I haven't been on the CT-RIVER list very long, but am curious about several things. Am addressing also Cynthia, the MASS BAY LIST administrator (and any one else about this), "because" am still looking for a PHILLIPS, who came to Massachusetts probably between 1750 and 1790ish or something. Lived in Hanover, NH at least in 1801, maybe 1800 or earlier because there is a PHILIPS in the 1800 census. Now to the interest in the Connecticut River Valley. And the tie in with Massachusetts - maybe!!! Also a family named BUMPUS!! What a name. If PHILLIPS (no given name) was in Massachusetts before 1800 some time, went to NH and had a least one child before 1800, and the first known ancestor, William H. was born on Octobert 10, 1801, I wonder. First of all, William H. married a Phileta PIERSON, who was from Killingsworth, CT. She was born about 1810. Now we always thought they probably met in Leroy, NY (western NY), but the PHILLIPS family has not been found in NY STATE "yet" before 1830. Maybe downstate as they call it, or upstate in the sense of eastern NY or the Adirondacks or some thing, but they are in western New York, Wyoming County to be exact, after 1830. Then a Mrs. PHILLIPS appears (1840 WNY census) living with a family named BUMPUS. I am wondering if that is an older daughter (older than Wm, and the child who appeared on the 1800 census). Did the PHILLIPS immigrate to Massachusetts, live there for a few years, then to NH (Hanover or somewhere) for a while, then down the CT River to CT, maybe met the Killingsworth group (probably a church run by the Piersons - many Abrahams in that clan), and maybe the BUMPUSes were along (could it be the BOMPASSE family, who was quite early in Massachusetts (1621 - such an unusual name), and they all migrated together maybe closer to 1830 or whenever to Western New York? I really this is "guessing" to say the least? But I have to figure out how to find this family, and I have no idea. Thanks to Cynthia ?? I did look at a tombstone picture of an Abigail PIERSON, who was married to an Abraham (I suspect one of our Abrahams), and I had never really thought of graveyards. So much is on line now. So I am trying to trace where all of this might have happened. Have to try different ideas. I do thank the people who have tried to help so far. Fortunately PHILLIPS was not common then; neither BUMPUS ever I suspect. It's just HARD to know, that's all. Guess I will have to start checking census records, and whatever. Any bells ring?? Any thoughts? Any one to contact? BTW - in an earlier post, I think I mentioned that William H. is the son of a Lord PHILLIPS from Ireland, who immigrated here - by himself or with family or what we don't know. We still have not been able to really get a handle on that mystery or how to unravel it yet. Several have written with suggestions: every thing from that being the title of an Irish landowner to a possibility of British royalty - a son who did not inherit a title, but was from a titled father was called a lord. The appellation, however, stopped with him. His son had not title, etc. at all. This Lord PHILLIPS business came from the 1911 history of the state of Missouri called, Missouri State History, etc. etc. Thanks for your list. I do read it, and I do appreciate the information and thoughts there. Betsy Phillips __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com