Every now and then during a research project I like to take time to review and summarize what I have learned and what I still need to learn.
I find creating timelines and studying maps to be incredibly useful tools at this stage of a project.
Creating a timeline consists of listing the data I have found in chronological order.
Edward Marden Sr - Timeline Ver.1
- c1751 - Edward is born at an unknown location to unknown parents
- --- 1751 - The French & Indian War begins
- --- 1763 - The French & Indian War is officially over and France cedes Canada to Great Britain
- >>> 1763 to 1800 - Wabanaki People lose their French allies and English settlement seriously encroaches on traditional Wabanaki resources
- c1770 - Edward (age about 19 or 20) might be the man recently settled at Maidstone, VT
- July-1774 - An Edward Mardin is listed as a proprietor on the charter of the yet to be settled town of Whitefield, NH. He may have been in Dunstable, MA at the time.
- --- April-1775 - The Battles of Concord & Lexington ignite the American Revolution
- 23-May-1776 - Edward Mardin drew 2 lots in yet to be settled Whitefield, NH
- 26-Jun-1776 - Edward signs a petition as an inhabitant of Northumberland, Upper Coos
- --- 4-Jul-1776 - American Colonies officially declare Independence from Great Britain
- 6-Jul-1776 - Edward does not appear on a petition signed by inhabitants of Lancaster, Northumberland, Guildhall & Stratford
- 12-Oct-1776 - Edward does not appear on the local militia list of Northumberland
- abt Dec-1776 - The Town of Landaff claims Edward had "lately come to Town"
- 30-Dec-1776 - Edward enlists at Northumbrland in Major Benjamin Whitcomb's Independent Company of Rangers. In later years Edward states "I was then a transient Person"
- Jun-1883 - Edward is honorable discharged from military service
- --- 3-Sep-1783 - The American Revolution is formally ended
- abt. 1785 - Edward Jr. is born (we can also assume a mate is in the picture by this point)
- 26-May-1785 - Edward is an inhabitant of Concord (modern day Lisbon)
- 12-Jan-1786 - Edward signs a petition as an inhabitant of Concord
- 12-Jun-1787 - Edward signs a petition as an inhabitant of Concord
- 1790 - Edward is enumerated in Concord, NH and probably has a wife and son
- 13-Feb-1790 - Edward is issued Bounty Land Warrant #3321 for 100 acres
- 1800 - Edward is enumerated in Concord, NH and seems to have house guests as well as a wife and child (or children)
- 1810 - Edward is enumerated in Lyman, NH and probably has a wife living with him
- 1830 - Edward is enumerated in Lyman, NH and appears to have a new, younger, wife
- 1833-35 - Edward is collecting a pension
- 16-Mar-1835 - Edward dies in Lyman, NH
You can see I inserted a few key history items into the timeline. I believe it is important to understand a person’s life in context with the world around them. When creating a timeline for your own research, you might find my Timeline of Wabanaki Events useful.
I don’t see anything really out of place here. At this point in time I think this could all be the same man. Maybe Edward’s military records will add some more detail or create road blocks that need to be resolved.
Next, I will be looking at a map of the region and exploring regional history.
Did I miss anything?
I have also found timelines to be very helpful. Especially when I add in epidemics of the area.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Theresa (Tangled Trees)
That sounds like a great idea. Only one problem, I have never seen such a list for this region. Guess I'll have to start one myself.
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