Michaiah MOOERS, b. 6 April 1794, has been my 20 year brick wall. I am hoping that someone on this list may recognize his name, or be able to provide suggestions for my continuing research. Michaiah and his family resided in Hancock, NH, from about 1816 to 1828. He may also have resided for a short time in Peterboro, NH. Listed as a resident of Amherst, NH, Michaiah married 1st, Lucy KITTREDGE of Nelson, NH, in 1816 (2 children). He married 2nd, Sarah NEWTON, of Weathersfield, VT, in 1819 (5 children). He married 3rd, in 1871, at age 77, Rhoda RUSSELL FOSTER (no children). >From his gravestone, his family Bible and from The History of Hancock, NH, we know that Michaiah MOOERS was born 6 April 1794. I have been unable to find the names of his parents or locate his place of birth. Census records indicate that he was born in either NH or MA; the same was said for his unnamed parents. (Guess it depended on who answered the door the day the census taker made his rounds!) Clues handed down through the family over the years all contradict each other regarding his place of birth. Possibilities include Salisbury, NH, Burlington, VT, Bennington, VT, Bennington, NH, Salisbury, MA and the Haverhill, MA area. Nothing is known of Michaiah's father. Michaiah may have been an only child (family lore). His mother is said to have resided with him when he moved from Hancock to NYS in 1828 and is said to have died in NYS in 1851, with her body (again family lore) returned to New England for burial. She is not buried with the MOOERS family in Broome County, NY, and there is no mention of her in any town or church records. There is a woman, aged 60-70, residing with Michaiah in the 1830 NYS census; and aged 70-80 in the 1840 NYS census. Although this woman is not listed in the 1850 NYS census, I highly suspect she is the mother of Michaiah. Family lore also suggests a spelling change in the last name due to Michaiah (or one of his ancestors) being the black sheep of the family. Michaiah was an accomplished cabinetmaker and an undertaker in Hancock and NYS, and for a time William J. FLINT of Hancock, NH, and Broome Co, NY, was his partner. He served briefly in the War of 1812 as a substitute for Jothan/Jonathan RICHARDSON of Mont Vernon, NH. Jothan's father was a cabinetmaker and I've wondered if Michaiah may have been his apprentice. After finishing his 6 weeks' service in 1815 (for which he received a pension and bounty land), his service records show that Michaiah resided "for a while after discharge in Hancock, NH, then for about two years in the State of Vermont, after that until the year 1828 in Hancock, NH..." After his removal to NYS in 1828, NH connections were still kept. At least three daughters (Elisabeth Mariah Mooers PACKARD, Lucy Jane Mooers and Lydia Apphia Mooers returned to Nelson, NH, to work at Oliver and Nancy WHITCOMB's tavern and at the HARRISVILLE, NH, MILLS in the mid 1840s. I have two clues as to Michaiah's possible family. First, the family of Joseph MOORES of Hancock, NH, who removed to Broome County, NY (as did many other Hancock residents) only one month prior to Michaiah's October 1828 removal. Second, also residing in Hancock/Bennington was Apphia Stevens MOOERS GEORGE, a daughter of AMMIRUHAMAH MOOERS of the Haverhill, MA area. I have the names of 10 of Ammi's 13 children and the names he uses are names Michaiah used to name his own children; Apphia MOOERS GEORGE named her son Michaiah Mooers GEORGE. My suspicion is that Michaiah's father may be a sibling of Apphia, but I can find no proof. I'd truly appreciate any insight or suggestions list members may be able to provide. Finding Michaiah's origins would put to rest a nearly century old quest by a long and frustrated succession of his descendants! Thanks, Deb dy3@juno.com ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.