(Note: If you like background music Click Here and select 'open'. If not, don't click.)

Before we present the details of this controversy, we want to make something clear about these controversies in general. The researchers whose work is cited here are all competent and diligent seekers after the truth. When presented with inconclusive and contradictory evidence about a moment in genealogical history, different people will draw different conclusions. They will differ in which witnesses they trust more than others. They have the courage to call it as they see it, and as scientists, they are willing to re-evaluate their positions if new evidence is discovered. Keeping that in mind, we move on to Ruth Albro.

According to Rebecca Delos Mann, Ruth Albro was born in 1740 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island. Ruth died April 25, 1765, place unspecified. The information sources are given as Hammond Genealogies by FS Hammond, vol.1, and the LDS International Genealogical Index. Ruth's parents are listed as Samuel Albro (born June 16, 1701 in Portsmouth) and Ruth Lawton (born 1706 in Portsmouth.) Ruth Albro is stated to have married Wate (Waite) Albro on the 25th of June 1776 in Exeter, Washington, RI. She then married Potter Hammond about 1780, and William Albro about 1782. William was either the brother or cousin of her first husband.

Potter Hammond was born between 1734 and 1738 in Scituate, Providence, RI, and died in 1781. In addition to the two sources given for the statements about Ruth Albro, additional sources on Potter Hammond are given as New England Families, pp.996-997, Lovisa Maughn, Alzina K. Thornton, and Earl Fuhriman. Potter Hammond was the son of William Hammond (born April 2, 1694 in Rehoboth, RI) and Mary Potter (born December 29, 1711 in Meshantituck, Providence, RI.) Potter and Ruth had one child, Potter Hammond (II), born February 15, 1782 in Exeter, Washington, RI.

These data are reported in a WorldConnect gedcom file (Records of Becky Mann, updated June 5, 2004), and in an LDS Pedigree Resource File, CD#48, PIN No.643010. However, in a different WorldConnect gedcom file, Manni & Carpentier Families, updated September 28, 2004 by Debbi Manni, Ruth Albro is born on an unknown date in Portsmouth, Newport, RI, daughter of Samuel Albro (born June 16, 1701 in Portsmouth) and Ruth Lawton (date of birth unknown.) In this case Ruth married Stephen Howard (date of birth unknown) on April 28, 1765 in Portsmouth. In the LDS Ancestral File (v.4.19) on Ruth Albro (submitted by several persons including Rebecca Mann) Ruth is “Of Exeter, Washington, RI.”

The Hammond Genealogy website maintained by Lou and Rita Jacobs lists Potter Hammond, (no dates), son of William Hammond and Mary Potter, married Ruth Albro (who died 1839), had son Potter Hammond born 15 February 1782 at Exeter, RI. Footnotes report that Potter (the younger) settled in Whitetown, Oneida, NY.

In summary of this block of data we have Ruth Albro, daughter of Samuel Albro and Ruth Lawton, born 1740 in Portsmouth, Newport, RI, died April 25th 1765. She married Stephen Howard April 28, 1765; Waite Albro June 25, 1776; Potter Hammond about 1780, and William Albro about 1782. All four marriages were after her stated date of death. Disagreement was apparent as to her date of death, one source claiming 1839.

The next contributor is Jack Danner, with a WorldConnect file named Francis dated August 25, 2001, and an LDS Pedigree Resource File CD#2. His information is that Ruth Albro was born about 1740 in Scituate, Providence, RI and died (at age 99) in 1839 in Michigan. Her parents were given as Samuel Albro and Ruth Lawton as above. Marriage number one was supposedly to Potter Hammond, with child Potter Hammond born February 15, 1782 in Exeter, Washington, RI. Potter Hammond Sr. supposedly died in 1781 in Scituate, RI. Ruth's second husband was an unknown Albro, and her third a William Albro. This gives us a new disagreement with what we had previously: Ruth's place of birth, Scituate vs. Portsmouth.

A more recent posting is from Families of Sequoia County, OK and Others by Sharen Neil updated (WorldConnect) February 22, 2005. This file has Ruth Albro born about 1740 in Scituate, Rhode Island, died 1839 in Michigan at her daughter's home. Same parents as given above. The first marriage is said to be to Potter Hammond, all dates as above, with a second marriage to William Albro, no dates given. The sources specified are “a gedcom file” and JR 6387.

