Elias Howe is reported to be my 6th cousin, four times removed, through our MRCA, Mary Parmenter (1610-1690).  Mary would be my 9th great grandmother.  There is a one generation jump from my 7th great grandmother, Abigail Bellows (1661-1726) through a PRIVATE mother of Abigail, daughter of Mary to complete the connection.    The people line in Elias’ pedigree are unbroken up to Mary.  All in all, this is pretty complete.  But, still, I wonder, if Private is the known daughter of Mary (probably with the surname of Wood since that this the surname of the next generation on Elias’ chart)  and the mother of Abigail, why the secret?    Another item in the great vacuum bag of mysteries to be solved.