Mary Chew and Goodrich Lightfoot, Sr.
When I first began my genealogical research with the Lightfoots nearly 30 years ago, John Fredrick Dorman, the editor of The Virginia Genealogist, told me in a letter that he did not agree that Mary Chew was the wife of Goodrich Lightfoot, Sr.As most genealogists are aware, Mr. Dorman is one of this country's foremost genealogists, and for many years has researched the Lightfoots in conjunction with his own direct family lines, so that he is familiar with all the aspects of the Lightfoot genealogy.His statement was based on solid research, not on hearsay.
I have never seen a copy of Goodrich, Sr.'s will, and would very much like to do so.If anyone has a copy, would they please send it to me?Also, as mentioned on the Chew Forum, if anyone locates a copy of the Diary of William Byrd which mentions Mary Chew as Goodrich's wife, I would be grateful if they would either post to this forum, or send to me privately, a copy of the relevant paragraph(s).It is unfortunate that many people are led astray by the LDS Ancestral Files or the IGI.
In the excitement of at last finding "the facts" on our ancestors, we overlook the very important fact that these submissions are made by persons who are not required to give documention for their statements, many of which are simply repetition of what they have been given by other people, who are also repeating what they have "heard", ad infinitum.This leaves a wide margin for error.The LDS Library has neither the personnel nor the time to check the accuracy of the thousands of such submissions they receive.It is a wise genealogist who uses such records as clues for his own in-depth research, and not as hard fact.There is no point in doing genealogical research if we do not attempt to be as accurate as possible.
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Re: Mary Chew and Goodrich Lightfoot, Sr.
2/14/00
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Re: Mary Chew and Goodrich Lightfoot, Sr.
1/09/00
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Re: Mary Chew and Goodrich Lightfoot, Sr.
11/07/99
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Re: Mary Chew and Goodrich Lightfoot, Sr.
5/26/00
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Re: Mary Chew and Goodrich Lightfoot, Sr.
Kenneth Rothwell 1/02/00
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Re: Mary Chew and Goodrich Lightfoot, Sr.