"… this family history has in general a very poor reputation for accuracy, hence it is advisable to check the statements made, by reference to the contemporary records. … The marriage of Rachel is recorded in Guilford as 1658, not 1678 as given in 'The Goodrich Family.' The latter says she was born 1653 and married 1678, dates which are consistent with each other. But as she actually married 1658 (and her husband died 1672, so the marriage date 1678 is impossible as well as contrary to the original records), the date of birth assigned to her would make her only five at the actual date of marriage. This strongly suggests that invented or fictitious birth dates were supplied to the compiler of the book by some person unknown."
