Talk:William Goforth (doctor)

Ohio Constitutional Convention (1802)
The original version of this article stated that this person was a member of the Ohio Constitutional Convention (1802). This was based on Milligan's book, which gives biographies of this fellow and his father William Goforth (1731-1807). Milligan said that the younger Goforth was the convention goer.

However, none of the other biographies of the younger Goforth cited here mention attending the convention. I could find no other printed biography of the elder Goforth. However, his tombstone, carved only five years after the convention reads “Here rest the remains of Wm. Goforth who was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Apr. 1, 1731: Emigrated to Ohio in 1788: Assisted in forming her Constitution and was one of her first territorial judges: An officer in the Revolutionary War. He sacrificed everything for its success. He died Nov. 2, A.D. 1807 in the 76th year of his age.”, as seen here. Also, the journal of the convention notes that on November 1, 1802 “On motion, the convention proceeded to the choice of a President protempore, when William Goforth, Esq., was chosen and took the chair.”, as seen here. The older Goforth was a judge, the younger was a doctor. Esquire is a courtesy title for attorneys, not doctors. This all makes it clear that Milligan was mistaken about which Goforth attended the convention.

I don't wish to smear Milligan's book over this error. I suggest you buy it or get a copy at the library if this era of Ohio History interests you. He seems to have invested a large amount of time in it. I don't remember finding any other errors in it. Also, Milligan is a lawyer, not a professional historian. The find a grave entry is dated 2007, several years after Milligan's book was published. He would not likely have run across the tombstone inscription. Roseohioresident (talk) 21:49, 14 October 2014 (UTC)