“A Matrimonial Advertiser:” Tracing the Treacherous Trail of an Early 20th-Century Romance Scammer

This BCG webinar, "A Matrimonial Advertiser: Tracing the Treacherous Trail of an Early 20th-Century Romance Scammer" presented by genealogist Sharon Hoyt offers a compelling deep dive into a fascinating, real-life case study. Blending investigative rigor with storytelling, Hoyt unravels the complex history of Malinda C. Silsby—a woman who married multiple Civil War veterans under various aliases, likely defrauding them of pensions and property. More than just an entertaining narrative, the webinar serves as an instructive lesson in advanced genealogical techniques for identifying elusive individuals, resolving conflicting evidence, and employing diverse research strategies across jurisdictions.

• Effective Use of Timelines, Tables, and Maps: Hoyt demonstrates how to track complex life events, name changes, and migrations across state lines by leveraging annotated maps, chronological timelines, and detailed comparison tables. These tools helped her connect records across eight known marriages, including cases of bigamy and fraud.
• Advanced Search Techniques and Newspaper Research: The case highlights the power of newspaper archives not only as primary sources but as indexes leading to critical court records, pension files, and vital records. Hoyt emphasizes wildcard searches, name variations, and the importance of examining witnesses, occupations, and associates to uncover hidden relationships.
• Resolving Conflicting Evidence and Proving Identity: With skillful application of the Genealogical Proof Standard, Hoyt correlates inconsistent data from censuses, marriage records, divorce filings, and pension applications to confirm identities despite deliberate deception and frequent alias use. Her analysis showcases how to handle discrepancies in birthplaces, names, and ages with methodological care.

To explore the full depth of this investigation and see the strategies in action, view the complete webinar at Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Hoyt’s presentation not only teaches practical methods but also inspires persistence and creativity in tackling complex genealogical puzzles.

For those eager to build on these techniques, the syllabus accompanying this webinar offers additional research strategies and resource links. Be sure to take advantage of these materials to strengthen your own genealogical toolkit and uncover the stories that might otherwise remain hidden.