Original Correspondence - Tue, 28 Jan 2003
David's recent posting could mark an explanation for a theory which another
Meshach descendant, Ruth Lillian Johnson McCortney wrote about in a draft
genealogy which I don't believe has ever been published. Ruth was the
daughter of Nellie Blythe Couch and Howard C. Johnson. Nellie B. Couch is
record 385 on Bill's Meshach chart on his web page.
Notes I took show that Ruth wrote that she believed that the first Meshach
was married to Mary Pierce, not Mary Welch. Mary Pierce was daughter of
William and Sarah Pierce. She cites page 254 of "The Calendar of Wills and
Probate Records of Sussex County, Delaware 1680-1800", a 1964 volume.
William Pierce: yeoman. Will. Made August 3, 1774
Heirs: Wife-Sarah: Sons, William Pierce, Jr., Jonathan, and John:
Daughters:- Mary Couch (wife of Meshach Couch)
Sarah Hodson (wife of Jacob Hodson)
...and the entry continues.
Other notes indicate that the will was probated on November 4, 1794. It
is published in Archive Volume A93, pages 79-80, Reg. of Wills. Liber B,
Folios 528-530.
And then that page 80 of the same cited volume indicates that the estate
was settled.
Up until reading Ruth's material, I only knew about Mary Welch. Then Ruth's
information showed Mary Pierce to me for the first time. Now David's
material shows that both Mary Pierce and Mary Welch may have been married to
the first Meshach.
Jeff Couch