The identity of GEORGE WEST's wife or wives seems to be a big family mystery. General browsing into the Family History files brings up a number of potential names: Sarah Lowe, Sarah Hurlock, Sarah Rodney, Sarah  Love, Betty  Lowe, Sarah Betty Lowe. So what's the real story here? Do we have any documentation that supports any of the above? Let's find out.


First, a little information on GEORGE WEST so we know the man & his times...

GEORGE WEST
Born: 1699 in Worcester/Somerset, Maryland (now Sussex, DE)
Parents: Thomas & Elizabeth West (see my story 'Family Links: John West, Levi West, George West & Previous Generations')
Died: 1756 in Worcester/Somerset, Maryland (now Sussex, DE)

Location:
This is a slightly complicated issue due to the formation and abolishment of MD counties and the disputed line dividing DE and MD. Worcester County was once part of Somerset, but was later lost to Sussex County, DE once the final border between the two colonies was established. So don't let the fact that West records in Worcester, MD also show up in Somerset, MD or even in Sussex, DE confuse you.

George's grandfather & step-grandmother, George & Susannah West, had moved their family from Accomack County, VA to Sussex, then MD, later DE. They were living close to their some of their adult children who had also made the move up the coast from the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

One of their sons, Thomas West, father of George, patented land in Baltimore Hundred known as West Recovery. This is probably where George grew up. The family did not move during the course of George's childhood and indeed remained in the general area until George's children were adults. Thomas willed part of West Recovery to George who willed it to his sons, including Levi West.


WIVES of GEORGE WEST

Most family trees give George West 2 wives. 1st: Sarah and 2nd: Betty.
Some give George West 3 wives. 1st: Sarah Lowe 2nd: Sarah Hurlock 3rd: Betty
Some smush the names together: Sarah Betty Lowe.

George's first marriage (assuming there was more than one) would have taken place in the early 1720s. His eldest sons were born around 1725-ish. Based on the evidence below, my belief is that George was married twice, first to Sarah Rodney and second to Betty Johnson.

SARAH LOWE
Many family tree files indicate Sarah married George in TALBOT COUNTY, MD. Where is Talbot in relation to Baltimore Hundred?
- according to Map Quest, there are about 60 miles between lower Sussex and Talbot Counties.
Are there any LOWE families in Talbot?
- Yes
- Those LOWE men in Talbot at the closest interval to the time George would be getting married: 1733 Nicholas in 'Bay Hundred
   and Thomas in 'Third Haven Hundred'.
- No family file matches for a Thomas Or Nicholas Lowe with a daughter Sarah.
Are there any LOWE families in Worcester/Somerset/Sussex at the appropriate time?
- No/Yes/No
- There are no LOWE records for Worcester in the appropriate timeframe.
- There is 1 Lowe entry for Somerset, MD. 1723: Charles Lowe, Wicomico Hundred.
- There are no LOWE records for Sussex, DE in the appropriate timeframe.
Is there an existing marriage record for a Sarah Lowe and George West?
- Yes
- George West married Sarah Lowe in Talbot County, MD on 14 Feb 1728 [Source: Ancestry Search]
If yes, is it this our George?
- NO, it's not.
- Note that the marriage date occurs 2 years after son Levi West's birth in 1726.
- Our George West is documented as a road overseer for Baltimore Hundred ~1733, suggesting that he was living there.
- In that same year of 1733 a George West is documented in MD census records for Talbot County in Third Haven Hundred, one of the same 100s that had a Lowe family.
- The George West of Talbot county who married Sarah Lowe produced a number of children born in Talbot county including Loton West (1729), John (1731), George (1733) and Mary (1736). He was the son of Loton & Hannah West.
And is Sarah really a LOWE or a LOVE?
- Records of St Peter's Parish, Talbot County, Maryland Parish Register 1681-1855, FHL microfilm 0, 014, 520, item2. The transcription indicates the surname is actually LOVE.

SARAH HURLOCK
Where is Sarah HURLOCK from?
- Sarah HURLOCK is from Talbot County, MD. She is the 2nd wife of George who married 1st Sarah Love.
Is there an existing marriage record for a Sarah Hurlock and George West?
- Yes
- George West married Sarah Hurlock on 25 September 1740
If yes, is it this George?
- NO, it's not.
- Based on the evidence from St. Peter's Parish, Talbot County, MD, Maryland Parish Register, this George is not our George.
- Our George West is apparently still in Baltimore Hundred through 1745 when he sells some land to William West.

