Maryellen and HOLMES listers, I've been trying to trace some Holmes who were in Dutchess Co. ,NY, but probably removed from the Hartford, CT area. Don't have a personal link to your Holmes or Willeys, but do have some suggestions and one marriage record for your Holmes/Willey couple. 1st, there are several good sources on CT. I've been doing work on several lines in Haddam, Stonington, Cromwell Upper Houses, Saybrook, and New London. CT didn't compile its vital records as well as MA did, but D.L. Jacobus has a good book which follows most early CT settlers' line for several generations. It's probably available at a university or other large library in Miama and could be checked before you travel to NEHGS. 2nd, depending on when you're going to NEHGS, you might also want to try this one via their circulating collection: "The Descendants of Geo. Holmes of Roxbury, MA, 1594-1908. To which is added the Descendants of John Holmes of Woodstock, CT" by Geo. A. Gray (1908). 3rd, and also available in many libraries outside of NE, "CT Marriages before 1800" and "American Marriages before 1699." They are good general sources, but perhaps that's where you've gotten some of the info you have already. I think the former lists your folks and I include the cite here (note alternate spelling of Willey -- probably will have to check for lots of variants on both Willey and Holmes): --"Early Connecticut Marriages: Second Book, New London, New Haven Second Church, page 8, John Holmes & Mary Willee, Feb. 11, 1707;" That source also lists another couple who might be related to yours (given the Haddam location) --"Early Connecticut Marriages: First Book, Saybrook, New Haven Second Church, page 90, John Holmes of East Haddam and Mary Canfield of Saybrook, April 22, 1762" 4th, some periodicals to check as well (at least NEHGR may be avail in Miami) Holmes/Holmes ancestry, Connecticut; Connecticut Nutmegger, 25, 4, March 1993 Holmes/Holmes family, England, Connecticut, NEHGR 19, 44, October 1865 Holmes/Joshua Holmes, Stonington, Connecticut, 1678-1729, NEHGR, 142, 2, April 1988 Holmes/Nathaniel Holmes, Canterbury, CT; NY, Mayflower Quarterly, 48, 3 August 1982 5th, I found a few related records (but *unsourced*) online that all give the following: John Willey m. Miriam Moore, 18 Mar 1668-70, New London, New L, CT. John was b. abt 1648 New London to Isaac Willey and Joanna ?Lutten. John d. 2 May 1688 Haddam. Miriam was b. 8 Nov 1653, New London to Miles Moore and Isobel Joyner. John and Miriam had seven kids, including Mary, b. 10 Dec 1685 N. Lyme, New L, CT, and an Abel (not the one you mention I hope), b. 3-3-1682, No. Lyme, New L, CT. They don't give any more on Mary or Abel. The people who posted this info are at : [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected] Apologies if this is old info for you. I have not corresponded with any of them; just passing on potentially helpful contacts. 6th, there's a ton of Willey family info (with sources) at http://www.clinton.net/~mewilley/family/willey.htm On my lines, I am looking for info re: Eunice Holmes/Helmes who m. Wm. Drake. Eunice was the daughter of Mary Helmes/Holmes who was of Amenia, Dutchess CO., NY, estate dated 12/1/1789. Her will mentions daughters Eunice wife of William Drake, Susannah wife of Stephen Downing, Mary Davis dec'd, Prudence Thurstin. Executor was friend, Jabez Flint, Esq. Witnessed by John Denton, Fanna Thomas, and Sabra Burton. Probated June 11, 1789. Will is abstracted from records of Surrogates Office in Dutchess County, Liber B, page 169. I hope the above Holmes suggestions are useful. If you run into any evidence about Holmes removing to Dutchess CO, NY prior to 1789, I'd greatly appreciate it. Best of luck! Michael In reply to ______________________________X-Message: #1 "Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 17:00:35 EDT From: Mcanfora <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Subject: JOHN HOLMES/CT Hello Everyone: I subscribed to the Holmes List very recently, but haven't posted because I don't have very much to offer. It has only been in the past few months that I learned I am descended from John Holmes, b. 11 Mar 1686/7 in New London, CT, d. 29 May 1734 in East Haddam, CT. He m. 11 Feb 1706/7 Mary Willey, d/o John Willey and Miriam Moore (my 6th great grandparents)." ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Boyer O'Leary MIT Sloan School of Management Organization Studies PhD Program 50 Memorial Drive, E52-511 Cambridge, MA 02147 [email protected] Home Address & Tele (preferred mailing address) 2 Elm Court Somerville, MA 02144-2542 617/776-7352 ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Boyer O'Leary MIT Sloan School of Management Organization Studies PhD Program 50 Memorial Drive, E52-511 Cambridge, MA 02147 [email protected] Home Address & Tele (preferred mailing address) 2 Elm Court Somerville, MA 02144-2542 617/776-7352