And the plot thickens with George E

There is something (actually a LOT) to be said for reviewing records/information more than once.  As I was looking at the records from the Children's Home in Miami County, Ohio, something just did not seem right........

The story that was passed down regarding my great-grandfather was that he abandoned his children at the orphanage.   I readily admit that I am guilty of assumptions and did exactly that with this information.  I assumed, or rather pictured in my mind, a man taking all his children and dropping them off at the orphanage.  It didn't even occur to me that it all didn't occur in one day.... until I started scrutinizing the records and put together a chronology.  As can be seen by last week’s post, the children were taken to the facility over a period of time.  It is hard to imagine anyone, much less a family member, periodically abandoning his children at an orphanage.  What was life like, at that time frame, that would bring something like that about?  How could you just leave your children? Where was Rebecca and what was her role in all of this? Did she have any options?  Or was it at her initiative? These questions certainly open the door for more historical research.  Of course, some of the questions may never be answered but certainly some research could shed light on some of the questions.

In fact, just studying the documents a little more, brings about some interesting clues.  Per the records, George himself was placed in the same facility when he was 15 years old and the noted reason was 'destitute'.  Not only that, his brother, William, was place there at the age of 5 and not only was it due to him being destitute but also a 'bad boy'.

[1]

George has also been found in the various probate records for Benjamin S. Holeton.

beginning in 1864 at which time Enoch Berry was named his Guardian.[2]  He was 17 years old at this point.  What happened between between 1862 and 1864?  Where was his mother?  Who was Enoch Berry and how did he fit into the picture of his life?

Time to do some historical research……

---

[1] Ohio, Miami County, Children’s Home Records, 1859-1894, Troy Miami County Public Library, 100 West Main St. Troy, Ohio 45373.

[2]Ohio, Miami County; Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998; Bonds, Vol. 3-4, 1855-1869;  George E. Holeton;  page 310; online database; Ancestry.Com, accessed 7-8-2016.