While wandering back through my Munn line that I was updating from an 1914 text, I was looking at my 7 timed great-grandfather, Benjamin Munn (1683-1774) and found reference to his wife, my 7 times great-grandmother, Thankful Nims and her father Godfrey Nims. Well, how fast could I open another browser window and check HathiTrust for any mentions of Godfrey Nims (my 8 times great-grandfather)? As usual HathiTrust came through with a 1914 document titled “The Story of Godfrey Nims” as read to The Nims Family Association at Deerfield, Massachusetts on August 13, 1914. I downloaded the entire work and began to read all of the conjectures cover — stories by this member of the family; matching stories by another member of the family, conflicting facts presented all around.

So, I had no choice but to drop everything and research this bright shiny object. I was very lucky to find documented sources for filling out the essentials of Godfrey’s family beyond just his daughter, Thankful. I was able to pin down both of Godfrey’s wives and his first wife (my ancestor) and her 2 husbands, and their shared 5 children. I was able to add one generation to Mary Miller (his first wife, he was her second husband and 5 of her siblings.

Now, I will put the salt shaker next to me as I re-read The Story of Godfrey Nims and see what might be worth keeping.