Do you use Ancestry’s photo hints? I have to admit, I often overlook them. However, a recent discovery prompted me to dig deeper into some of those hints to help uncover the first wife of William P. Bland.
After analyzing a court record identifying the children of Eli Bland, I determined that William P. Bland was not one of Eli’s children and removed him from Eli’s family. Since William lived in Missouri near Eli’s children, I wanted to explore whether there might still be a familial connection between William and the Eli Bland family.
To investigate further, I began researching William and his children. My records included four children: Elkanah (b. 1839), Sarah (b. 1842), Rosaline (b. 1849), and Thomas (b. 1853). However, I overlooked an important detail: two of these children, Elkanah and Sarah, were born before William’s 1848 marriage to Phebe Randolph. This raised the question of who their mother was.
Hoping that hints for Elkanah and Sarah might offer clues, I revisited their profiles on Ancestry. Typically, I ignore photo hints like tombstone images or death certificate photos in favor of actual records. However, Sarah’s hints included several intriguing photo hints that appeared to be court documents. One particular photo stood out—an affidavit signed by William P. Bland stating that Sarah Ann Tungett was his daughter and an heir at law of William Chance. Unfortunately, the photo provided no source information.
Determined to find the original record, I turned to FamilySearch’s Experimental Labs and located the affidavit within the William Chance probate case file in Andrew County, Missouri. This discovery not only confirmed the relationship but also provided valuable insight into William P. Bland’s family.
Ancestry’s photo hints proved unexpectedly helpful in advancing my research. Have you ever found a surprising lead using them?
William P. Bland’s Affidavit
Andrew County Missouri
Probate Case Files“Andrew, Missouri, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9GP-49LV?view=fullText : Jan 17, 2025), image 19 of 70; Missouri. State Archives.
Film Number/Image Group Number: 100787907
Probate case files, no. 595, pt. 1, Chance, William Sr. & minors, 1865
Image 19
State of Missouri
Buchanan County
This day personally
appeared before me Cornelius Day
a Justice of the Peace for and within
said County William P. Bland who
being duly sworn says that he is
the Father of one Sarah Ann Tunget
wife of John B. Turget the said
Sarah Ann Tunget being one of the
heirs at law of the estate of
William Chance of Andrew County
Mo And further the deponent sayeth not
Wm P Bland
Subscribed and
Sworn to before
me this 8th day
of March 1867
Cornelius Day
Justice of the Peace
STATE OF MISSOURI ,
COUNTY OF BUCHANAN ,
I , WILLIS M. SHERWOOD , Clerk of the County Court within and for
the county and State aforesaid , do hereby certify that Cornelius day
is , and was , at the time of the signing of the foregoing instrument of writing , an acting Justice of the
Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid , duly com
missioned and qualified to take acknowledgements of Deeds and other instruments of writing , according
to the laws of this state , and that his acts , as such , are entitled to full faith and credit , and furthermore ,
that his signature attached to the instrument of writing aforesaid is genuine .
In Testimony whereof , I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of
said Court this 9thday of April A. D. 1867
Willis M Sherwood Clerk .
by M[?]