This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Tedbytes1 Surnames: Rice-Wheelock-Payne-Pratt Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.saintlawrence/16525/mb.ashx Message Board Post: According to two living descendants in Michigan, one being Linda Cooksey, a St. Lawrence County,N.Y. researcher that I have corresponded with for 15 years, Silas was used familialy to distinguish father from son as both were named Abner. I have been to the Payne Cemetery as recent as this May in Edwards, and his stone states Abner as you elude. I have always called him Silas Abner Rice accordingly.There was grandfather,father, and son all named Abner. I have bumped heads many times with researchers of this family tried to prove to me that Abner who married Experience Shepard in 1754 was indeed related to descendants of Deacon Edmund.Deacon Edmund thru his son Henry Rice descends however, thusly to Silas Abner Rice albeit not directly as a Rice. Here goes Deacon Edmund Henry Rice Lydia Martha Wheelock Abel Pratt Abel Pratt Jr. Betsey Pratt Silas Abner Rice I can furnish husbands and wives to you if needed so it is made a little clearer. So you see there is a connection, but circuitously; to Silas Abner Rice. Many families as you know inter-marry so many possibilities exist. Any DNA of MDNA can't prove this as the male gene breaks off here. Keep me posted. Ted Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.