Hi Elizabeth, Suggest that you complete your search of Bernard O and family as you will get more certainties as you proceed. Then go to the 1840 US CENSUS and see if you find him [only heads listed] there. The least that will happen is you'll eliminate that time for his NYC arrival. This surname spelling will cause you difficulties. Famine era folks aimed to escape Ireland and survive the trip. Search here for Emigrant Ships> http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?cat=GP44 Barb -----Original Message----- From: KCANDME103 via [email protected] Hi, everyone! I have Oats/Oatis/Oates/Otis in Queens in the 1850's upward.....now in the 1850 census, Bernard Oatis, his wife, Margaret, and son Bernard are listed....but there is a Mary A. Evans (something like 8) listed as a niece born in New Brunswick.....I'm guessing Canada. I have yet to find the Oatis folks coming into the US so I don't know where they are from in Ireland. I have not done any Canadian research. I don't know if this lassie just came and stayed with them in 1850....she doesn't appear any place else with them....or if they may have picked her up on the way to Queens via Canada. Would anyone have any thoughts on where I should go from here? Thanks so much! Elizabeth Fairport, NY