Elizabeth Garnett

"There has been a considerable amount of confusion regarding Elizabeth MUSCOE, wife of Thomas GARNETT. Many family historians have erroneously confused this Elizabeth MUSCOE with her niece and namesake [the Elizabeth MUSCOE who was the daughter of Elizabeth MUSCOE's brother Salvatore MUSCOE Junior] since both women married husbands named GARNETT and also had father's named Salvatore MUSCOE. To underline this confusion, here are the various listings contained in the IGI for the marriage of Elizabeth MUSCOE to Thomas GARNETT:

1. Elizabeth MUSCOE m. Thomas GARNETT in 1704 at Essex County, VA 2. Elizabeth MUSCOE m. Thomas GARNETT in about 1712 at St. Anne's Parish, Essex County, VA 3. Elizabeth MUSCOE m. Thomas GARNETT in about 1717 at Orange County, VA 4. Elizabeth MUSCOE m. Thomas GARNETT in about 1720 at Stafford County, VA 5. Elizabeth MUSCOE m. Thomas GARNETT in about 1721 at Essex County, VA It is plainly clear that all of these marriage listings contained in the IGI cannot possibly be accurate or based on factual documentation. In actuality, none of the IGI listings relating to this marriage of Thomas GARNETT to Elizabeth MUSCOE are based on original marriage records or parish registers.

Instead, the source of this IGI information is from pedigrees submitted to the Mormon Church from individuals researching their family's tree. It appears that several or perhaps all of these researchers either "estimated" or completely falsified the date and place of this marriage in order to more properly "fit" the birth dates of the children born to this couple.

Another confusing factor is the death date of the other Elizabeth MUSCOE [the niece] who married Captain James GARNETT in 1834 [as his second wife]. The second Elizabeth MUSCOE died on August 23, 1736---just five days after the birth of their son Muscoe GARNETT [b. August 17, 1736]. Finding that Elizabeth Muscoe Garnett died in 1736 has apparently cause some family historians to "adjust" the birth and marriage date of the other Elizabeth MUSCOE who married Thomas GARNETT in order to comply with age at death of the younger Elizabeth MUSCOE who married Captain James GARNETT.

We now know that the first Elizabeth MUSCOE was born in 1680 in England and that she was the daughter of Salvatore MUSCOE Senior. She may have been Thomas GARNETT's second wife, and it is almost certain that she must have married Thomas GARNETT at some point between 1700 [when she was 20 years old] and 1705 [when she was about 25].

By 1709, Elizabeth GARNETT, wife of Thomas Garnett, relinquished her dower right to land inherited by her husband Thomas from his father John GARNETT. The transaction was dated June 8, 1709. Consideraton of 3,500 pounds of good sound merchantable tobacco. Thomas Garnett, the grantor, also made bond in the sum of 7,000 pounds of good sound merchantable tobacco, that he would observe the covenants of his said deed. He again recited in the bond that he was "one of the sons and devisees of John Garnett late of the Parish of Kingston in the County of Gloucester within the Colony aforesaid."

From Thomas GARNETT's will we know that he and his wife Elizabeth had at least eight children who are specifically named in the will as: John, Anne, Sarah, James, Joyce, Mary, Avey and Thomas GARNETT.

Elizabeth, wife of Thomas GARNETT, must have died some time before June 20, 1750---the date when her son John GARNETT was appointed Administrator of his father's Estate.

Elizabeth probably was the mother of most of the children of Thomas GARNETT, perhaps all of them. But there has been some speculation that she might not have been the mother of the eldest of Thomas GARNETT's sons, Anthony GARNETT...or she may have been his step-mother."

Elizabeth Muscoe

The first Elizabeth MUSCOE, however was born in England before the MUSCOE family moved to America. She married Thomas GARNETT and must have died some time not too long before June 20, 1750 when her son John GARNETT was appointed Administrator of his father's Estate. Elizabeth probably was the mother of most of the 9 known children of Thomas GARNETT, perhaps all of them. But there has been some speculation that Elizabeth MUSCOE may have been Thomas GARNETT's second wife and may not have been the mother of the eldest of Thomas GARNETT's son, Anthony GARNETT.

- [Doug Garnett on GARNETT-L@RootsWeb.com]