In a message dated 11/25/2008 3:08:21 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, HEChan writes: We're still in pursuit of Caroline PICKEL and all spellings of that surname. She showed up on the 1850 in Macomb County at seventeen living with a group in a home, of seemingly unconnected people, except for the address. It may be a sort of boarding house although it wasn't listed as such. I do know others who lived in the same situation without being list as a boarding house in that county. Carrie/Caroline was born in 1833 in NJ. She said her parents were Jonathan and Hannah Pickel, and I'm sure she believed that, although there is no evidence of that. She moved from NJ at the age of three and lived there for the rest of her life. I don't know whom she lived, nor how she got there. She married Truman Curtis, a widower in Mt Vernon, MI, Jan 11, 1859 and had children and is buried there. We need to know when the first wife of John Mann died (Caroline) to know whose children belong to which wife. We found another Pickel in the same county--thanks to one of the astute readers of this site--that there is an Elizabeth b. NJ, who later, married John Mann, b in NJ and his parents were born in Germany. Fortunately, I have a copy of the marriage of Carrie and Truman Curtis, and also found that Elizabeth and John Mann were witnesses of their marriage. We're getting closer. There, undoubtedly is a connection between Elizabeth and Carrie, but I don't know if they are sisters or cousins or what the relationship is. We need help that might lead to finding Carrie's parents. She was my great grandmother. She lived and died without really knowing who her parents were, and I don't want to! I have sent for the will of Jonathan Pickel and am anxiously waiting it. Thanks, Mike, for giving me the instructions. HEChan @AOL.Com Helen Chandler ____________________________________ One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks, and the things you love. Try the new _AOL.com_ (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40va nity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001) today! **************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks, and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp %26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001)