Martha -- "Moria", NY, did and does exist -- that is "Moriah" in Essex Co., NY, and was formed the 12th of Feb 1808 out of Crown Point, NY. In addition, to confuse things more, there is a "Moira" NY in Franklin Co., NY, the next county to our northwest. I did a quick scan looking through the 1850 and 1855 and 1875 censuses of Moriah, of which I happen to have photocopies on hand, and I don't find any family at all by the name of PERKINS (this is one of my ancestral family names, also, mine being to this county from St. Lawrence Co.). Either his family did not answer census taker's knocks at the door, or he was never at home and nobody knew them, or they were located off the beaten path and forgotten somehow. If I were you, I would look in Moira, Franklin Co., NY, before investing more time looking in Moriah, Essex Co., NY. It could also be possible that the family was on the town line on one side or another, and was written down as being in one of the neighboring towns -- that was not uncommon in our county, either. You mention that your Ira PERKINS died in Clinton Co., MASS -- incidentally, the next county to our immediate north is also Clinton Co., NY. Good luck in your search. Janet