Linda - I really like what I see here with your logic. My comments and additions.... There is a David D. Van (N)Orman (b. ca. 1831/2 NY) residing in Warren, Bradford in the 1860 census and in Wyalusing, Bradford County, PA in the 1870 and 1880 census returns which could be the brother of Charles of Warren, Bradford County, PA. He married Sarah M. (b. ca. 1834/5 PA) His children include: Adelaide (c1857); Leroy (c1867); Percelia E. (c1871/2); and Carrie L. (c1875) - all born in PA. [Haven't been able to locate him in the 1850 census return yet. --- Also note first daughter named Adelaide!!] According to his death registration transcription at Joyce Tice's Tri-County website, he was born in Rensselaer County, NY, the son of William & Sally VanOrman. [daughter Percelia's marriage record transcription at the same website confirms this is D. D. VN] Also interesting is the fact that a William Van (N)Orman (1801 Washington Co., NY - 1894 PA) and his wife Adelaide [Smith???] (1812 VT - 1891 PA) are also residents of Orwell [1850] & Warren [1860, 1880], Bradford County, PA. His known family includes William Dennis (1835 NY); Henry Smith (1840 NY); and Mary (c1849 PA). The 1840 census of Easton, Washington County, NY fits this family, if the children from the (first?) wife Susan are figured in - the child under 5 being William Dennis VN, and Henry Smith VN not born yet........ (although the notes [tombstone transcription] I have indicate that Henry was born in January 1840, and therefore should bave been counted in the census return.......) If we could determine if this William married Adelaide in the 1831 - 1835 time period in the Pittstown area, we may be able to combine these two families into one larger one! Thanks for posting this! Stephen On Thu, Sep 16, 2010 at 1:11 PM, Linda Schwenn <schwel@comcast.net> wrote: > PROBATE ABSTRACTS > RENSSELAER COUNTY SURROGATE > > > SHEARWOOD, John of Pittstown - 9 Oct 1837 - 4 Dec 1837. Heirs: son, John W. > Shearwood; daughters: Nancy & Ann Mariah Shearwood; and Leah Wager; > grand-children; Charles, Nancy, & David Van Ornam children of daughter, > Susan. Exec. son and Abner Dayton. [Abstracted & Compiled > by Barbara Jeffries] > > > A William Van Ornam is living in Pittstown in 1830, one male under 5, 1 > male > 20-29, one female under 5, one female 30-39. Not there in 1840. John > Shearwood is John Sherwood in the 1830 census for Pittstown. > > If Susan were alive, she'd be listed with the living heirs, I think. > > 1840 NY Williams age 30-39 that have been identified (thanks to Stephen > Wood, *et al*) include > William Van Arnum in Easton, Washington Co., *Easton is about 15 miles > north > of Pittstown. * > William Van Norman in Marcellas, Onondaga, NY. > > If Susan's 3 children all lived, the Easton resident has children the > right ages (M:1 under 5, 1 5–9, 1 10–14, 1 30–39 F: 1 10– 14, 1 20– 29) > The > assumed wife 20-29 is perhaps too young for a male 10-14 who is living in > the household. Children's ages are consistent with a second marriage. > > So IF William of Easton in 1840 is the same family: Nancy and one of the > boys would have been born 1826-1830 and the other boy 1831-1835, consistent > with the 1830 Pittstown William record. > > This Charles fits the birth year and could be a possibility. > Home in 1850 : Stillwater, Saratoga, New York , Family Number: 266 > Charles Vanornam 24 NY farmer > Almira Vanornam 22 NY > Mary Rowley 30 NY > Same dwelling, diff fam, Geddediah Palen 49 NY, Ruth Palen 28 NY > > Almira is believed to be the dau of Thomas Gowin b VT abt 1802. Her mother > was b NY. Almira and Charles named their first son Thomas William. In 1860 > and 1870 Charles and Almira are in Warren, Bradford, PA. They are buried in > Little Meadows Cemetery in PA: > > Linda Schwenn > >