Roz, thanks for bringing the family connections in Germany and then Hunterdon to our attention. I am interested in this family grouping and this may eventually help. I have seen in my own German ancestors that migrated in the mid 19th century, that family groups moved to St. Louis and then several years later to farming communities in the rural outskirts where land was available. A prominent German records scholar, author, and genealogy lecturer, Roger P. Minert, articulates that it was common in Germany that when someone with a common name like Johann Schmidt moved to another locality they might use the name Johann Schmidt aus Anhuizen, or whatever the town was named, to differentiate themselves from others of the same name. Eventually, the Meier would be dropped and they would simply use the name of the family's former location. It happens several times in his own family. I can't guess whether this is the case that you discuss, or as you say, the genealogist misread the document, but it something to consider as a possiblity. Dan Vornberg **************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)