Adding New Connections to the FamilySearch Tree: The Maynard-Bland Discovery
Do you work in the FamilySearch tree? Have you ever uncovered a second marriage or family missing from the tree? Recently, I encountered this situation while researching Mary Bland, a child of Eli Bland, and her husband, William Maynard.
The FamilySearch tree did not list Mary as a child of Eli Bland, nor could I find a family for Mary Bland and William Maynard. However, I did locate a William Maynard family in Taney County, Missouri, with a wife named Ruth Howell.
Census records from 1850 for this William Maynard included two potential children, Susan and Martin Maynard. A court record from Platte County, Missouri, revealed a key connection: Susan and Martin Maynard were identified as heirs of Eli Bland, with Elizabeth Burke acting as their curator. This strongly suggests that their mother, Mary Bland Maynard, had passed away.
Using this information, I added William Maynard as Mary Bland’s husband and Susan and Martin as their children in the FamilySearch tree.
This discovery highlights how combining census, court, and family records can uncover missing family connections. Have you encountered similar finds in your research?
Platte County Missouri
Bonds 1849-1855“Platte, Missouri, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99L9-76D1?view=fullText : Jan 16, 2025), image 282 of 594; Missouri. County Court (Platte County).
Film Number/Image Group Number: 007631724
image 282 of 594
page 114
Know all men by these presents
that we Elizabeth A Burke as principal
and Marcus Lipscomb as security ac
knowledge ourselves to owe and be indebted
to the State of Missouri with for the use
and benefit of Sarah G Maynard and
Martin T Maynard in the just and
full sum of six hundred dollars for the
payment of which well and truly to be made
we bind ourselves our heirs Ex
ecutors and administrators jointly and
severally firmly by these presents , Sealed
with our seals and dated this 1st day
of March AD 1852 The condition of
the above bond is such , That whereas
Elizabeth Burke has been appointed
[Curat]or of the estate of Sarah G Maynard
and Martin T Maynard heirs at law
of Eli Bland deceased , Now if the
said Elizabeth A Burke shall faith
fully perform the duties of Curator as
aforesaid account for [pay] pay and deliver
all money and property of said estates
and perform all other things touching
said Curatorship required by law or
the order or decree of any Court having
jurisdiction , and make due and pro
per settlements of her accounts as Cura
tor as aforesaid , Then the above bond
to be void otherwise to remain in full
force and effect , Given under our hand ,
and seals this the day and year first
aforesaid
Elizabeth A Burk ℗
Marcus Lipscomb ℗