masthead

Volume 11, Number 3
Fall 1990

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R.G.S. OFFICERS
1990 - 1991
Directors: Julie Steitz (1991) & Bob Gustafson (1991)
President: Ruth Metzler
Co-Vice Pres. & Program Chairpersons: Marianne & Bob Hesselberth
Recording Secretary: Ellen Grabb
Corresponding Secretary: Loretta Welch
Treasurer: Herb Grabb
Membership Chairperson: Richard Halsey
ACTIVITY CHAIRPERSONS ARE:
Book Raffle: David McCandlish
DAR Liaison: Dorothy Bailey
Hospitality: John & Frances Thirtle
Name Tags: Julie Steitz
Tape Library: Carter Livermore
Publicity: Bob Gustafson
HEAR YE co-Editors: Robert Hesselberth & James F. Roome
Rochester Genealogical Society, PO Box 92533, Rochester, NY 14692

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: "MARRIAGE RECORDS"
Ruth Metzler

We were told at the wedding that it - the last Saturday in June - was 'The Most Popular Day' for 1990 newlyweds. During the organ music, I idly considered the vast amount of personal data which would be entering the official records on the following Monday. And had all of these marriages been "made in Heaven" as the family said of Great-Grandmother's marriage? Her son had said "My Father was a good man, but my mother was an angel."

I never had found the record of that "made in heaven" marriage, nor a photograph. Where DO genealogists find marriages in New York State? My colleague Bob Rowe, then President of the Kodak Genealogy Club, observed recently that marriage records are probably the most essential of vital records and the hardest to find. At the time, he was deeply involved in the preparation of his GCNY lecture on "Church Records: Where to find them & How to use them."

NEW YORK MARRIAGES PREVIOUS to 1784 and Fred Q. Bowman's three books of 10,000 VITAL RECORDS in NYS are just appetizers to lure the searcher into microfilm reels of marriage-laden 19th century newspapers. Old family Bibles often have a Marriage Record page. I've found these in Historical societies, libraries, DAR collections, and private family collections. The journal, THE AMERICAN GENEALOGIST (TAG) sometimes reprints NYS Family Bible Records; see the March Family Bible in July 1989. Original marriage certificates turn up in unexpected places, as did the Tripp family certificate found at our Rochester Museum & Science Center library. A valuable guide to original marriage certificates in western NY is a feature of the WNY Genealogical Journal which now solicits the publishes them.

The Marriage Record Book of George W. Taylor, kept by his great-granddaughter, lists 39 marriages performed between 1875-1895 by this traveling Quaker and Spiritualist minister of WNY: see the WNY Genealogical Journal of March 1983 for this record. Periodicals which print various marriage notices include: YESTERYEARS, Foley's EARLY SETTLERS OF NYS, the NYGB RECORD, and TREE TALKS.

RGS Members Joyce & Bob Rude added to the list of marriage sources in NYS; they are super genealogical sleuths! In a nondescript pile of uncatalogued materials in the Fenton Historical Society Library, Jamestown <Chautaugua Co.> they found the treasure: It was the Marriage Record of Rev. Alfred J. Wilcox, Baptist minister who performed 305 marriages in Erie & Chautaugua Cos. NY and Allegheny Co., PA from 1851-1890. His personal journal was (in 1979) in the possession of Warren A. Philip of Rt 6, Black St., Amsterdam, NY 12010. Martha Osborne, a member of the Seattle (WA) Genealogical Society, copied it and contributed it to the SGS who printed it in their BULLETIN of Fall 1979, p. 9-20. In this record, I found my paternal great-grandparents marriage record of 15 Oct 1873 in Eden <Erie Co.> NY by the itinerant minister A.J. Wilcox! Their marriage record traveled further on its path to me than they ever did in their lifetime!

As we develop our family histories, encountering frustrating blank spaces for those "made in heaven" marriages, the thought returns like lingering organ music - where ARE those marriage records? Only Heaven knows.

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1990 - FALL PROGRAM
Letitia & William Welch

The Rochester Genealogical Society will continue to meet the third Thursday of each month (except December, July and August), at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, East Avenue and Vick Park B. The mini-workshops will start at 7 PM (except as may be noted for special programs), followed by the business meeting at 7:30 PM and the main program at approximately 8:00 PM. Visitors are very welcome.

