Below:
Lucinda Moody, great-grandmother of Ann Watson
There's a Watson family legend that my great-grandmother, Lucinda Moody (1853–1912) was somehow related to the prominent 19th century American evangelist and founder of Northfield and Mount Hermon Schools, Dwight L. Moody (1837–1899). This came to me through Eve Brian (Watson), second wife of Ernest William Watson. [1]
I haven't gone deeply into the research, but have found nothing immediately obvious to substantiate this story. Being contemporaries but with no obvious connection, if Lucinda and Dwight were related at all they were likely distant cousins.
This is an example of where genealogical research is necessary to substantiate — or disprove — a family story.
This post was written in response to this week's theme, "Legends," in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project.
Notes
1. Eve Brian Watson, “A brief outline of the William Watson family in America”, MS, Fort Myers, Florida, 1978, 1; privately held by Ann D. Watson, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] New Haven, Vermont, 2018.