I understand completely what you are saying and I esentially agree, however there IS a Vermont "Rider" clan that ends up in Missouri its just not related to the "Ryder" clan of Saline County. Where I can't document the connection is the marriage of Talitha to James Ryder of Saline County (or for that matter to anyone...) I just found it remarkable that there was a Jim Rider in NW MO that really does have roots in Vermont and then apparently shows up in the 1970 census in Nevada (the state). I just can't make the connection except through Talitha's affidavit which even the PM in Marshall was unable to corroborate as there were no other witnesses to her claim other than the US Detective in Chillicothe which says in essence "yeah, I knew her before the war and this is her story and I arrested her for it..."

So how much do you believe a jilted lover? Sure would like to see a marriage record from somewhere.

John R