I'm still searching for additional information about Edwin W. Delavan. He is first found in the 1840 census of McCracken Co., KY, living in Paducah area with 1 m 15/20, 2 m 20/30, 1 m 30/40, 1 m 50/60, 2 f 15/20, 1 f 40/50. The only time the family was shown in extant tax rolls was 1841, a listing was found for E.W. De La Van, and Benjamin De La Van. The McCracken County Order Book A showed 3 listings: May 9 1842 p. 530 certified Benjamin De La Van is a person of honest, probility (sic) and good demeanor; July 16 1842 p. 534 Benjamin J. De La Van admitted to practice in this court as counsel and attorney-at-law; July 11, 1842 p 538 on motion of Dorcas De La Van, widow of Edwin W. De La Van, deceased, ordered that letters of administration be granted her on estate of E. W. De La Van, deceased....and she and Benjamin De La Van have security interest into and acknowledged on penalty of $600.... Where did this family come from? Who were the other people shown in 1840 census? By 1850 census Dorcas lived across the river in Massac Co., IL with James and Mary Young. A marriage for James Young and Mary Delavan in 1845 was recorded in Massac Co. Benjamin was in Massac Co. in 1850 living with John W. Steward family. Henry Delavan was the only other Delavan found in the area in 1850, also living in Massac Co. with his wife Martha Jane Lynn. The 1850 census claimed both Benjamin and Henry were born in Virginia; Dorcas was born in Rhode Island. A letter written by a granddaughter of Edwin, claimed Edwin's wife was Tabathie JURAULD. If this is correct, and it is unproven to date, who was Dorcas? A nickname? A second wife? A book HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY, ILLINOIS by O. J. Page, stated (p 202) that Judge Benjamin J. Delavan was of French descent, born about 1815 in Rochester VA, and in 1843 with his father came to Paducah, editing and publishing the first newspaper of that city. Facts do not support some of those statements. Rochester VA has not been found, and the family arrived in Paducah at least by early 1840. They DID NOT publish the first newspaper. I would love to find more information on this family, especially prior to 1840. I would also love to see if additional sons/daughters/cousins can be found! Thanks for any help on this elusive brick wall. Nona