Dane, This is very interesting, however, I'm still confused insofar as the meaning of "north of the borough" and "North District Hopewell Twp". If you are saying that you think the referenced "BELLIS farm" was probably located in what is today Mercer Co NJ, then I am ready to jump for joy...but I won't start jumping until I've actually reviewed the deed history. Here's "the rest of the story." According to online databases, which I presume at this point to be correct, "Enoch W. DRAKE was a descendant of Thomas and Dorothy (VanKIRK) DRAKE." I know, through correspondence with a descendant, that George BELLIS (b. 1805 in Highland Co OH) had a son who married Arminda Jane KIER, also a descendant of Thomas and Dorothy (VanKIRK) DRAKE. BELLIS and KIER married in Highland Co OH in 1862. The question is: who was the father of George BELLIS. All signs point to George being a descendant of the BELLESFELTs of Selters (Nordhofen) Germany who immigrated to the Hunterdon Co NJ area circa 1730/40, but the question is, which branch. He probably doesn't belong to immigrant Adam BELLIS(felt), the original owner of the "BELLIS Homestead" located along KUHL Road, since most of Adam's descendants have been accounted for and I can't fit in "George from OHIO". If Enoch W. DRAKE bought a different piece of BELLIS property, located not too far away from Adam and perhaps owned by Adam's brother, then the scent continues... Thanks for your reply! Roz BELLIS Alexandria VA -----Original Message----- From: Dane Coefer [mailto:danec@osfashland.org] Sent: Friday, May 27, 2005 6:39 PM To: NJHUNTER-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [NJHUNTER] BELLIS farm sold to Enoch W. DRAKE in 1897 This Bellis farm was likely in Mercer County in Hopewell Twp. north of the Borough boundaries. On the 1880 Census Joseph M. Phillips resided in the "North Dist. Hopewell Township." Enoch W. Drake likely bought the property as an investment and never lived on it. He died in 1905 at his home of 15 years on Broad St. Hopewell. Dane Coefer -----Original Message----- From: Bellis Genealogy [mailto:bellisgenealogy@verizon.net] Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 12:47 PM To: NJHUNTER-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [NJHUNTER] BELLIS farm sold to Enoch W. DRAKE in 1897 Was hoping someone might know, off the top of their heads, what "Bellis farm" is being referred to in the following item. This was reported in the November 16, 1897 Trenton Evening Times, under the subheading "HOPEWELL": "At the sale of the real estate of Joseph M. PHILLIPS, deceased, on Saturday, the harness property was sold to J.C. HARRISON and the adjoining lot, now occupied by Samuel CARVER to John TITUS, and the house and lot in East Hopewell, known as the BUCKLEY property, was sold to Samuel CARVER, and the farm north of the borough, known as the BELLIS farm, to Enoch W. DRAKE. Fair prices were obtained for all." I'm trying to ascertain if this farm might be the "BELLIS homestead" located along KUHL Road near the Copper Hill/Reaville area or is a different Bellis property. Thanks, Roz BELLIS Alexandria VA