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From:
Subject: Re: [BRE] Samuel Ulrich, son of David and Elizabeth Cripe Ulrich
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 23:07:13 EST


In a message dated 10/31/2005 9:00:40 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
Let me begin with Samuel's will dated Oct. 23, 1833. Is this date from the
original will signed by Samuel and his 2 witnesses? If this date is true
then Samuel was still alive on Oct. 23, 1833 and died after that date. I
can't believe that Samuel and the witnesses from the Brethren Church would
have signed a will that was falsely dated. If Oct. 23, 1833 is the correct
date of the will then the tombstone is wrong. Where was Samuel's will
entered into probate? Does anyone have a copy of the will that was entered
into probate?
John,
The will was probated in Tippecanoe, Indiana. Which do you think was
wrong? The will or the tombstone? Remember that what is in a "will book" is a
transcription of the original with all the errors that can be entered by a clerk.
I have seen wills entered that when research are proven to be incorrect.
Granted not often, but it does occur. Has anyone seen the actual will? Do we know
if the witnesses could read and write?
Mrs. Baker was kind enough to give me the information from the tombstone
of which she has a xerox copy of a photograph. It is engraved and the copy is
clear as a bell with the only error being that the Ulery variant is used:
Saml. Ulery
DIED
Oct. 8, 1833;
Aged 31 yrs.
7 ms &. 15 ds.
Do the math yourself with the available evidence. Take the date of
death(Oct. 8, 1833) and subtract from it the age at death(31-7-15) and you will
miracously come up with a date of birth of Feb. 23, 1802. Not the Mar. 24, 1802 as
reported on Rootsweb.Com.
I used the term "birth certificate" as a wide coverage of the event as
documented. It is most definitely not a fraktur. As stated in the original email
from myself it is a document to be found at BHLA at Elgink, Illinois and you
can obtain copies from there. I do not believe that the document was created
from the tombstone. You would have to see the original to understand. What is
perhaps more intriguing is that the document alludes to being a list of all of
the children of David and Elizabeth Cripe Ulrich but only names Samuel. Was
there more to this piece of paper or was there individual papers created for
each child? Who knows?
It is the addage: Do not shoot the messenger. I am only documenting
history and not trying to write it. It is my duty to offer evidence and point out
when it appears to differ from "established" sources.
What I would like answered is how the error was made stating that he was
born on Mar. 24, 1802. This obviously disagrees with his tombstone. And since
no one does primary research, but instead copies from others, the error has
been perpetuated to such an extent that it is now accepted fact. Anyone who
knows me personally knows very well that I never take someone else's data except
with a five pound block of salt. This is a case where a ten pound block would
not suffice.

Wayne Webb
Brethren Roots Newsletter Editor
Fellowship of Brethren Genealogists: Homepage
Visit my web site at:
Montgomery County, Ohio Research Services

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