This fall the mini-workshops prior to each 8:00 PM meeting will focus on basic tutorial material for beginning and intermediate genealogists.

Thursday, September 20th

Mini-workshop: Ruth Metzler speaks on "How to Begin Tracing Your Ancestors" and "Writing letters to Obtain Information."

Program: Monroe County Historian speaks on "Update World War II" or "Monroe County Goes to War." Dr. Kenneth O'Brien, a 20 year resident of the area and currently Chairman of the History Department at SUNY Brockport.

Thursday, October 18th

Mini-workshop: Julie Steitz speaks on Libraries, Historical Societies, and Other Sources of Family History.

Program: "Exploring the Lower Genesee River Gorge." - Bill Davis

Thursday, November 15th

Mini-workshop: Jim Ault speaks on using Census Records.

Program: "Present and Future Activities in the Family History Centers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

Note: There is no RGS meeting in December.

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ANNOUNCEMENT:

Are you descended from a Pilgrim (one of the 1st 3 ships) to Massachusetts? If so you are invited to the annual Pilgrim Dinner, which was founded by J. Sheldon Fisher.

Phone Dan McCandlish, #462, at 436-4298.

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GRANTOR LIST FOR EARLY LAND PURCHASES IN ONTARIO COUNTY, NY
Jim Roome

Grantee: Daniel Penfield, unless marked with ( ).

Other grantees as indicated: (Also other grantors in grantee list below.)
(1) Joseph Penwell;
(2) John Pennington;
(3) Henry F. Penfield;
(4) Jesse Penfield;
(5) John Pennepacker;
(6) Reuben Penoyer;
(7) Frederic Pennoyer;
(8) John Pennell;
(9) Edward Penny, Jr.;
(10) Mary Penfield, wife of Daniel

Date Grantor Liber & page
1797 Andrew Pierce 5-20
1797 Andrew Pierce 5-22
1799 Samuel P. Lloyd 6-150
1799 Silas Pepoon 6-160
1802 John Fellows 8-479
1802 John Fellows 8-480
1802 John Fellows 8-481
1802 Nathaniel Gorham 8-485
1802 Peter Holly 8-487
1802 Alexander Duncan 8-559
1803 Moses Hopkins 9-209
1803 John Cole 9-209
1805 Samuel Hinckley 10-445
1805 Peter B. Porter 10-710
1805 Oliver Phelps 10-710
1806 Joseph Blake 10-717
1807 Sir James Pulteney (1) 12-81
1808 State of Connecticut 12-246
1810 Thomas Floyd 14-207
1810 Alexander Duncan (2) 14-641
1812 Natilda Prentice 16-517
1812 John C. Hind 18-46
1813 Ebenezer F. Norton (3) 18-152
1813 State of Connecticut 19-368
1814 James Benjamin (4) 21-166
1815 Oliver Phelps (3) 22-493
1815 Joseph A. Andrews (5) 23-270
1815 Elisha B. Strong 23-263
1816 Danuel Van Sickle (6) 26-135
1816 William Hanes (6) 26-135
1816 Jonathan Fasset(3) 26-322
1816 Henry Amsden(3) 26-545
1817 Alexander Duncan 27-378
1817 Harris Colt 27-379
1817 Jesse Hawley 27-381
1817 Israel Phillips(7) 28-315
1817 Oliver Phelps 29-170
1818 Harris Colt 30-95
1818 Jesse Hawley 30-98
1818 John Rhods (8) 30-166
1818 William L. Brayton (9) 30-483
1818 Henry Champion 31-140
1818 Oliver Phelps 31-524
1818 Mark H. Sibley 32-4
1819 James Ackley Jr. 32-322

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GRANTEE LIST FOR EARLY LAND PURCHASES IN ONTARIO COUNTY, NY
Jim Roome

Grantor: Daniel Penfield, unless marked with ( ).

