In a message dated 98-12-15 13:43:37 EST, you write: << Our search is ultimately to find the parentage of Pierce B. Bissell...born about 1817-20....possibly Michigan...but also possibly NY. There are no clues of his sibblings other than the slight one for Mary A. mentioned earlier. >> Julie, Your email caught my attention with the Richard surname, but as I read further and saw Herkimer co., NY then my interest changed to your Bissell surname. I thought I had seen that name on the Dutch-Colonies list, but I checked the archives and did not find it. It may have been on a New Jersey list. Anyways, if Your Pierce Bissell is from New York there is a chance he did move to Ill for family reasons. My Van Horne's moved to Will co. from Montgomery co., NY. So I checked "Our Van Horne Kindred" by Elsie O. Hollenbeck and found, something for you to keep in your notes in case it might help in the future. Edgar R. Van Horne b. 21 Jun 1812 m. (1) Julia Bisslee (2) Harriet Bissell Edgar's parents were Abram D. Van Horne b. 26 Jun 1783 and Bertha Edgar of NJ. They lived in Madison county, NY He was an attorney and also served as an Assemblyman from his county for several. years. Abram D. Van Horne's parents were: Abram Van Horne and Hannah Huff. They ended up in Tyron co., NY. They are very distant cousins to my Will county, IL Van Horne's, but someday we might find a connection. By the way, my Will county Van Horne's are: Cornelius Covenhoven Van Horne m. (1) Elizabeth Veeder both from New York. He married (2) Mary Mariah RICHARDS (they married in Porter co., IN). Cornelius was the first mayor of Joliet. Good luck, Lisa