I am Ben Van Norman. I am a direct descendant of Hiram Van Norman

I am convinced that Hiram's father was not Aaron Van Norman, but someone else. I have done a lot of research to prove my claim. Hiram's mother was Lucretia Bailey Woodward. She Married Aaron Van Norman in 1800 when she was already pregnant with Hiram.

I have started a DNA project on Ancestry.com. I have compared my DNA results with the Van Norman Family Association DNA results and found little likelihood that I am descended from Joseph Van Norman or Aaron Van Norman.

I hired a Canadian Certified Genealogist on Ancestry.com to research the long held rumor that Lucretia Bailey Woodward married a British Officer who was subsequently killed, leaving her pregnant with Hiram. The rumor has Aaron marrying her and raising Hiram as his own child and only revealing his true paternity just before his death. The results of this research are attached. Suffice to say that the rumor/belief is unlikely to be true. I am convinced that we must determine Hiram's father using DNA results.

I hope that some of you will join me in this research.

Ben Van Norman