I stumbled across some new information about Benjamin Black’s father, Samuel Black. Samuel was my 4x-great-grandfather. Up until now, the only documentation I had on him (besides family lore) was a record of his marriage to Elinor Howard in 1812.
Karen, you have a pioneer relative!
That was the subject line of an email I got this morning from FamilySearch, the website and genealogy organization operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (otherwise known as LDS or Mormons).
The Revised Biography of Benjamin Franklin Black
After reading and transcribing the Mexican War pension file for my great-great-great-grandfather Benjamin Black, I can now go back and write a biography for him that’s quite a bit more detailed than what anyone could have written before. But it’s probably not the legacy he would have wanted.
The Final Report and aftermath
Special Examiner MacBride would have loved to have met Albert Corbin in person, but in the end, he thought Albert’s written letter was sufficient to close the case. He sent his findings to the top guy, William Lochren, the Commission of Pensions in Washington, D.C. MacBride’s conclusion? “Death alone has saved Black from the legal consequences […]
The Stolen Identity
After interviewing Capt. Riddell, Special Examiner MacBride returned to Cincinnati and immediately penned a letter to Albert Corbin. MacBride had good reason to want to talk to Albert. Finally, he had found someone who actually served in the Mexican War alongside Randolph Corbin. And according to Capt. Riddell, Albert reportedly knew the circumstances of Randolph’s death.