Another WorldConnect gedcom is Leitner Kogl Prideau & Threlkel Families updated December 9, 2004, submitted by Mary Leitner. This says Potter Hammond born abt.1736 in Scituate, Providence, RI died 1781, father William Hammond b.12 April 1699 and mother Mary Potter b.abt.1699 Of, Providence, Providence, RI. Marriage to Ruth Albro, b.1740 Of Exeter, Washington, RI.

It Must Be My Side of the Tree by Debbie Gordon, updated December 29, 2004, has Ruth Albro (no dates) married Waite Alboro (born 1753), with one child Irus Alboro born 1776.

WorldConnect Gedcom 32935 by MC Ryan has Potter Hammond (no dates) married Ruth Albro (no dates), child Potter Hammond born 15 February 1782 in Exeter, Washington, RI.

The gedcom for The Thomas Gale Fisher Family, updated 25 May 2002, by Tom Fisher, has Potter Hammond born 15 February 1872 in Exeter, Washington, RI, died 1851 in Whitestone, Oneida, NY; father Potter Hammond, mother Ruth Albro.

LDS Pedigree Resource File CD#91, PIN No.878192 submitted by Charles E. Miller, has Ruth Albro b.1740 in Exeter, Washington, RI, died 25 April 1765, married Potter Hammond in 1780.

LDS IGI Files: file 178073 ref.3744 has Ruth Albro born 1740 in Scituate, died 1839, married Potter Hammond. But Film 184623 ref.11643 has Ruth Albro born about 1756, in Scituate, spouse Potter Hammond. Film 0458167 has Ruth's parents as Samuel Albro and Ruth Lawton. This brings in a new claim as to Ruth's date of birth, 1756 vs. 1740.

LDS IGI Files v.5 submitted after 1991 have no associated source information on line; at least four different v.5 files have Ruth Albro born in Exeter, Washington, RI, but two have the date of birth as about 1754, and two about 1758. The two with birth 1754 have death June 1834, parents Samuel Albro and Ruth Lawton. One of these has the marriage to Potter Hammond about 1775, the other about 1781. In contrast, the two with birth about 1758 have the spouse as Waite or Weight Albro marriage January 25, 1775 in Exeter, Washington, RI, and the parents as John Albro and “Mrs. John Albro.” The lack of source information is especially to be regretted here.

The IGI personal record on Stephen Howard (see above) is taken from Arnold's Vital Records of Rhode Island and is IGI batch M501241 printout 1002595. It states that Stephen Howard (no birth or death dates) married Ruth Albro 28 April 1765 in Portsmouth, Newport, RI.

Do you perhaps begin to get the suspicion that there are two Ruth Albros? One associated with Scituate and/or Exeter, RI, the other with Portsmouth. One whose parents were Samuel and Ruth, the other whose parents might have been John and “Mrs. John”. One born around 1740 and one in the middle to late 1750s? As it happens, there is more support for this possibility.

Martha A. Benns' Notes on the Albro Family, Rhode Island Historical Society, 1942, discuss Samuel and Ruth (Lawton) Albro on p. 6. Their eighth child is named Ruth (no date of birth), married April 20 (or 28, handwritten), 1765 to Stephen Howard. No other information about Ruth except she was born after James, who was born after David, who was born in 1736 (so about 1740 for Ruth is reasonable.) Note that this date of marriage is almost the same as the date given previously as date of death of Ruth Albro by Becky Mann and Charles Miller.

Martha Benns' Notes list on p. 11 the children of Reverend Samuel and Alice Albro. Their 6th child, Weight Albro, married Ruth Albro “of John of Exeter” on January 25, 1776. The only child of this marriage was Irus, reportedly born abt. 1782. “John of Exeter” would be the John Albro born April 16, 1739 in Exeter, Washington, RI, son of Samuel and Alice (hence brother of Weight.) Other Rhode Island Historical Society records indicate that Weight became Ruth's guardian when John died. Irus was born August 18, 1776 according to a letter written by his son Irus, Jr. slightly before 1925.

