Hi Maura, Thanks for your quick reply. I'm seeking elusive Lydia WEBSTER's birth and marriage confirmation to find out where she was born and who her parent's were. Lydia WEBSTER, was born about 1781, in MA, CT, NH, NY, RI, or VT, married 27 Sept. 1804 James MOWRY in Pomfret, CT, and died 16 Feb. 1847 in Guilford, VT; they are buried in Wilkins Hill District #1 Cemetery in Guilford, Windham, Vt. Children born in Guilford, Vermont: 1) Lucius Potter MOWRY b. 12 Oct. 1806, Guilford, Windham, VT, married 1) 13 Dec. 1827 Desire KENYON [KINYON] my 3rd great grandmother, married 2) Lucy AVERY, and he died 1888. 2) Rev. James Wheaton MOWRY b. 20 April 1808, Guilford, Windham, VT, a noted Methodist minister, d. after April 1878. 3) William Pitt MOWRY b. 5 May 1809, Guilford, Windham, VT, and died in Windsor Locks, Hartford, CT. 4) Lydia MOWRY b. 24 1811 Guilford, Windham, Vt., was m. 1834 J. Barney SHEPHARDSON by Henry J. WOOLEY, Preacher, and she died 4 Oct. 1844. 5) Nelson MOWRY, Guilford, Windham, VT b. 19 Nov. 1813, m. Sophia L. SILVER and died in Wilbra, Hampden, MA. Children born in Leyden, Massachusetts: 6) Ann B. MOWRY b. 24 Aug. 1820 [have photocopy of birth certificate], Leyden, Franklin Co., MA, m. 21 Aug. 1839 Horace Wilkins LYNDE [LINDE], and she died in 1905. and 7) George B. MOWRY b. 1825, Leyden, Franklin Co., MA, and died young between 1827 and 1829. I have written to Guilford, VT; Leyden and Colrain, MA, Town Clerks for vital records but to no avail and checked in Abby Hemenway's "VERMONT GAZETTEER". "The Descendants of Nathanial Mowry of Rhode Island" written by William A. Mowry; Sidney S. Rider, Publisher; Providence, RI, 1878, p. 178, has a listing for the marriage on 27 Sept 1804. I found this same date for Lydia WEBSTER and James MOWRY's marriage listed in a Church of the Latter Day Saints sealed record but cannot view it. It is not in the Barbour Collection. Another source for this marriage date and place is the book "Official History of Guilford, Vermont, 1678-1961" page 485 which I've seen. Also, Addie with the Guilford Historical Society said that the Methodist Episcopal Church records in Green River, VT (near Guilford, VT) where they were members were destroyed in a fire. I've posted on Rootsweb, Ancestry.com, and GenForum. Also, I've had people personally check the marriage records in Pomfret, Conn, as well as Pomfret, Windsor Co., VT (just in case there was a mistake in the state name recorded). No one has been able to find a record. I've checked out a Lydia WEBSTER in the right time period from Cabot, VT, in Abby Hemenway's "VERMONT GAZATTEER". However, the Cabot Town Clerk office's old records were destroyed in a fire. There is a Stephen Webster family listed in Pomfret CT in the 1790 and 1800 censuses, with a houseful of children. At the time of the 1810 census (when Lydia would have been gone, because of 1804 marriage) the ENTIRE FAMILY HAD VANISHED. They have not shown up in any other New England state's censuses for 1810 -- Where did they go? And is there any evidence they were Lydia's family? Lydia WEBSTER is my 4th great grandmother. ONE NOTE: Family lore has it that Lydia WEBSTER is related to Noah WEBSTER but so far no connection. If you or anyone has any bits of research they've uncovered, or any questions for me to clarify, please let me know. I really don't know where to look next! Anxiously awaiting your help, Jan Jordan in Northern VT <<Mowry's are my direct line, Mehitable 1644 (descends from immigrant Roger back to George) married a Kingsley. Maura Amrich [email protected]>>