In a message dated 04/22/2000 5:28:42 PM Pacific Daylight Time, housman@prodigy.net writes: << Debbie, Regarding your Pratt family who settled in Wilson. ........ This is what was written about Nathan in "Landmarks of Niagara County, NY" edited by William Pool, 1897, Section I, page 307, regarding the early settlers of Wilson. <snip> >> -->> That was very interesting! So, have to piece a story together here about my Nathan PRATT. I have him born in VT, (no marriage proof yet)... then in northern VT with wife Anny LAY having children from 1798 on... I next had him in western NY by 1817. Your information puts him going to Canada to escape the War of 1812 and settling in Wilson, NY in 1815. Have to wonder how his wife Anna and the children made it over to Niagara County! Would they have "waited in VT", gone to Canada with him, or simply started the trek to western NY? Will be interesting to try to discover that.... Nathan had served in the Revolutionary War for VT... would he really have been drafted for the War of 1812 at his age? (this just goes to show how many things there are to learn at once as we piece our ancestor's lives together!) << On page 308 of the same volume it says, "Among other prominent residents of Wilson, past and present may be mentioned: . . . Calvin Pratt and son Lorenzo N. on lot 82 ..." Lot 82 is just east of the village and on the 1860 map I have it shows C. Pratt on the Youngstown Rd. >> -->> What 1860 map do you have? It shows the names of residents / landowners on it? Is it possible to purchase such a map somewhere? << In the biographical section of the book, Section III, page 138, it gives a biographical sketch of Lorenzo. It says: <snip> >> -->> I knew about Lorenzo Pratt in the Civil War. I have sent for and received his pension and military files from nara - and the booklet available there locally about Billy Sherman (the horse!). It was actually a volunteer online who first told me about the horse story. However, in your reference: it puts a relationship from Lorenzo to father Calvin and in turn to father Nathan. This is great! Also, the section about Calvin Pratt and Samantha Hawks. Here, you write of her father Joseph Hawks. Have a fuzzy recollection of looking for a Joseph Hawks in the census in NY and not finding him... then going to CT... since I believe Samantha was born there... again, with negative results. Your quote gives me hope though, that the man existed.. was Samantha's father.. and perhaps I can go to Sampubco or something and look for a probate record. He must be in some record somewhere, yes? You also listed Lorenzo Pratt's children. Since you say 2 of them are "deceased" and the book was written in 1897, I can use that as a further clue. What is the "Ontario Lodge" it says Lorenzo was a member of? Is this Odd Fellows? Other family members in later generations belonged to IOOF. << Debbie, regarding your Asa being buried in an unmarked grave, I believe that the funeral home of Hamilton and Clark is right when they told you that in their opinion the unmarked plot next to Lovina's is where he is actually buried. <snip> >> -->> Yes, Asa died after his wife Lovina, so it would indeed have been left to the children or other family to put a tombstone in place. Your reasoning that this just didn't always happen makes sense. Rather makes me want to set one in place there, you know? << I hope the above helps you with your family search. But, hey, Debbie, don't I know you? CAhobbies@aol.com is a very familiar email address! >> -->> Yes, sort of! I wrote you many months ago... about the KRUEGER family and the NorthRidge Cemetery. You wrote and said you thought you recalled seeing several Krueger graves there. I've since learned more about this family and the SCHUMAN's as well.. but that is for another message! You must see tons of e:mail addresses flashing by you.... what a fabulous memory you have! I've also learned that parish records exist at the church located right next to the NorthRidge Cemetery... so want to explore that research path... see what years, etc. Your message was a welcome present.. hopefully something of worth came along for others here on the list? And thank you, Vee. Hope you have a wonderful Easter sunday! And the very same wish for all of you! debbie CAhobbies@aol.com

Debbie <cahobbies@aol.com> asks: > What 1860 map do you have? It shows the names of residents / > landowners on it? Is it possible to purchase such a map somewhere? I don't own the map (yet), but I do know how you can learn more: 1860 Niagara County, NY Maps Reprinted http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyniagar/extras/ncsmaps.htm Enjoy! -- Ellen Keyne Seebacher elle@pobox.com