Sepia Saturday 496: A recap of the series on why my third great-grandmother Hannah (Hance) Blakeslee may have left her marriage in 1858.
In court records of my third great-grandparents’ 1866 divorce proceedings, no direct evidence was submitted by my third great-grandmother Hannah (Hance) Blakeslee to explain why she left her marriage — never to return.
In my third great-grandfather Zebulon Blakeslee’s divorce petition, he said Hannah left on 1 Nov. 1858 — just two-and-a-half weeks before their 30th wedding anniversary on 19 Nov. 1858. But what prompted her departure?
Having examined the court papers, reviewed a timeline of Hannah’s early and later married life, and chronicled what I know of her post-divorce years, I formed a theory of why she left Zebulon — and it flowed from her relationship with her daughters and grandchildren.
Here is a summary of the posts from this series (best read in order).
- 1858: Why did Hannah (Hance) Blakeslee leave her marriage?
- 1840-50: Hannah (Hance) Blakeslee’s early married years
- 1850-58: The later married years of Hannah (Hance) Blakeslee
- Why Hannah left Zebulon in 1858: A circumstantial theory
Thus ends my exploration of the separation and divorce of my third great-grandparents Zebulon and Hannah (Hance) Blakeslee, which were chronicled in earlier posts.
- Series Summary: The odd 1860 separation of Zebulon and Hannah (Hance) Blakeslee
- Series Summary: The 1866 divorce of Zebulon and Hannah (Hance) Blakeslee
The winding path of genealogy research
When I began writing about my Blakeslee ancestors 10 months ago, in A bewildering Blakeslee saga, I knew little about them and expected to simply write a post or two with what sources I had.
Yet as their stories unfolded and I carefully re-examined my past research, I noticed previously overlooked evidence — and whole new avenues of exploration unfolded.
Within six months I was traveling to Montrose, Penna., to obtain the Blakeslees’ divorce, tax and land records along with newspaper notices about them — a trip I never would have imagined when I first sat down to write their stories.
Writers talk about being the vehicle for a story that seems to write itself, as if guided by an unseen hand. I don’t know about that.
What I do know is that giving voice to an ancestor’s history — sitting down to write about them in a focused way with whatever sources you have — spurs further research that can dramatically move your family’s history forward. And I have my Blakeslee ancestors to thank for that discovery.
Up next: A fall break for Molly’s Canopy to relax and recharge. Please stop back when blogging resumes after the holiday season. Meanwhile, please visit the blogs of other Sepia Saturday participants here.
© 2019 Molly Charboneau. All rights reserved.
The more I learn about something the more questions I always seem to have. The family history puzzle is fascinating and always seems to keep expanding.
You are so right! Simply posing one question can lead in all sorts of directions and helps focus the research.
That is so true, I am in the middle of researching my great granfather Louis Cleage’s sister. I thought I was ready to write it up, but started looking at some things and here I am in the middle of more research. Again.
Yes, genealogy research is the gift that keeps on giving! The good news is that sometimes what we believe is a brick wall may actually be broken through on the second round of document review and additional research.