I've been looking into the Solomon Drain - Sarah Ann Holland - Mary Ann (Polly) Holland mystery and here's what I've come up with, though it's not much.
Solomon Drain m. Mary Ann (Polly) Holland - 1840 Greene Co. TN
Sarah Ann Holland, daughter of Polly, was born in 1939 in TN (who later married Madison Falls). Since Sarah was born before Solomon and Polly married, this leads me to believe that Sarah's father was someone other than Solomon Drain. This would mean that "Holland" was Polly's previous married name. It's possible that her actual maiden name was Falls. (see post on down for further explanation).
Solomon and Polly had the following children together:
Thomas
John Wilson
James M.
... and possibly others
Now, with that in mind, looking at Mary Melvina Falls who married James M. Drain, here's what I've found.
Melvina and Madison Falls are in the 1850 Greene Co. TN census - (though it says Melvina is a male, that's got to be an error on the enumerator's part) - with Delila Falls. This suggests that Melvina and Madison were brother and sister. Melvina was born in 1843, Madison was born in 1839.
Melvina Falls m. James M. Drain (who was the son on Solomon and Polly).
Madison Falls m. Sarah Ann Holland who was the dau. of Polly, stepdaughter of Solomon Drain.
Both Melvina and Madison married children of the same mother - Polly Holland.
My theory is that Madison Falls and Mary Ann (Polly) Holland were cousins. Since their birthdays are so far apart, it's doubtful they were brother and sister, though not impossible. Either way, it's likely they were related one way or another given the fact that Madison's first daughter's name was Mary Ann. In those days, and sometimes still today, children named their children after their parents or other close family member whom they thought well of.
I haven't yet found who Madison Falls parents were. Nor have I found who Polly's father was. If these things were known it could answer quite a few questions on these families.
Any comments, corrections or suggestions on this?
