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What surnames are you interested in researching?: Matthews, Burbank, Dubois, Delamater, Smith, Kent, van Arnhem, Hagewout, Koch, Tompkins, Gifford, Howland, Place, Plass

What countries and other locations are you interested in researching?: United States, Netherlands, Sweden

If you are a genealogy expert, what are your specialties?: New York, Colonial U.S.

At 11:11am on February 24, 2012, Amy Gillett said…: Hi Ray, Just read through your page and I'm hoping you might be able to help me. My 2nd Great Grandmother was Ellen Plass b. 1850 Woodstock NY d. 1924 in Middletown NY. She married Charles H. Jones. The family always said she was Native American and called her the "Squaw from Woodstock" anyway, I am trying so hard to prove or disprove this. She HAS been quite a mystery!! Her death certificate was filled out by her daughter-in-law - and it lists William and Betsy Plass as her parents. However there is no Ella Plass living with either of those parents from 1850 - 1880 in either Columbia or Dutchess Counties. The first time there is any record of her is in 1900 when she is already married. Her husband's Civil War pension file is filled with discrepancies, one time he says he was only married once, another time he says he was divorced (the same year he married Ella) - his obituary says he "married a soldiers widow" - some family believe that he met her out west during the war and brought her back - but her death certificate says she was born in Woodstock. Could the Plass's be her first husband's family? Ugh!! Really hoping you may have some thoughts/insights here.... THANK YOU!!