I am new to this list; so I hope there are knowledgeable, helpful folks on it as on so many other lists. I am looking for any info on the families of ROOT and SOWLE(S) who may have lived in Jefferson Co., perhaps around Watertown, in 1838. There were at least three ROOT families in the 1840 Jefferson Co. census. And there was a Thomas SOWLE who lived in Clayton as of that census. William SOWLE(S)/SOULE, b. ca 1809 NY, married Cimantha/Samantha ROOT, also b. ca 1809, in either MA or NY. They likely had other children, but I know they had a female child b. in Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY on 11 May 1838. The problem is, there is a dispute about her name. She mainly went by Ellen M. in her adulthood, but also by Mercy E....looks like she switched her first and middle names at will. It is also possible her *real* name was something like Maranda or Macanda (writing illegible), which is the name of the 12-yr-old girl in the 1850 IL census for the county where we believe the family was living then. I know that there have been some really bad fires in Watertown since 1838, but are there any books or records that I might look at in the FHC for needed info? I am in desperation about Ellen/Mercy/Maranda, not to mention William and Samantha. This is a really strong stone wall. Help! Jane in AZ thaia@goodnet.com