The J.R. Redfern Associates, LLC (professional genealogists) website (www.jrredfern.com) has a family tree that includes the genealogy of a number of the early settlers of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It has Irus Albro, b. 8 Aug 1776, Exeter, Washington, RI, d. 1 Apr 1833, Coventry, Washington, RI, parents Waite and Ruth Albro. The parentage is based on Irus' guardianship papers in 1792. This site also states, “Waite, son of Elder Samuel, of Exeter, and Ruth Albro, dau. of John, of Exeter; m. by Rev. James Weightman, Jan 25, 1776.” This is from the Rhode Island Genealogical Register, Vol.1, No.2, p.75. Waite was born abt. 1754, died before 20 March 1787 (he was deceased before his mother's will was written.) Birth and death were both in Exeter. Dates of birth and death are not provided for Ruth Albro.

From Alice Albro's will (R.I. Genealogical Register, Vol.8, No.2, Abstracts Exeter Wills, Oct 1985, pp.170-171.): "ALBRO, Alse, of Ex, widow. Will dated 20 Mar 1787, proved 9 Apr 1787, pgs. 30-32. Mentions: Sons Thomas Albro, Samuel Albro, & Martin Albro, Daughter Alse Tefft wife of Joseph Tefft - see receipts pgs. 55-56. Grandson Irus Albro. [Notes: Ex TCP 5:55-56 receipts this will: Settled with William Albro for a legacy given to Irus Albro the son of said Albro's wife an infant 21 Apr 1787. Ex TCP 5:118 Ex 6 Nov 1791 John Albro of WG appointed guardian to Irus Albro of Ex son to Wait Albro late of Ex dec.] Granddaughters Alse Albro daughter of Thomas Albro, Alse Albro under age daughter of Martin Albro, Alse Albro under age daughter of Samuel Albro, & Ancestress Tefft an infant (daughter of Joseph Tefft see receipts pgs 55-56). Witn: Sarah Potter, Marcy Spencer, Alexander Hopkins."

The above provides good evidence that Ruth was married to William Albro after Weight (Waite) died and before 1787.

We now have four different birth dates (1740, 1754, 1756, 1758), three different birth places (Scituate, Exeter, Portsmouth), three different dates of death (1765, 1836, 1839), two different sets of parents (Rev. Samuel and Ruth (Lawton) Albro, John and Mrs. John Albro), four husbands, with no special disagreements about the dates of marriage to each, three children (Irus, Potter, unnamed daughter in Michigan) with no strongly held disputes about the dates of birth of the children. We have strong evidence that the same Ruth Albro married both Waite Albro and William Albro, and that she was the daughter of John of Exeter. It is possible that the Ruth Albro who married Stephen Howard later married Potter Hammond, and that she was the daughter of Samuel & Ruth. In that case, the impossible date of death of April 25, 1765 was actually the (approximate) date of marriage to Stephen. The daughter of Samuel was probably born about 1740, so the daughter of John may have been born about 1756. Both Ruths could have died in the 1830s. We can't rule out that the Ruth who married Albros also married Potter Hammond, but that would require that a large number of sources who say she was the daughter of Samuel were wrong. You have all the claims, and such source references as we have been able to locate – how do you think it was?

Some Expanded References

"Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island", by John Osborne Austin, 1887.

"Notes on the Albro Family of Rhode Island" by Martha A. Benns, made at the Rhode Island Historical Society, 1942, filmed at Providence, RI 17 July 1950 by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City Utah, roll # 22322.

"Vital Records of Rhode Island, 1636-1850: a family register for the people" by James Newell Arnold (1844 –1927).

"Hammond Genealogies" refers to: "History and Genealogies of the Hammond Families in America, with an Account of the Early History of the Family in Normandy and Great Britain, 1000-1902", 2 volumes. Frederick S. Hammond. (1902)

Note: IGI (International Genealogical Index), Ancestral File, and PRF (Pedigree Resource File) are all acronyms for documents copyright © by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and no infringement is here intended.

References to "Rhode Island Genealogical Register" or to "R.I. Vital Records, New Series", are derived from CD #215, Family Archives: "Vital Records: Rhode Island 1500s - 1900s", © The Learning Company, Inc. and no infringement is here intended.

Send Email to:     .

(Home Page)

(Back to Controversies Menu)

 

Copyright © 2005 Phil Albro; last revised July 26, 2005. Commercial use prohibited.