And sometimes that skeleton isn't on your branch

Last night I read a census that I thought belonged to my multi great grandfather. I was upset because a man with the same name in the location where I thought my multi great was living at the time owned 24 slaves. 

For my thoughts on legal versus moral read yesterdays blog.

Today after learning more about that side of the family, I realized it was not him. My direct ancestor was not in that state in 1820. 

I'm hoping that the other information that I learned about my grandfather means he never owned a slave in his life. He was a Methodist minister for over 30 years. I so hope that as I learn more about him that his moral compass prevented him from feeling that he had the right to own another human being. 

Does the slave owner in 1820 belong in my tree? Probably. But at least he isn't on my direct branch. 

Maybe it shouldn't make me as happy as it does, but it does make me happy that it wasn't my direct ancestor.