This is an example of how vital record indexes may lead you astray. I don't at present have the solution to the puzzle, but it may serve as guidance for those stuck on female lines. It is the reason you do not stop collecting information just because you think you have the answer. The Vermont Vital record index pre 1871 lists: Heman Washburn married Almeda Bliss 14 Aug 1825 Shelburn, VT Heman Washburn died 7 Apr 1848 age 53 No children were found in the Vermont Vital record index It would seem very straightford that Heman married a BLISS search the BLISS lines for someone with a daughter named Almeda In the National Archives Washington, D.C. is a file called RG 15 Bounty land Warrant applications from it comes the following. Unfortunately you need to go to Washington, D.C. to view it, it is impossible to photocopy. It is sealed with an old fashioned seal over 130 years old. To break the seal is to destroy the integrity of the document. It is a long bifolded paper with slits made in the top and a ribbon put through them. The ribbons are crossed over the front and a seal glues them down. You can look inside but can only photo copy the front and back and the bottom portions of the inside edge. 31 Jul 1855 Medina Co., OH Almeda E. Norton of Harrisville, Medina Co., OH mother of Eldridge Washburn, deceased soldier of 3rd Reg. U.S. Infantry, Mexican War Almeda claims she is the mother of Eldrige Washburn Eldridge Washburn died 4 Jun 1851 Fort Leavensworth [Kansas] and left no widow, child or father living She submits the family record & affidavit of Augusta M. Alford & Sarah E. Smith. She drew the back pay of Eldridge Washburn on 7 Jan 1851 under the name of Almeda E. Washburn but has since remarried She is applying for bounty land under the act of 1855 Copy of Family record Heman Washburn was born 1792 Almeda E. Chase was born in 1802 Amerilla M. Washburn born in 1825 Eldridge Washburn born in 1828 Marriages Heman Washburn & Almeda E. CHASE was married August 14th 1825 Amerilla M. Washburn was married to Elon G. Shepherd May 1st 1851 Mrs Almeda E. Washburn was married to Joseph Norton August 29th 1855 Deaths Heman Washburn diied April 5th 1847 Eldridge Washburn died June 14th 1851 So was Almeda a BLISS or was she a CHASE? I would suspect that she was a CHASE, when writing up the family record she probably though of her maiden name. Chances are good she is the widow of a BLISS. The only way to solve the puzzle is to tract down the families of BLISS and CHASE and test the theory. So don't stop lookng when you find the name in a vital record index. Susan Bingler Fairfax, VA