Hi Joann, I just jumped to Doug Bingham's web site, and he does list a disclaimer re;Mary Metcalf. Perhaps to invite the same speculation we share? There's at least three discrepancies that he acknowledges with his information. Also what more can we find out about the Custom House? Erie County, NY is just an hour away for me, one only needs to point me in the right direction. Perhaps we've all heard of Buffalo NY? If that is the correct County and State, then the Custom House was of grave importance during the War of 1812. The Great Lakes region was very involved in that struggle. Of course if it was a county in Vermont--I'm all wet. Let me know. Vera Mae