I am writing to ask whether anyone might do a lookup for me in the 1870 federal census index for NJ. I would love to find Susan McGURTY [McGuity, McGinty?]. She is described as "of Mercer County, N.J." on 20 November 1866 in Susannah DEVER's Claim for Increase of Widow's Pension. She and Susannah's brother, Thomas HARRITY, were witnesses to Susannah's signature. Both witnesses stated that they had been personally acquainted with Susannah for "five years last past". Surely her own brother had known her a lot longer than that, so maybe Susan had, too. I would love to find out what connection the two women had. The claim was signed in Lambertville, Hunterdon Co., NJ, so there must have been a good reason for Susan to have travelled a distance to help out Susannah with her claim. Susan McGURTY's surname is hard to read, so I am not even sure whether I have spelled it correctly. How's that for an open-ended query?! Susannah DEVER's origins have been a 16-year brick wall for me, and I am bloodying my fists trying to punch it down. Perhaps Susan McGURTY holds the key to the mystery. Thanks ever so much to anyone who can answer either of the above questions for me. Mary Jo C. Martin Melbourne, Australia martinsm@ocean.com.au Mary Jo C. Martin Melbourne, Australia martinsm@ocean.com.au