In preparation for a trip to the National Civil War Museum, in hopes of finding information on D. Ridgely Howard, I did another Google Search for him.
What I stumbled upon was an online Family Tree. It was a great website and Family Tree. I don’t normally look at this type of information, nor record information from them and put into my tree. Most times, the information provided does not contain Source material. It is usually just Names and some times relationships.
Since this step is to Search Broadly, I spent a little time looking at what was on the website. Not only did I find my D. Ridgely Howard, but a Family Group Sheet on his family. Looking at the Surnames on this website, it would be very hard to miss the relationships in this online tree and my own family tree.
Looking at the Ancestors of D. Ridgely Howard, there wasn’t a connection back to my Sarah Howard (6th Great-Grandmother), but there were enough Howards that matched mine. (close but no winner)
Looking at the Family Group Sheet and the Census information that was mentioned here:
Inferential Genealogy Study Group in 2nd Life – Search Broadly #3
June 7, 2011
the Household was in the Family Group Sheet. So, they MAY BE the right Family Group. But, are there other clues in either the Census Record or this Family Group Sheet.
Two hints, actually appeared. 1) James Howard, the head of household, according to the Family Group Sheet was married twice. 2) D. (now David) Ridgely Howard’s mother was listed as Margaret Oswald CHEW.
James Howard’s other wife (dates or order of marriage not listed) was Sophia Gough RIDGELY. So, that may be a hint for D. (David)’s middle name.
But, David’s mother, Margaret Oswald Chew WAS in my file as my 3rd Cousin 6 times removed, making David Ridgely Howard my 4th Cousin 5 times removed. I haven’t yet proven any of this, so he is not in my file, but I am encouraged to continue this research
Looking at this online tree a little further, besides many names that I know, I found my 6th Great-Grandfather. There was a Descendancy Report feature for my Capt. John Worthington, and many of his children had 6 or 7 generations of descendants, most of which I know and are in my file. However, his youngest son, my 5th Great-Grandfather did not have any descendants, only one of his two wives.
So, by Searching Broadly, found some more hints to follow up on BUT it indicates to me, that I might be on the right track.
I’ll post a follow up on the only SOURCE that was listed for D. Ridgely Howard and the Civil War.
A Worthington Weblog 