I just received some papers giving me a clue to my ancestor's wife's name along with the story that he 'married his childhood sweetheart the day the family left for Illinois' ca1839. I'm now searching for any evidence that Thomas KIRBY md Rebecca CLAYTON in the spring [May?] 1839. any CLAYTONs out there looking for similar connections? :) the KIRBY farm was in upper freehold twp of Monmouth co [since ca1801] and some relations are buried at OYMH; they were farmers, as best I can tell, and had all left the area betw 1820-1840. thanks! kirby in NC kirbz@netmcr.com