SARAH RODNEY
Where is Sarah RODNEY from?
- Sarah Rodney is from Sussex County, then MD, now DE
- Methodist Council Records (from the file of Kevin Copp): "Moved to Sussex County Maryland. Became a Methodist and was very active in that Church. The Lovely Lane Methodists Museum and Historical Society, Baltimore, Maryland donated much data for research. George West married two times. According to the Methodists Council Records of Sussex Co, George married first to Sarah Rodney, daughter of John & Ruth Rodney. Baptismal Book states Sarah was born in the year 1705. George and Sarah were married June 1724. They had one child, Levi West, born 14 March 1726. George West and family remained in Sussex Co for several years and in 1732 he patented land in Sussex named 'Long Acres'. Worcester Co came from Somerset Co in 1742.
- The Lovely Lane Methodists Museum Website:  http://www.lovelylanemuseum.com/genealogy.htm
Are there RODNEY families in Worcester/Somerset/Sussex at the appropriate time?
- Many entries for John Rodney in Sussex, but none specifically pointing to the man listed above.
- The above data appears to be the only link, but it is specific to George & Sarah having a child named Levi born at the appropriate time.
Is there an existing marriage record for a Sarah Rodney and George West?
- Yes, in the records of the Methodist Council Records of Sussex (see above) 
If yes is it this George?
- Probably, YES
- The record lists and appropriate marriage date in the location that we would expect George to be.
- The record also includes the Baptismal information about the birth of Levi West on 14 March 1726.
- 2nd source information, but an original copy would be great.

BETTY (nee Unknown)
We know from George West's will that, at the time of his death, his wife's name was named Betty.
Is there evidence to suggest that George West had any other wife beside Betty?
- Yes, if you count the Baptismal Records of the Methodists Council Records of Sussex County showing the parents of Levi West. George was apparently married to Sarah Rodney, the daughter of John & Ruth Rodney.
Could Betty be a LOWE?
- No. Sarah Lowe wasn't even a Lowe, she was a Love. It appears that the Wests of Talbot county were a separate line from our Wests.
Is there an existing marriage record for a Betty (or variation thereof) to George West?
- No. Not one that I have been able to find. Perhaps it is somewhere in the same Methodists Council Records since George remained within the same area during his lifetime.
- The only marriages for a George West in the 'Maryland Marriages' search are for the George West of Talbot County, MD to Sarah Lowe and Sarah Hurlock. A search in DE only brings up the MD Marriages again.
If yes, is it this George West?
- N/A. Couldn't find a record. The only information on record is George West's Will which names 'Betty' as his wife and administrator.
Is there evidence to prove Betty's maiden name?
- Possibly. Personally, I think Betty is a Johnson. There are clues:
Will of GEORGE WEST of Worcester County, MC 5 Jan 1755 / 5 Mar 1760
Wife: Betty
Children: George, Elias, Amos, Elijah, Eli, Lewis (Levi?), Mary Godwin, Jemima, Comfort and Joyce.
Tracts: "Good Success" and "Thomas West's Pasture"
Exs: Betty West and Elias West
Wit: Michael Godwin, Leonard and Ruth Johnson  30.769
Note: Pay attention to the witnesses in the will. Also note that daughter Mary married a Godwin.

Now for an Abstract of  Betty West's Will:
BETTY WEST     79.117   WO   L20.2.2   12 Nov 1761   3 Aug 1762
Appraisers: Michael Godwin, Benjamin Schofield
Creditors: Levi West
Next of Kin: LEONARD JOHNSON, COMFORT JONES
Adm: Elijah West
Note: Michael Godwin is back, but look who is listed as Next of Kin. Leonard Johnson and Comfort Jones. Exactly what relation are they to BETTY WEST?

Leonard Johnson:
Early Census 1723 Somerset, Baltimore Hundred
Early Census 1738 Somerset, Petitioners
Early Census 1738 Somerset, Petitioners

Johnson, Leonard, Somerset Co.,2nd Jan., 1720-21;
10th Mar., 1720.
To eldest son Peter, pt. of “Londondery.”
To 2nd son Leonard, residue of sd. land; shd. son Peter die without issue, his portion to revert to son Leonard afsd.; he dying without issue, his portion to fall to youngest son Leonard and hrs. and the other part of sd. land bequeathed to 2nd son Leonard to fall to 3rd son John.
To son Leonard, personalty.
To wife Joyce and 8 child., viz. Peter, Leonard, John, Levin, Leonard, Joyce, Eliza, and Charity and Comfort, personal estate, equally; 5 youngest child. to be taught to read well in Bible, if an opportunity doth present, expenses to be pd. out of per. estate, before div.
Exs.: Wife Joyce and son Peter.
Test: Joseph Atkins, Thomas Harney (Harny).
Note: 10th March, 1720, Joyce Johnson claims her thirds. 16, 273.
MARYLAND CALENDAR OF WILLS: Volume 5

Note: Check out the family names. Joyce and Comfort were used by George & Betty for two of their daughters. The deceased Leonard Johnson, Sr., lists a daughter 'Eliza' which is a variation of 'Elizabeth' and which 'Betty' is also a variation. Leonard Sr's son, Leonard, is the one listed as Next of Kin in the abstract of Betty's will.

We need a full copy of Betty's will in order to see if the relationship to Leonard Johnson and Comfort Jones is spelled out, but it is likely that Betty was indeed a Johnson.

Conclusion
Based on the evidence so far, Sarah Lowe & Sarah Hurlock do not belong to this family. George West was married to Sarah Rodney and Betty Johnson.

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