Date Grantor Liber & page
1796 Henry Champion 4-120
1796 Charles Williamson 4-294
1798 Peter Holly 5-24
1802 John Fellows 8-478
1802 Peter Holly 8-486
1802 John Johnston 8-513
1802 Samuel Franklin 8-514
1803 Isaac Woodruff 9-153
1803 William Bacon 9-363
1804 Andrew Bruzee 9-626
1804 Nathan Woodruff 9-650
1805 Samuel Atwood 10-509
1805 Thomas Atwood 10-510
1805 William Loyd 10-512
1805 Daniel Wilson 10-512
1805 Samuel Franklin 10-540
1805 Joseph Blake 10-562
1805 Oliver Phelps 10-710
1806 Shadrach Doty 10-715
1806 Justus Walker 10-716
1806 Isaac Beatty 11-70
1806 Joel Stone 11-172
1806 Benjamin Lewis 11-198
1806 Elisha Case 11-347
1806 Nathaniel Case 11-348
1807 Luke Van Dake 11-416
1807 Aaron Quick 11-433
1807 William Loyd 11-484
1807 Armour Loyd 11-485
1807 Herington Baker 11-417

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MEMBER ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS:
Julie Steitz

DICK HALSEY

Dick Halsey has been a faithful member of the Rochester Genealogical Society since 1978 and has assisted in many ways: Vice President/Program Chairman; Membership Chairman; handling the book raffle for many years; carrying the heavy load of Up for Grabs material back and forth each month. He initiated and is responsible for the Genesee Country Family computer data file. He has also found time to assemble other misc. records of which the following are a part, to assist researchers in Monroe County research.

Cemetery records from various places in Monroe County, NY: (p. = pages)

BRIGHTON: Brighton Cem. 39 p.; West Brighton Cem. 12 p.

CLARKSON: West Clarkson Cem. 18 p.

GREECE: Falls Cem. 50 p.; Frisbee Family Cem. 1 p.; Lowden Family Cem. 1 p.; Mother of Sorrows R.C. Cem. 23 p.; N. Greece Cem. 1 p.

HAMLIN: Blossom Cem. 25 p.; Moore Family Cem. (Hoyt Cem.) 2 p.

HENRIETTA: Brown Cem. 3 p.; Riverside Cem. 7 p.

MENDON: Barben Cem. 2 p.; Honeoye Falls Cem. 74 p.; Mendon Cem. 57 p.; Moore (More) Cem. 1 p.; Old Mendon Cem. 3 p.; Porter's Corners Cem. 2 p.; St. Paul's R.C. Cem. 36 p.; Tomlinsons Corners Cem. 5 p.

PARMA: Atchinsons Cem. 3 p.; Castle Cem. 3 p.; Knapp Cem. 4 p.; Parma Corners Cem. 32 p.; Smith Family Cem. 5 p.; West Greece Cem. 6 p.; Wright Family Cem. 3 p.

PENFIELD: St. Joseph R.C. Cem. 13 p.

PERINTON: Bushnells Basin Cem. 8 p.; Mason Road (Egypt Cem.) 4 p.; Elmwood Cem. 23 p.; Greenvale Cem. 37 p.; Mt. Pleasant Cem. 21 p.; Perinton Center Cem. 9 p.; St. Mary's R.C. Cem. 18 p.; Schummers Cem. 3 p.; South Perinton Cem. 20 p.

PITTSFORD: East Street Cem. 3 p.

ROCHESTER: Charlotte Cem. 7 p.; East Cem. 7 p.; Hanfords Landing Cem. 9 p.; Mt. Hope Cem. (old section) 625 p.; Rapids Cem. 16 p.; St. Casimir's (Polish) Cem. 17 p.; St. Joseph's R.C. Cem. 18 p.; St. Patricks R.C. Cem. 42 p.; West Cem. 27 p.

SWEDEN: E. Sweden Cem. 9 p.; Locust Cem. 5 p.; Mt.Olivet R.C. Cem. 52 p.; West Sweden Cem. 7 p.

WEBSTER: Harris Road Cem. 2 p.; Holy Trinity R.C. Cem. 27 p.; Union Hill Cem. 25 p.; West Webster Cem. 47 p.

OTHER RECORDING PROJECTS BY DICK:

Vital Records: 1847-1850 from the Town of Brighton & Monroe Co. Poor-House, All existing births, marriages and deaths (671 total) with an index, 33 pages.

