In a message dated 12/3/2000 3:01:19 PM Eastern Standard Time, housman@adelphia.net writes: > Regarding the Joseph and Ezra Holden that showed up on the 1850 census of > Vee - Thank you for the clarification above. It would seem that they are not connected to the J.W. (J.M.?) Holden in Hartland in 1820. I wish I could link Augustus to Justinian, Richard or Randall, but as time goes by I'm more inclined to think he was descended from a later migration. Too many Holdens! I thought at one time there was an affinity for naming children after Roman Emperors, but I found two Augustuses in Richard's line (b. 1822 New Salem MA and also 1822 Shirley MA) and none in Justinian's. I think it now more likely that for a short time Augustus was a popular name. Maybe an early novel? Or universal education with classical history? I too have inspected the two-volume Holden book and found nothing, but that was before I found his birth date and birthplace. When I look at it again I'll have a better shot at finding something. By the way, the Justiinian-Joseph-Abner-Ezra line also links to the Holdens of Hartwick, Otsego County, if memory serves me rightly. Another dead end for my search, but maybe helpful for someone else. Thanks again for your helpful reply. At least it eliminated a wrong turn and hours of fruitless searching. Fred