I have a possible lead on a mystery ancestress who married Sylvester Bates and gave birth to Norman Francis Bates in Derby Center, VT, in November 1839, and to Georgiana Bates in Boston in June 1843. This Mrs. Bates died in Boston two or three years later (he remarried in June 1847). Sylvester's family lived in Hartland, VT, and moved to Derby Center, VT, around 1840. The lead someone was kind enough to send me is the following marriage listing that appeared in the Massachusetts Centinel/Columbian Centinel of August 15, 1838: "Bates, Sylvester, m. Eliza J. Marsh, in Boston." I have not been able to find any other marriage record for this wedding, nor have I been able to find Mrs. Bates' death listing. (However, the only on-line place I know to search Suffolk Co. records are those available through the NEHGS web-site, which may not have all years input yet.) Would there be church records available to search for the marriage, intentions, or death notice? I know that Sylvester Bates was in Boston during those years because I found him in the city directory: 1843 July "Bates Sylvester, clerk, Pemberton House" 1844 July "Bates (Sylvester) & Parker (O.), restorator, 4 Cornhill et." 1846 July "Bates, Sylvester, clerk, Pemberton House" Thanks for any help you can offer! Andrea Crowell Reno, Nevada