This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: kellyjoeb1 Surnames: KELLY, KNIFFIN, SNIFFIN, SNIFFEN, KNIFFEN, HUGHSON, HOPKINS Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.dutchess/9652/mb.ashx Message Board Post: My 4th grt. grd. Sylvanus (Sylvenus) KELLY was b. ca. 1750 in Dutchess Co., NY (area that is now Putnam Co., NY)and lived there until 1790 and then he removed to the town of Coeymans, Albany Co., NY. I haven't been able to find Sylvenus' wife's name. Sylvanus had a son named SNIFFIN. At first I had to chuckle at having a son by the name of Sniffin, but soon learned that it was an actual surname of a family that lived in Rye, Westchester Co., NY and some descendants migrated into Dutchess Co., NY in the mid 1700's. I have learned since that there is a strong likelihood that when there is a son named Sniffin (father has a surname other than Sniffin/Kniffin) in a family that the wife or one of the wife's parents/grandparents has a Sniffin/Kniffin family connection somehow. So I am thinking that my Sylvenus KELLY may of married a woman with a maiden name of Sniffin/Kniffin or that Sylvenus' wife's mother had a maiden name of Sniffin/Kniffin. Based on what I have been able to find out so far a Samuel KNIFFIN/SNIFFIN b. 1727 married a Rebecca ?? and removed to Dutchess Co. probably around 1751 and settled in the area now part of Putnam Co., NY and died there in 1791. Samuel and his wife Rebecca had daus. Sarah b.1755, Jane, Susan, Hannah, and Esther. They had sons named Samuel b. 1751 and Amos. Where there other children? If so, who were they and their date of birth and spousal name? Did any of Samuel and Rebecca KNIFFIN/SNIFFIN's daus. married a Sylvanus KELLY? The only two daus. of Sylvenus KELLY that I know of were named Ruth and Anna (Hannah). The name Harriett was a common name used in the descendants of Sylvanus Kelly. These are possible first names for Sylvanus KELLY's wife, but I do not know if Samuel KNIFFIN/SNIFFIN b. 1727 and his wife Rebecca had a dau. by one of those names. They did have a dau. Hannah b. 1762 and m. a Thomas HOPKINS. It's possible that Sylvanus Kelly and his wife named a son Sniffin because Sylvanus had a good and close friend named Sniffin or with a surname of Sniffin/Kniffin. Sylvenus KELLY's brother Jonathan died in 1805 at an early age of 45 yrs. Jonathan's wife Grace sold the land (Sylvanus and Jonathan's father leased originally) to Samuel KNIFFIN/SNIFFIN in 1810. This Samuel KNIFFIN was probably the son of Samuel and Rebecca KNIFFIN who married Jane HUGHSON. So it appears that there was this Sniffin/Kniffin-Kelly connection somehow. I am seeking the wife's name of Sylvanus KELLY and her connection to the Samuel KNIFFIN/SNIFFEN b. 1727 family of Dutchess Co., NY. Thanks very much for any help. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.