@For accuracy, Mary Smedley should not be referred to, at her marriage to Isaac Shepard, as "Mary Jewell". That marriage was her first marriage. If Isaac han't been scalped by some Indians, she probably would not have ever married Nathaniel Jewell, but she was suddenly made a widow with a child on the way and toddlers at home. As a descendant of Isaac and Mary, I object to the nullifying of her married name as those children are Shepards. "Merging" must be practiced carefully. My information is that of my late genealogist father who was very mindful of correct names, dates and relationships. The children of Nathaniel Jewell and Mary Smedley Shepard Jewell are NOT Shepards; they are Smedley-Jewells, a different line...and the Shepard children are not Jewells but Smedley-Shepard children. Especially in a genealogical site, particular care should be given to accuracy: checks and balances. Welcome discussions. Adele E. Shepard
