1. Transcription of letter from former Essex County historian, A.F.Hayward of New York in answer to a request from a Mrs Stevens re Shandrew/Whitman/Wood.

"July 10 68, Dear Mrs Stevens; Today I had a long visit with both Otis Decker and his sister Mattie Floyd. I spent more time with Mattie than I did with Otis because she knew more details. First I will give you family data as is was given to me. ((Decker and Welch Children)) The following is as they gave it to me Both said Celia Ann Whitman (their grandmother) was married only once, to the best of their knowledge and belief. Celia, when young, had a child out of wedlock, called Sylvester Henry Shandrew, they too believed him to be the son of a man named Shandrew. Their mother used to correspond with him, he did not live with Wm Woods after their mother (Cordelia) was born. Cordelia told Mattie that Sylvester started to come to see them once and got as far as New York, was taken sick and returned home to Utah without seeing any of them. They knew Celia had a reputation and had lived with several men. Oatis said one was Will Patten brother of old Jim Patten. Mattie remembered Jim but did not know Will. Oatis did not know who her dau. Anna Perrys father was but Mattie said her mother told her it was William Perry. Mattie said she believed and it was commonly believed by the family that both Sylvester and Anna were illitigimate [sic]. Neither of them knew anything about Celia having another boy which Celia claimed she gave to her sister (more of this later). Neither knew anything about Bertha Hathaway other than Oatis said he remembered her but didn't know who she married or what became of her. Mattie did not think she was a child of Celia because Celia was about 54 years old when Bertha would have been born. Mattie said the small headstone beside her Grandfather Wood's stone which reads 'Baby Woods' was the headstone of Lucinda Woods. Mattie said her grandmother Celia died in the house on the farm that Stephan Hathaway and Celia lived in .. while Stephan was alive. This was the property that Clarissa Storrs sold on 23 Aug 1892 to Stephan Hathaway and 'Anna Perry the daughter of Celia Ann Patten." She thought this was the same property that Celia Ann Pattin deeded on 24 June 1889 to Stephan Hathaway reserving life interest. Then on 28 Dec 1893 Celia Ann Pattin sold the same to Ann Perry Brown, reserving the use + income for her support during her natural life. Mattie said that after Stephen died Celias brother George came there and lived with Celia and Ann Perry for awhile then later George + Celia moved to Lewis N.Y. living the little hamlet of "Stowersville' some years later Celia returned to the home farm and lived the rest of her life with Ann Perry Brown and her husband. After leaving Mattie I went to Elizabethtown to try and check for the 2nd boy that Celia said she gave to her sister, while there I found more on Stephen + Celia. On May 29 1880 Stephen Hathaway of Lewis was convicted of selling liquor without a license In the 1880 Census Stephen Hathaway 59 was living in Lewis with Celia A. Patten, Housekeeper age 45 On 11 Aug 1889 Stephen Hathaway of Westport and Rosanna Hathaway (his legal wife) of Lewis sell land in Lewis to Alonzo S. Hathaway. The witness was MC Perry (this was poorly written and could have been either M or W C Perry. Note that Anna Perry was living with Stephen + Celia in 1892-3 years after a W or M Perry witnessed Stephens signature. So much for Stephen. [[about Patten]] So much for Patten, now Whitman. In the settling of Josiah Hathaways Estate I find Josiah died in Sept 1845 his daughter Celia was then living the wife of Elisha Whitman of Lewis. By the year 1850 when the Estate was actually settled Celia Whitman leaving the following children listed as grand-children; George Whitman, Harvey Whitman and Lucy (Whitman) wife of Joseph Barber all of Lewis. Also listed as grand-children and children of a deceased daughter Polly Whitman were Mary (Mrs Luther Moody) of Jay Kilborn Whitman; Russell Whitman; Sally Dunn (These 3 the residence was unknown. Also Roxana (Mrs John Kent) of Pierpont, St Lawrence Co. [Long discussion about Lucy (Whitman) Barber family and the possibility of another, unknown, child born to Celia Ann, given to Lucy]

Celia Ann [Whitman] Wood being born Feb 20, 1835 and her mother Celia [Hathaway] Whitman dying between the years of 1845 and 1850 would leave Celia Ann a mere child of only 10 to 15 years old. It is possible she, soon thereafter, began working at household work, among the neighboring families, and being young without a mothers guidance, could have easily been lead astray. After my interviews today I have no doubt but what this did happen. It apparently was common knowledge to the Deckers and both of them today carried the attitude that it is far in the past and why should they hide it any longer. As Mattie said, "Those things happened, even oftener than we knew about, not only in our family but, many other families had just such goings on, I don't think they were any worse in those days than what goes on today." End quote and I think it was well said. I rather think Mrs Spaulding and her sister probably knew as much as the Deckers do but were rather reticent and did not care to talk about it. [discussion of charges for research to date] /s/ A.F.Hayward"

2. Place of birth entered based on data on death certificate.

3. Points of research A. No documented proof of marriage to John Shandrow B. No documented proof of place of birth.