This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Smit/Smith Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/CIB.2ACI/737.737.1 Message Board Post: I'm very positive this is Gysbert Smit. The Ottawa County death record index indicates his parents are John C. Smit and Cornelia vd Berg, which are similar to the marriage certificate. The age is also right on. I recall looking at one of the census records (1900 I think) listing his birthplace as Zeeland, Holland, so the place would be correct. One bit of confusion is the 1850 census listing his wife as Fanna. As most of us know, census records can be far from perfect. This is probably the recorders attempt at Gysbert's first wife Tannetje.