I don't know about other researchers on the "internet", but I follow the genealogical community's rigid documentation principles. In order to prove one generation to the next, you have to evaluate the evidence. You must have one primary source or three secondary sources to proof parentage. A primary source is one that was created at the time of the event. A secondary source is a statement of knowledge who was not witness to the event. Secondary sources are more likely to have errors in them, therefore the genealogical standards require three secondary sources, if there is no primary source.
So let's put these genealogical standards to work about proving the that John Van Frank and Harriet Whipple were the parents of their 6 children: (John and Harriet were my 3rd great grandparents)
1) Charles Phillip b 11 June 1833;
2) David Brainerd b 05 Jan 1835;
3) Edward Payson b 30 Sept 1837;
4) James Dennis b 06 Feb 1839;
5) Hannah Maria b 28 Oct 1842;
6) Mary Elizabeth b 11 Feb 1849;
Birth records were not required to be kept at the state level until 1907. So there are no primary birth records. Sometimes there are birth records kept by churches, but I have not found any for this family. In the case of this family, we are fortunate to have recorded wills by John, which listed their children and heirs at law.
Child 1 - Charles Phillip:
1 primary source: in father John's will dated 20 July 1882, Charles P. VanFrank is listed as child and heir at law.
2) secondary source: listed as a son in father John's obituary in 1882;
3) secondary source: listed in the household of John and Harriet in 1850. He is listed as a male, but there is no relationship to head of household in these years.
4) secondary source: listed as son Charles P. as published in the History of Elkhart County, Indiana in 1881.
Child 2 - David Brainerd
3 secondary sources:
1) not listed in father John's will dated 20 July 1882, therefore died before that date.
2) not listed as a son in father John's obituary in 1882;
3) His tombstone says "David B, son of J & H Van Frank" . Tombstone is in the Van Frank family plot.
4) Listed in the household of John and Harriet in 1850 and 1860. He is listed as a male, but there is no relationship to head of household in these years.
5) Died serving in the 88th Indiana Infantry in the Civil War in 1862. Therefore there are no future census or other records.
6) secondary source: listed as son David B., deceased, as published in the History of Elkhart County, Indiana in 1881.
Child 3 - Edward Payon
2 secondary sources:
1) not listed in father John's will dated 20 July 1882, therefore died before that date.
2) not listed as a son in father John's obituary in 1882;
3) His tombstone says "Edward P. son of John and Harriet VanFrank. Died March 1, 1838. aged 5 months and 1 day." Tombstone is in the VanFrank family plot.
4) secondary source: listed as son Edward P. , deceased, as published in the History of Elkhart County, Indiana in 1881.
Child 4 - James Dennis
1 primary source - in father John's will dated 20 July 1882, James D. VanFrank is listed as child and heir at law.
2) secondary source: listed as a son in father John's obituary in 1882;
3) secondary source: listed in the household of John and Harriet in 1850, 1860 and 1870. He is listed as a male, but there is no relationship to head of household in these years.
4) secondary source: death certificate lists father as John VanFrank, mother unknown. Informant was Charles Walley, relationship unknown to James.
5) secondary source: listed as son James D. as published in the History of Elkhart County, Indiana in 1881.
Child 5 - Hannah Maria
1 primary sources - in father John's will dated 20 July 1882, Hannah is listed as daughter of John Van Frank, but deceased. Then the will goes on to list her heirs at law, her children, as John, Lawrence and Jesse.
2) secondary source: not listed as a daughter in father John's obituary in 1882;
3) secondary source: listed in the household of John and Harriet in 1850, 1860 and 1870. She is listed as a female, but there is no relationship to head of household in these years.
4) secondary source: tombstone has no indication of her parents inscribed on it. However the marker is in the VanFrank family plot.
5) secondary source: listed as daughter Hannah Maria, now Mrs. John A. Hogan, as published in the History of Elkhart County, Indiana in 1881.
Child 6 - Mary Elizabeth
3 secondary sources:
1) not listed in father John's will dated 20 July 1882, therefore died before that date.
2) not listed as a daughter in father John's obituary in 1882;
3) listed in the household of John and Harriet in 1850. She is listed as a female, but there is no relationship to head of household in these years.
4) His tombstone says "Mary E. daughter of John & Harriet VanFrank. Died July 21, 1851 aged 2 yrs 7 mos 10 days." Tombstone is in the VanFrank family plot.
5) secondary source: listed as daughter Mary Elizabeth. , deceased, as published in the History of Elkhart County, Indiana in 1881.