Genealogical Guide to Monroe Co. NY: Hints on where to find various kinds of records, 49 pages.

Cemetery Record Holdings of Monroe Co. NY: 2nd edition (with Lawrence Naukam); where cemetery records are located. This edition includes records available from the LDS Family History Libraries.

He published in the HEAR YE some marriages and deaths from 1820's and 1830's from newspapers that were not before indexed in the WPA project in the Rochester Public Library.

He installed a project to index rnarriages and deaths from the Rochester Daily American. So far he has completed 19 Dec 1844 thru 16 Aug 1852.

BRAVO AND THANK YOU, DICK!

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ROCHESTER GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS NOTES:
Bob Hesselberth

1993 NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY CONFERENCE IN BUFFALO:

Two carloads of RGS members recently traveled to a Buffalo Meeting to learn about the proposed June 1993 NGS conference. It will be hosted by the Western NY Genealogical Society in Buffalo, and the RGS has offered support. Stay tuned for more.

RGS TAPE LENDING LIBRARY:

Carter Livermore (#474) is the curator of the new RGS Tape Lending Library. The first acquisitions are lectures from the July 1990 Genealogical Conference in Rochester, NY. Tape rentals (members only) are $1.00 per tape at a meeting or $2.00 per tape if mailed.

HERITAGE DAYS AT GENESEE COUNTRY MUSEUM:

RGS will participate in Heritage Days at the Genesee Country Museum in Mumford, NY, on Sunday, September 16, 1990 from Noon to 5:00 PM. Volunteers are needed by our coordinator, Judy Markham (140).

CHANGE TO FISCAL YEAR END:

The RGS executive committee has voted to change our fiscal "year end" to June 30th. A membership vote will be held at an future meeting of the society.

GENESEE COUNTRY FAMILY FILE:

This File coordinated by Dick Halsey (67) now has over 8,000 names on record. It is rapidly becoming a valuable reference source for genealogical research in the Rochester area. Personal Ancestral File (pub. LDS) is used for managing this file.

TELEPHONE TREE:

Three telephone tree volunteers are needed to serve as backups to fill in for callers who are out of town or not available. Please contact Loretta Welsh (#197) at 22-3438 or at an RGS meeting if you can help.

ROCHESTER GENEALOGICAL CONVENTION:

Ruth Metzler organized a successful RGS booth at the July Genealogical Conference in the Rochester Convention Center. Several new members were recruited, and sales of publications and tote bags were brisk. The booth featured a poster, designed and printed by Ruth Metzler's granddaughter, advertising our Genesee Country Family File (GCFF). A copy of the GCFF index received a lot of attention.

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ONTARIO (CANADA) GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCEMENT:

Each May the Ontario Genealogical Society holds a 3-day seminar hosted by one of its 27 branches. In 1991, Kingston Branch OGS will host Seminar '91 from May 24th to May 26th. The conference site is Queens University, on the shore of Lake Ontario in the historic city of Kingston. The keynote speaker will be Mrs. Jean Cole from England, author of the "Question & Answers" column in FAMILY TREE magazine. To get on the mailing list for conference brochures, write to:

Seminar '91 Committee, Ontario Genealogical Society, P0 Box 2012, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 5J8

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TOWN OF ONTARIO, NY, PIONEERS & DESCENDANTS:
Jim Roome

Recently the Town of Ontario Historical and Landmark Preservation Society honored the descendants of the people who settled in Ontario in 1890 or before. The Town of Ontario, not to be confused with Ontario County, is in Wayne County. Each descendant who could prove their descent to a pioneer was given a certificate. The certificate was stamped with the Towns seal, signed by officials and listed the pioneers and the descendants name. Below are listed the pioneer and his present day descendant(s), in that order. <PIONEER - Descendant(s)>

Freeman Hopkins, the first settler, came to Ontario in 1806 from Massachusetts.

