Another suspicious family!

 I am trying to return to the blog, hopefully! So here goes......

Yesterday I began re-examining my paternal Alleine family. One would think that if just about every source in print and nearly every family tree available have the same information, then you'd think there would be no issues. Right? Not so fast.

Isabelle Alleine [1655-1740] was the daughter of Joseph Alleine [1633-1668] and his cousin Theodosia Alleine [1635-1681].. Joseph was a renowned pastor in Taunton, England.

Isabelle married John Rutherford [1653-1737/40]. 

Rutherford was a Presbyterian minister in Scotland and later in County Down, Ireland.. John and Isabelle had a daughter, Catherine, who married John Walker in Wigton, Scotland and later immigrated to.Pennsylvania.

All nice and tidy, except for a few issues:

1) In his will dated 18 Oct 1667, Joseph Alleine did not name ANY children. Wife, brother, niece, nephew, and other family members were named, but no daughter Isabelle.

2) In Alleine's writings and those of his wife, there was no mention of children.

3) I have found no references to the Alleines living in Scotland or Ireland [or Rutherford in Taunton], necessary for Isabelle and John Rutherford to meet.

4) None of the primary sources confirm a daughter, Isabelle, born to Joseph and Theodosia. 

Conclusions: 

1) The Alleines had no children or Joseph, for some reason, did not name his daughter.

2) The Alleines had no children.

3) If the Alleines did not visit Scotland or Ireland and John Rutherford did not visit Taunton, then Isabelle Alleine, daughter of Joseph, did not marry John Rutherford of Scotland and County Down, Ireland.

4) Joseph and Theodosia apparently did not have a daughter named Isabelle.

How could all of those sources naming Isabelle Alleine as the daughter of Joseph and Theodosia be wrong [if, indeed they are]? Someone back in that wonderful era of "fuzzy genealogy research and publication" printed it and all who followed piggy-backed on the first. 

Could they be correct? Yes, but doubtful.

Final conclusion: John Rutherford may have married a woman named Isabelle.