I have been trying to ascertain the lineage that goes up from the marriage of Henry Rice b. 1620 England and Elizabeth Moore b.abt. 1620 and who settled in Sudbury, Ma. The Sudbury Archives gives their marriage year as 1643. My question is concerning Elizabeth's mother. In various genealogies (History of the Brigham Family and various other works) it is said that she is the daughter of Elizabeth Whale, daughter of Philemon Whale. There is even a reference that Philemon, his wife and daughter came over on the "Planter" with John Moore in 1635. I can find a record of John's passage but not the Whale family.

Here is my question: If Philemon is born in 1599 (Parish Records of Baptisms Chickney, Essex, Eng)and his daughter is born at least 18 years later (I have no source records) - that puts Elizabeth Whale's birth date around 1617. It seems unlikely that her daughter would be born and able to marry by 1743 to Henry Rice.

This supports Elizabeth Whale was a second wife of John Moore and therefore not the mother of the Elizabeth Moore who married Henry Rice. Philemon's will recognize's his daughter Elizabeth Moore's four sons - all of whom were born after 1645. And yet there is no record of said marriage or a death record of John Moore's first wife. John Moore is on record as a Sudbury landowner in 1642. Philemon's will also doesn't mention daughter Lydia who was born in Sudbury in 1643 - so there is one omission which leaves the possiblity of other omissions.

The only other possiblity is that the baptismal records in Chickney do not reflect the correct birth date for Philemon Whale, Jr. This is supported by Philemon Jrs. brother Jonas's son Philemon reported as born with Jonas was just seventeen years old. Possible? Likely? I don't know.
Information that would help:
Any source that confirms Philemon Whale's date of birth
Any source that confirms the marriage of John Moore and Elizabeth Whale and possible death record for a first wife.
Any clues or missing links that I haven't found yet?

Genealogy:
Philemon Whale, Senior b. abt 1550 d. 23 Mar 1619 m Agnes Norwood
..Philemon Whale baptised 27 May 1599 d. 22 Feb 1675 Sudbury m. 3x's
....Elizabeth Whale (daughter to first wife Elizabeth d. 1647 Sudbury) b. ? in England; m. John Moore b. abt 1610 England d. 1674 Sudbury.
......Elizabeth Moore b.? m. June 1, 1643 Henry Rice b. 1620, son of Edmund Rice. Elizabeth death given as 1690.

Thank you for any help -
Jen Herron, Redmond WA
jen_hrrn@hotmail.com