Hi Pat/Bob: Death Certificates are great if you can find them, but they are not perfect sources for many of the same reasons gravestone inscriptions are not. I was misled for years by an incorrect maiden name on a death certificate that turned out to be the surname of the deceased's grandmother, not her mother. I've also seen incorrect birthdates and birthplaces. Anyway, I got curious about your Silas P. Hoffman and found a few census records that you may already have. I'll give you them shorthand - let me know if you want them complete. I didn't not find any marriage or baptisms for any Silas Hoffman as groom, child or father in all the Kinship indexes of Columbia Co. records. Good luck, Jim 1930 Valatie, NY: Silas P. Hoffman 81 wid./ md. at 21y, b.NY/f-NY/m-NY, Gardener /Private Family Cyrus 47- son, wid./ md. at 21y, b.NY/f-NY/m-NY, Caretaker /Private Family 1900 Kinderhook/Valatie, NY: Silas Hoffman 51 b.June1848, md. 29 yrs NY/NY/NY gardner Arabella 50 b.Sep1849, 12ch/9lvg. NY/Ct/Ct cotton weaver Cyrus 18, Robert 15, Mabel 14, Stewart 10, Stanton 10, Bench? dau 6, Leroy 3. 1880 Pittsfield, Bershire, MA: Silas Hoffman 28 laborer & Arabella 26 NY/Ct/NY in household of Freeman Miller, butcher. These may or may not be your man: 1870 Stuyvesant, NY (Stuy. Falls PO): Silas Hoffman 19 Farm worker in household of Simon Allen. 1860 Claverack, NY (Humphreyville PO): Silas Hoffman 39 farm laborer, Julia(na?) 28, Silas 9 - all b.NY