,000 Farmer
Call, Mary age 58 keeping house
Call, Anson age 15 adopted
Call Mary age 11 adopted
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Family number 286
Call, Margaret age 38 keeping house
Call, Mary age 12 at home
Call, Evalie age 10
Call, Lozmanthia age 8
Call, Willard age 4
Call, Aaron age 2

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Family number 287
Call, Ann age 53 keeping house

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Family number 288
Call, Emma age 49 Keeping house
Call, Ann age 12
Call, Fanny age 10
Call, Lucinda age 7
Call, David, age 2

Source Citation: Year:?1870;?Census Place:?Bountiful,?Davis,?Utah Territory;?Roll:?M593_1610;?Page:?223B; [Ancestry.com]? Image:?451;?Family History Library Film:?553109.

Source Information:

Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

Jumping to conclusions prematurely may seriously alter the credibility of your genealogy research. Check out the Genealogical Proof Standards at the Board for Certification of Genealogists website.

Happy family tree climbing!

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