This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Howard Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/RRB.2ACE/6070 Message Board Post: I have had several people contact me with reference to Plara Howard of Franklinville. The question is what, if any, relation is he to Theophilus Howard (and his wife Mary) of Franklinville. Plara is found in the 1850 Federal census for New York State, Cattaraugus County, Town of Franklinville, with the following household composition: Plara Howard, 35, farmer, $1,500 in real estate, born in VT Eliza A., 33, born in New York State Eliza _, 7, born in New York State Samuel P., 5, born in New York State Alfred _, 3, born in New York State Lewis B., 1, born in New York State There are two major factors that suggest Plara is not a child of Theophilus and Mary's. First, there is no remaining "slot" for a child (either male or female) born in 1815 in Theophilus's household as reported in the 1820 and 1830 Federal census manuscripts. Second, in 1815 Mary and Theophilus resided in Schoharie County, New York, not in Vermont where Plara appears to have been born. While conceivable that Mary gave birth in Vermont while visiting family or friends there, it is not probable that such an event occurred. (I tried to locate birth information on Plara in the Vermont Vital Records, but none was found for him.) Does anyone have information on who Plara's parents were? George W. Howard