Although her grave marker states she was born in 1812, it's much more likely that she was born closer to 1805. Her father does not appear on the 1810 Mifflin Co PA census and probably died prior to 1810 when Mary was quite young.
If her birthyear was 1812, she would have only been 13 when her eldest son was born, and her son [John's] bio seems to indicate that there was an older daughter too. However a more realistic birthyear of 1805, would make her 21 in 1825. Somewhere between the two dates is more likely the truth.
She wasn't the first person to try to make herself younger than her actual years.
An obituary found thru the research of Richard Blanton reveals the dates on the grave marker to be totally wrong. The calculated birth year from her age in the obit would be 1807.
Atchison Daily Champion, March 28, 1879
DIED.
In this city, yesterday, at 12 o'clock, Mrs. Mary M. McCracken, a native of Juniata county, Pa., aged 72 years.
Funeral from the residence of her son, Sam'l McCracken, corner of Fifth and Park streets, this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Friends of the family are cordially invited.
If her birthyear was 1812, she would have only been 13 when her eldest son was born, and her son [John's] bio seems to indicate that there was an older daughter too. However a more realistic birthyear of 1805, would make her 21 in 1825. Somewhere between the two dates is more likely the truth.
She wasn't the first person to try to make herself younger than her actual years.
An obituary found thru the research of Richard Blanton reveals the dates on the grave marker to be totally wrong. The calculated birth year from her age in the obit would be 1807.
Atchison Daily Champion, March 28, 1879
DIED.
In this city, yesterday, at 12 o'clock, Mrs. Mary M. McCracken, a native of Juniata county, Pa., aged 72 years.
Funeral from the residence of her son, Sam'l McCracken, corner of Fifth and Park streets, this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Friends of the family are cordially invited.
Although her grave marker states she was born in 1812, it's much more likely that she was born closer to 1805. Her father does not appear on the 1810 Mifflin Co PA census and probably died prior to 1810 when Mary was quite young.
If her birthyear was 1812, she would have only been 13 when her eldest son was born, and her son [John's] bio seems to indicate that there was an older daughter too. However a more realistic birthyear of 1805, would make her 21 in 1825. Somewhere between the two dates is more likely the truth.
She wasn't the first person to try to make herself younger than her actual years.
An obituary found thru the research of Richard Blanton reveals the dates on the grave marker to be totally wrong. The calculated birth year from her age in the obit would be 1807.
Atchison Daily Champion, March 28, 1879
DIED.
In this city, yesterday, at 12 o'clock, Mrs. Mary M. McCracken, a native of Juniata county, Pa., aged 72 years.
Funeral from the residence of her son, Sam'l McCracken, corner of Fifth and Park streets, this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Friends of the family are cordially invited.
If her birthyear was 1812, she would have only been 13 when her eldest son was born, and her son [John's] bio seems to indicate that there was an older daughter too. However a more realistic birthyear of 1805, would make her 21 in 1825. Somewhere between the two dates is more likely the truth.
She wasn't the first person to try to make herself younger than her actual years.
An obituary found thru the research of Richard Blanton reveals the dates on the grave marker to be totally wrong. The calculated birth year from her age in the obit would be 1807.
Atchison Daily Champion, March 28, 1879
DIED.
In this city, yesterday, at 12 o'clock, Mrs. Mary M. McCracken, a native of Juniata county, Pa., aged 72 years.
Funeral from the residence of her son, Sam'l McCracken, corner of Fifth and Park streets, this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Friends of the family are cordially invited.
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