Hi, I ordered the CT/RI 1850 Census from Family Tree Maker (CD#308) and this being the first time I've delved into census material I'd like some opinions on how to interpret the data I've found. Prior to looking at the census I knew the following: Jospeh N. OVIATT: b. abt 1794, Watertown, Litchfield Co., CT (Name:IGI Record #458383, film #: 452828, ref #: 99707) + Amanda NORTHROP: b. abt 1796, (Name: IGI Record #458383.) ........Dwight P. OVIATT; b. abt 1824 (Birth Cert of son Eugene F.), m. Feb 9, 1851 (Watertown Marriage Registry) + Eunice C. HALL; abt 1833 (Birth Cert of son, Eugene F.) ..................Eugene Thomas OVIATT; b Oct 29, 1870 (Birth Certificate) etc, In the 1850 Census (film 43, Litchfield Co., page 389) two families of OVIATTs are listed in Watertown, they are: Line Dwelling Family Name Age Sex - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ 33 151 166 Charles M. Oviatt(e?) 26 m 34 Mary E. 24 f 35 Alice A. Northrop 54 f 36 152 167 Joseph M. Oviatt 48 m 37 Charlotte W. 31 f 38 Dwight P. 26 m 39 Martha 20 f 40 Mary W 10 f My question is how much can I trust that I've found the correct group of people. There are no other OVIATTs listed for Watertown, and the names are close matches. The dates stretch things a bit. If Charlotte is Joseph and Alice (Alice Amanda NORTHROP?), then he would have been 17 when she was born, and Alice/Amanda would have been 23, 6 years older that Joseph. And why would Alice be listed under her maiden name, NORTHROP. Instead of her married name of OVIATT. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated. Sincerely, Rob Oviatt rgoviatt@nbnet.nb.ca Reasearching: NB=>CROUSE, MARR, BREWER, REDIKER, WOODARD, JONES NB=>MOORE, HERSEY, GRAY, JACKSON, MOREHOUSE NB=>POMEROY, GILMAN, MCADAM CT=>OVIATT, GREANEY, DALEY, LAMBERT Resources I have for lookup: "The Mourne Moores In New Brunswick, 1833-1983" by Donna Lee Moore Smith, 1983 "Crouse Family History: The Descendants of Philip and Sara Crouse" by Roguer Crouse, 1995