Dear List: I am researching my ggg grandfather, Christopher ELLIS, as usual. I recently became aware of some paragraphs in Volume II of the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society that mention Stoffel Janson Ellis, which means Christopher son of John Ellis. Stoffel means Christopher, Janson means son of John, and Stoffel Janson Ellis's father was John Ellis. This family lived in Holland in the 1600s. The paragraphs were about the buying and selling of houses and gave some vital information of the Ellis family. Stoffel Janson Ellis's marriage and children are described as below in the Proceedings: "Ellis, Hester (Leonard). Wife of Chris. Wit. bet. of John Jones, Sept. 29, 1634. Abraham, son of Chris. and Hester. Cabinet maker. Living in Leyden in 1681. Jacob, son of Chris. and Hester. Anna, dau. of Chris. and Hester. Living unmarried in Leyden in 1681." You can tell that I am desperate that I am spending time on this lead, but I wonder if anyone can give me any idea of how to try to proceed from Stoffel Janson Ellis in Holland in the 1600s to my ggg grandfather, Christopher ELLIS, born in MA or RI in 1783. I have done much research in MA and RI on Christopher ELLIS. He does not appear in any record in those states; I cannot find his parents or other family. I have researched online and cannot find that any Stoffel Janson has ever lived in the U.S. There are some Stoffel Jansons on Facebook who live in other countries, but not in Holland. There is a Christoff Janson with father Jan (John, no last name is given) on familysearch who is obviously the same person as is mentioned in Proceedings of the MA Historical Society, but no other information is given. I was amused to read that Stoffel Janson Ellis of Holland in the 1600s is described as a big real estate man. My ggg grandfather was similar in that he was a wealthy farmer who bought and sold farms in Otsego County, New York State, where he moved about 1800 from MA or RI. I also wonder why this information about Dutch people in Holland was published by the MA Historical Society unless it leads to people who lived in MA at some time. The name of the society suggests that they publish MA history. I tried to answer that question myself by goggling the society and found the following: _Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society_ (http://www.masshist.org/periodicals/proceedings.cfm) >From 1859 to 1997, the Proceedings captured the dynamic intellectual achievements and contributions to historical scholarship of the Society's members and friends. Each issue includes annual reports that chronicle the Society's activities, as well as documents and essays that illuminate the Society's collections and New England history. Each volume through 1997 is individually indexed; four cumulative indexes cover (1) volumes 1-20 of the first series, 1791-1883; (2) volumes 1-20 of the second series, 1884-1907; (3) volumes 41-60, the third series, 1907-1928; (4) and volumes 61-80, no series, 1927-1968. but that doesn't answer my question. Thank you very much for any ideas. Jayne _perllan987@aol.com_ (mailto:perllan987@aol.com) **************The Average US Credit Score is 692. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola. com/promoclk/100126575x1222376998x1201454298/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=M ay5309AvgfooterNO62)