Lewis Obray JOHNCOX - Wilson Johncox
Zebedee HODGES - Earl S. Watson
Joseph (Rebecca) HUTSON - Craig Waasdorp, Sr.
George HARRIS - Harris Trimble
John (Alzina) RAYMOR - Carol L. Vesta
Stephen MAINE - Rexford A. Ransley
John KIPHUT - Mary L. Rinebold
Abel PEASE - Jaren Nancy Pease Miner
William MOON & Lewis G. ALLEN -
Edna Schneeberger - Dorothy Allen Love -
Deborah Vincent - Gail A. Wright -
Alan Wright - Joyce Moore - Wayne Wright -
Jill Alane Wright - Gary M. Wright -
Karen Wright - Thelma Wright - Helen Wood
Jesse GAGE - Allen J. Albright -
Karen Albright - Arlene Gage Michielsen
Sante BIVIANO - Robert J. & Ronald Biviano
Abraham ALBRIGHT - Johnson S. Albright
John CLARK - John Mathew Albright
James MURPHY - Certrude Doyle
Charles KING - Jean King Mogray
Abram FISHER - Glenna Fisher Eaton
Joseph GATES - Helen Barry
R. D. WATERMAN - Norton Waterman
William (Kock) COOK - Lorraine De Lucas
Charles HARRIS - Robert M. Harris
David P. CRAVEN - Beatrice Palmer Peer
Frederick H. WOOSTER - Thelma VanAlstyne -
Nancy Brown Parton - John VanAlstyne -
Robert Vanalstyne - Donald L. Wooster
Meaker NEWMAN - W. Ronald Flatt
Mary Hopkins BOYNTON - John B. Palrner
Emmet Norman TEATS - Michael Beneway
Fred W. BLYTHE - Albert E. Blythe
John JOHNVILLE - Marie Leenhouts Beach
Clayton BEACH - Robert Beach
Emmet Norman TEATS - Larry Beneway
Charles NASH - Theda Nash Chase
John VAN INGEN - Van Risley
Fay THOMPSON - Freda Albright
David PORREY - Elizabeth P. Albright
Jacob DEVOLDER - Eva DeVolder Vogt
Lewis Obray JOHNCOX - Joanne Mortimer
James CASS - Francis J. Cass
Abram VAN HEE - John A. Furber
Harvey M. FOOTE - Fern Huxley Palmer
F. A. HILL - Gwenn Boekhout
Jacob VER DOW - J. Garth Ver Dow
Carl BILGER - Donald Bilger
Abel PEASE - Dudley Pease
Herbert James FURBER Sr. - Herbert J. Furber Jr
Patrick MURPHY - Stephen G. Murphy
Van Rensselaer PALMER - Michael James Palmer
Zebeedee HODGES - Harley Wood
Arthur Justus SCHIMERHORN - Elmer Schirmerhorn
James CONNOR - Gerard Connor
Zebeedee HODGES - Thelma H. Russell
Edward ALBORN - Theha M. Alborn
Austin RISLEY - Gayle Anderson Flatt
Benjamin SLOCUM - William Leon Slocum
Hurum HARRISON - Christine Anne Albright
Wallice COOK - Mildred Casey
Jacob MOGRAY - Robert Mogray
James EATON - Gayle Eaton Schueler
John C. HOWK & Daisy Owen - Helen Barry
F. D. WATERMAN - Robert (Bill) Waterrnan
Richard WHITBOURNE - Floyd C. Whitbourne
Sante BIVIANO - Marion Biviano
Charles NASH - Freda Nash Harris
Mary Jane McCartan CASS - Ruth Cass Kelly
Frederick H. WOOSTER - Robert Alan VanAlstyne
Rensselaer PALMER - Carolyn P. Jordan -
John W. Palmer - Julia P. Merhoff -
W. Lorenzo Palmer - Lois Palmer Cass
Joseph LeFROIS II - Michael J. LeFrois
Austin H. CLARK - Bettye Maher Myers
Charles W. PEASE - Carol Willits Brown -
Ruth F. Faas - Lorraine M. Faas
Charles W. PEASE - Kenneth D. Faas
David P. CRAVEN - Lois Palmer Cass
Freeman HOPKINS - Margaret Palmer Scalcione
Fay THOMPSON - Dorothy Risley
Benjamin SLOCUM - Carol S. Boughton
Abel PEASE - Warren Pease
Lewis Obray JOHNCOX - Karen Ruth DeShaies
Lewis Obray JOHNCOX - Mark Alan Johncox

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QUERIES & THINGS:
Jim Roome

THOMAS, PIERCE: Paul THOMAS b. 22 Oct 1772, VT, m. 2nd Mary PIERCE, 1808 Penfield; was in 1810 census (Town of Boyle) with 5 sons under 10; d. 28 Nov 1853, Webster, NY. Would appreciate any information on where in Verrnont Paul was born and name of 1st wife.

