One big problem with researching family history, it's easy to think something's true simply because it's on the Internet, in LDS records, or in a book and we end up "adopting" ancestors who aren't really ours. We assume the people publishing the information have done adequate research and verified sources, and that just isn't always the case.
Even records found with the Mormons. They do not have the resources to verify the validity of the information sent to them; they simply publish the data the researchers give them.
There's a wealth of well-meaning but misleading information available, which makes it doubly important to verify sources and not take things at face value. Ask yourself - better yet, ask the person publishing the information - how do they know it's true? Sorting out what is true, and what can't possibly work is time consuming, but can yield wonderful results!
There are some MOTHERSHEAD lineages which name Zachary Mothershead as the father to Samuel MOTTERSHED who first appeared in Northumberland/Westmoreland County VA in 1652 [sources: microfilm - Northumberland County Record Book #14, p. 11; "Virginia Colonial Abstracts" Vol II Northumberland County Records 1652 - 1655" by Beverley Fleet; 1971]. I have yet to see any record that Zachary, who was in the employ of Lord Calvert in Maryland and died in 1638, was the father of Samuel...or that Zachary had any children at all.
We're investigating the MOTTERSHEDs who were living in Cheshire, where the vast majority of MOTTERSHED/MOTHERSHEADs originate from, in the 1630s for links to Samuel - especially one Thomas MOTTERSHED. There's still a lot more digging to be done to see if this can be proven or not, but we're working on it.
The same holds true for lineages that show Samuel MOTTERSHED marrying, including daughters of Nathaniel POPE. I have yet to see proof, or even reasonable circumstantial evidence, that indicates who Samuel married, if he married anyone at all. We do know the Jonathans were married; we have their Wills.
Mottershed Traces
up to 1652MottershedTraces
1652-1675Mothershead Traces
1675-1730Mothershead Traces
1730-1799
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