Hi Duryee Researchers: William H. Duryee was my GG-Grandfather; I have extensive information on his 3 offspring and some of their children. This branch of the Duryee family was born under a dark star, with lives marked by tragedy and loss. William was, according to my research, a blacksmith (as was his father, Chauncey (the first Chauncey)originally, before he invented the Duryee scales). William (married to Lizzie Morris) apparently "had issues" and abandoned his family when my G-grandmother was about 2, leaving Lizzie with 3 small children.He left the Rochester area about 1884, then moved from place to place in NY, working as a blacksmith after that, and was no longer living at the time of his mother's demise in 1897, according to her obituary. I have more information I am willing to share.
Regards--
Julie