My gggrandfather Gilbert Chard (b. ca. 1815) was a ship's carpenter and the family seemed to move often: 1835- Married Mary Stubbs, Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y. 1840 Census- Mamaroneck, Westchester 1850 Census- Clarkstown, Rockland 1860 Census- Greenwich, CT The only possible clue I have, so far, to his parentage, is the 1860 Census where he lived in Clarkstown. On the same Census page is George W. Snedeker, his wife Elizabeth (Chard), and 68 year old Hannah Chard. >From Gertrude A Barber's Graveyard Inscriptions of Rockland County I have: Mt Repose Cemetary, Haverstraw George W. Snedeker Sept 18, 1812 Apr. 4, 1873 Elizabeth Chard, wife, March 3, 1813 May 2, 1901 Hannah Chard, Apr 30 1782 Feb 23, 1861 John Chard d. Jun 13, 1850 age 53y 6m 29d Catherine Snedeker, wife, d. Jan 11, 1884 80y 4m 22d Elizabeth is the right age to be Gilbert's sister and Hannah to be his mother. John and Catherine would seem to be too young. George W. Snedeker was also listed as a ship's carpenter. Possibly they worked together at Snedeker's Landing. Does anyone have more information on these families or perhaps suggest a place to start looking? Are there town vital records in Rockland for that time period or only Church records? I did some unorganized poking around in the Clarkstown Reformed Church Records and came up empty. Any advice would be appreciated. Regards, -- Bob Starkins mailto:rstarkins@earthlink.net