I have two color-coded theories about the father
of William H Yarnall. A tan one and a blue one. They are set forth below in a spreadsheet
format. Both theories indicate we are descendants of a Thomas Yarnall who married
Martha Hammans. Thomas was one of a number of sons of Dorothy Baker and the Philip
Yarnall who came to America in 1683 with his brother Francis. Both theories show we are from the Philip line.
My tan theory (my favorite) indicates William H is the son
of an unmarried Eliza Yarnall with either her cousin Mahlon Yarnall or
her cousin Eber Yarnall. This theory supports a comment about William H being
the nephew of Norris L Yarnall in G Grant Yarnall's 1938 obituary. Mahlon and
Eber were Norris' brothers. My notes in the spreadsheet below are an attempt to
explain why young William H was put in the Webster household prior to 1850. On
April 29, 1843 Agnes' brother John died. His daughter Eliza died earlier that
month on April 2nd. It would be very natural for her child (out of wedlock) to
be placed with someone close to John. His sister Agnes Yarnall Webster was
a good possibility.
My blue theory (a wild supposition and highly unlikely) indicates William H is the son
of an unmarried Ruth Webster with her nearby neighborWilliam Howard
Yarnall. I thought it might be another explanation of why William H was in the household
of Agnes Yarnall Webster in the 1850 census.
