Family talk:John Moore and Rachel Conkling (1)

Doesn't make sense [6 September 2009]

This page shows the father born 1735 and daughter Abigail born 1746 when he is 11. Further, the Salmon Records give the marriage of John Moore and Rachel Conkling as 13 Jan 1731/2 in Southold, Long Island... I would assume it is another couple with the same names, except given that the dates on this page are obviously wrong, it is probably meant to be the same couple?

I also notice that the John Moore is shown here married to a second wife, Mehitable Havens. The John Moore that married Mehitable was the son of the John Moore who married Rachel Conkling according to Historical Papers on Shelter Island.

According to my sources, John Moore (1691-1768), the son of Nathaniel Moore and Sarah Jackson, is the one that married Rachel Conkling, d/o John Conkling and Sarah ---. Their son John Moore, Jr., married Sarah Platt. --Jrich 23:58, 26 January 2009 (EST)

There is considerable confusion in the literature on both the Moore and Conkling lines, and I have little confidence in most of the sources I have seen on this couple. The objections of the first paragraph on what is shown on this page remain.

The Town of Southhold Index cited above says John Moore is either the son of Jonathan or Nathaniel Moore, both John's being born about the same time. This suggests they have the marriage record in the Salmon records, but are merely trying to match Rachel with some likely John Moore. This is a questionable practice given how common a name John Moore is in this area.

Some sources give his name as John Jackson Moore, but there is significant controversy over whether, or which, Nathaniel Moore married Sarah Jackson or Sarah Vail, both sides with pretty good evidence. If Sarah Jackson isn't in the picture, how to account for John's name? Thus those sources are called into question, especially as it is a little early for middle names, and it likely requires Rachel Conklin to be the second wife of John (i.e., age differences need to be explained, is she even the mother of the children she is given credit for, particularly John, etc.)

The TAG article in volumes 21 and 22 on the Conkling family, shows Rachel Conking being the daughter of possibly Joseph Conklin and Mary Edwards, or less likely, his brother Samuel Conklin and Susanna Washburn. But like for John, the only hard information they seem to have is the marriage itself, and no information conclusively connecting her to any particular parents. The Rachel I named above, d/o John Conklin and Sarah Scudder, is shown marrying Ebenezer Soper. Historical Papers on Shelter Island, cited above, shows Rachel being d/o John Conklin and Sarah Horton (i.e., a generation earlier), and suggests she "may have had two husbands, the first being Ebenezer Soper", which makes little sense, since the marriage to John Moore records her names as "Rachil Conklyn", not Rachil Soper. All this is indicative of nobody knowing and guessing. --Jrich 18:21, 5 September 2009 (EDT)

I fixed what I believe is the correct relationship of this John to Rachel Conklin: he is her son, and a different John Moore is his father. However, as indicated, every sources seems to be guessing about the parentage of both John and Rachel, knowing only that the marriage occurred because of the Salmon Records. --Jrich 11:11, 6 September 2009 (EDT)

Thanks for the correction and great explanation. Kathryn--Katsus98040 11:23, 6 September 2009 (EDT)