Family History - Willie C. Clifford

1. Willie C. Clifford,¹ born ca. 1858 (parents not determined).¹ Willie married Aurelia Hollis¹ (born 30 April 1845 in New York, the daughter of Stephen Hollis and Lavantia C. Coons^{1, 2, 3}).

1. New York State Census, 1905, Rensselaer County, Nassau, Second Election District, Page 4, three related families: head Willie C. Clifford (47, farmer); wife Aurulia [sic] Clifford (51); mother Lavantia Hollis (77); servant Francelia Carrier (56); head Leander Coon (37, farmer); wife Maggie L. Coon (29); head Martha A. Coon (84); daughter Flower C. Coon [sic, Cornelia Flower; her surname was not Coon] (62).
2. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, New York, Rensselaer County, Nassau, Enumeration District 176, Page No. 12, family of Stephen Hollas (53, Mass., farmer); wife Lavantia Hollas (53, New York); daughter Aurelia Hollas (26, New York, makes collars); mother Caroline H. Hollas (81, Mass., widow); Carrie Gazlay (12, New York). Carrie is a step-niece of Lavantia through Carrie’s grandmother, Martha (nee ?) Coons, and her then-husband, Abram Coons, i.e., Lavantia and Abram are siblings. This Hollas family is living near Abram and Martha Coons.
3. Koon and Coons Families of Eastern New York, compiled by William Solyman Coons. The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc., Rutland, Vermont. 1937. Available at Heritage Quest Online. Extensive family history that includes, on page 122, Abraham Coons (b.1808 or 1809; d. 1890), preceded by his ancestors and followed by his descendants. His entry indicates his first wife was Angelina or Julina Adams, and after she died, Abraham returned to Rensselaer County and married, second, “some woman from Albany (name and date unknown). This 2nd wife was a widow and they made their new home not far from W. Stephentown or Alps.” All of his eight children were by his first wife.