Source:Morse, J. Howard. Morse Genealogy : Comprising the Descendants of Samuel, Anthony, William and Joseph Morse and John Moss : Being a Revision of the

One would assume the auspices of a family society might make this work a little more reliable, but one would be wrong. This work appears to have paid no attention to probate files, and perhaps has no first-hand knowledge of vital records, only reporting what contributors submitted without checking.

For example, in one family, that of Person:Noah Morse (2), one child that belongs elsewhere (Tabitha) is listed apparently due to a mistranscribed birthdate, another apparent misreading of records caused this source to assert the death of one child and invention of a second with the same name (Jemima) to explain a known marriage (while also misreporting the spouse's name as Cahill instead of the correct Cobb), and then apparently copying older works without checking resulted in reporting the death of a child (Abigail) who actually lived to be named in her father's probate, marry, and sell her share of her father's property (i.e., her existence is documented).

In another family, Family:Ezra Morse and Joanna Hoare (1), the death dates of both husband and wife are misreported even though a probate file clearly contradicts the asserted dates. A child not named in the probate (Nathaniel) is shown surviving, apparently confused with an unrelated person of the same name. Two children that died young (Peter and David) are given fictitious baptisms (church records have a gap at the pertinent time period, and one alleged baptism is recognizable as the recorded death date).

Be careful using this source. --Jrich 13:51, 20 April 2020 (UTC)

Usage Tips

May be ordered through the nearest Family History Center.

FHL film numbers

• 1033930 Item 3
• 362670
• 1018871 Items 1-2