This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Mader, Madir, Meador, Meder, Meadows, Meders, etc. Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.meador/856/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I was wondering if someone might be able to help me. I have a GG-Grandfather named Michael Meders, from German Catholic Church documents in Cumberland, MD, I was given a grave site with the names John Meder (1799-1877) and 2 named Margaretha Meder (mother and daughter). Although the relationship was never supplied by the church, I believe my Michael was a son of John. When I was young, I had done a grave rubbing on the stone of Michael's wife, Caroline (that church records can no longer identify-yet I know it was in their cemetary)and this listed her as wife of Michael Meders. A 1913 Cumberland, MD Directory gives Caroline as the widow of Michael Meders. Apparently, sometime toward the end of the 1800's an "s" was included. I'm disabled, so I've not been able to afford any paid genealogical sites or even travel back to Cumberland for any additional information. I've been through censuses and stuff, but I'm finding surprisingly little information. There is a suggestion that they may have come from PA. I've contacted a Meder from Scranton, PA but haven't heard anything back yet. Caroline Hodel-Meders was from Philadelphia to Cumberland. Thier daughter, Florence married by G-Grandfather Benjamin N. Ellsworth, who was born in Ohio, according to censuses, and moved to Cumberland by way of Pennsylvania. I also have other family relatives from another branch who moved from Rockingham Co, VA, through Hardy Co, WV and into Cumberland. There's at least 3 different routes into Cumberland from all directions. Also, seeing the varieties of the Meder spellings (Meader, Mader, Meadows, Madore, Meders) I'm really at a loss of hope and now I'm grasping at straws. I was lucky to get what information I have from family members before they all passed away. St Peter & Pauls has been knid enough to send me the documents they can find, which has helped to lead to other sources, but this branch has grown cold. I'm hoping anyone might be able to offer some help or suggestions. Thank you, Terry tacapollo(at)peoplepc(dot)com