Wellman 1855 , Milford, NY
I'm looking for any clues or confirmation that two of my ancestors were adopted. They are:
Lewis Barber WELLMAN b.1855, Milford, Otsego, NY.
Parents listed as Alonzo and Marilla WELLMAN
Census lists him as living with them since 6 years old at least. I can find no birth record (index)for him online.
Maybe his middle name BARBER is a clue - there are Lewis BARBERS listed in Otsego County around that time and around 1800 - 1810 a Lewis BARBER married Betsey SWEET whose sister Sally married Jacob WELLMAN, who we always believed to be Lewis' gr grandfather.
Anna BUSH (wife of Lewis - also reported as being adopted)
b. 1854, South Valley, Otsego, NY.
Parents listed as William BUSH and Nancy STRAIT
I find William and Nancy BUSH on the 1860 census in Roseboom, 2 doors down from Bernard STRAIT. They have several children listed, but no Anna.
I find a 15 year oldAnna BUSH on the 1870 census in Middlefield, Otsego, NY living with the family of William and Elizabeth VAN DUESEN - could that be her?
If she was legally adopted - would she have retained her birth parent's surname?
Also - Marilla died while Alonzo was at war in 1864. Someeone would have had to take care of Lewis and his siblings - could that have started the story that he was adopted?
I haven't been able to find anything else on this, and was hoping someone might know something - I am not readily able to make a trip to the area to search records.
Thank you!