Barbara K. Tuck, 28 Ruhlig Court, Saginaw, MI 48602.

(Ed. Note: The state of VT did not exist in 1772. Some of the area was settled early by people from NH, then the area was claimed by the State of NY and settlers from NY moved in. There was much conflict between these two states and also MA got into the act. Records on early settlers may be in Albany, NY and or NH archives. There is much "original" information on this conflict in Vol. IV of the DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF NY, 1851. <Jim Roorne>)

BENTLEY/BENTLY, BENJAMIN, EVANS, TWITCHELL: Tracing descendants of William BENTLEY died 1720, Kingstown, RI and William BENTLEY died 1754, Lebanon, CT. Most pre-1850 Bentleys in NY were descendants of these two. Thomas BENTLEY born c 1794 in Vermont or Quebec, died 28 Mar 1848 in Rochester, NY. Wife, Dadama born 1794 in VT or Quebec died 26 Feb 1850 in Rochester, NY. They lived in Rochester until their deaths. Children: Charles married Elvira BENJAMIN; George married Almira J. EVANS; Lucy A. married Lawson B. Twitchell; John; Harrison P. and others? Seek information on these people and their descendants. Will exchange.

Edwin M. Bentley, 970 W. Rockaway Lane, Camano Island, WA 98292.

BARTON, PEASLEY: Anthony BARTON rn. Sarah Elizabeth PEASLEY, 1834, NY. In 1838, in Rochester, NY; abt. 1873 to Livingston Co., NY; abt. 1847 to Allegany Co., NY. In 1854, moved to Midland Co., MI where Anthony d. 1862, ag. 53 and Sarah d. 1870. Children: Nathan, b. c1835; Catherine, b. 16 Sep 1836 prob. Rochester; Anthony, Jr., b. 1837; Joseph D. b. 1838; Elizabeth b. 1842; Almira b. 1847/8 and Caroline. Have data to share.

STARK(S), BARTON: George STARK(S) m. Catherine BARTON, c1853, Allegany Co., NY. George son of Samuel & Sally Ann STARK(S); both apparently d. Allegany Co., 1856 & c1859 respectively. George & Catherine moved to Midland Co., MI. Children: George A.; Martha Elizabeth; Emma Jean and Hiram. George, the elder d. c1860-62 in MI. Have data to share.

BAILEY, SEARS: Joshua BAILEY & Ruth SEARS rn. 5 Nov 1784, Chatham, Middlesex Co., CT. After Oct 1800 removed to Meredith, Delaware Co., NY. Children: Lucy, Timothy, Job, John G., Ira, Anna, Joshua, Harry and Darby. Have data to share.

Seeking information on these families and their descendants.

Lorelei Maison Rockwell, 1199 S. Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94110

BUCK, ALLYN, CUDDEBACK, DECKER, HUFF: Electa BUCK m. James ALLYN, 1809 Penfield, NY, moved to Rom, Ashtabula, OH, d. there after 1870. Margaret CUDDEBACK m. Moses DECKER, 1795 Mombackus, NY, moved to Rome, OH, d. there mid 1800s. Need parents & siblings of the above and parents of James Robinson HUFF, b. 2 Jan 1802, Lyons, NY, d. 26 Jan 1876, Pierpont, OH.

Anderson Allyn, P0 Box 67, Chardon, OH 44024

ADAMS, BALL, HOOD, GOODING?: Desire any inforrnation regarding these families from East Bloomfield, Ogden and LeRoy, NY towns. Family Group Records with essential information would be helpful. Will exchange.

William Adarns Kemp, 1003 10th Ave. N., St. Cloud, MN 56303.

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