Since my 'brick wall' person lived in Manhattan I thought I would post one try to get some help. Excuse the lengthy details. Thanks for reading. Background: There were three New England STAPLES clans in Colonial America, Peter in Maine, Jeffrey in Mass. and Thomas in Conn. Recently a researcher has found that Jeffrey and Thomas were related, this also proved by DNA testing. I am descended from Thomas. There was a Staples in New York City in the early 1800's who I have been trying to connect with one of these groups, without success. William J Staples, b. abt 1810 in New Rochelle, d. 1883 Manhattan, NYC. m. 8/23/1838 Hannah M Wright. William & family went to Harve, France abt 1843, he as US Consul. They returned to New York from France in Oct,1849. Children included Wright b 1840, Ernest b 1842, Francis b 1845, John b 1846, Gertrude b 1848, Fanny b 1852, Edith b 1854. All born in NY except Gertrude who was born in France William died in 1883 and is buried in St Pauls Cemetery in Manhattan. Son Ernest died in 1906 and is also buried in St Pauls. William was close friend of Gov. Tompkins, bought land on Staten Island in what became Stapleton. Gov Tompkins bought land in what became Tompkinsville. I have info on the children but have been unable to determine his parents. I have his obit, no mention of parents. I have all of the testimonials from his appointment as Consul, no parents mentioned. No siblings mentioned anywhere. Searches in Westchester have found nothing. William and family are in the 1840, 1860, 1870, 1880 census. Cannot find them in 1850, the year after they returned from France. BILL STAPLES Researching STAPLES, HOLMES, ELMS, DEHART, SHERWOOD, NICHOLS, COSMAN. Website: www.wstaples.net