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VAN NORMAN FAMILY Records of Mrs. Eric Gudgeon, Loweville [Lowville]. It is thought that Joseph Van Norman came from Holland to New York State. He was born in 1729 and died, 1817. Some say he lived in Canandaugua, N.Y. Information from the N.Y. Historical library which contains the first census taken in in the United States in 1790, states that there was a Joseph Van Norman residing in Chemung Township who had: 2 Free white males, 16 or over 3 children 3 girls According to information received from Miss Mabel Van Norman, 33 Locust St., Marblehead, Massachusetts, the Joseph Van Norman she knew about was said to have had eleven children, one of whom was Isaac Van Norman, who came to Halton County in 1810, Lot 4, Con. 3, S.D.S. and received 200 acres of land as a Crown Grant. On the Grant it stated that he came from township of Barton, County of Lincoln district of Niagara. The Grant is signed by FRANCIS GORE, Lieutenant-Govenor of Upper Canada. His land was described as being in Nelson Township, County of York. Later in 1840 he received another Crown Grant of 200 acres in Lot 3, Conn. 3, S.D.S., which he turned over to his son William Van Norman. In ? Isaac's first Grant was turned over to Daniel Everett Hopkins. In the abstract it stated it was an Arbitrators award. CONCERNING THESE PAPERS: (EARLY HISTORY OF THE BLODGETT FAMILY, BOOK ENTITLED "RED REVER [RIVER?] VALLEY".) TRIP from England made by Elizabeth Hodge Bell with her parents. Elizabeth later became the great-great grandmother of Marion, Bill and Susan, children of Mrs. Eric Gudgeon. LETTER from Mabel Van Norman with Genealogy of Van Norman family. It should be noted here that there is a connection between the Bells and Blodgetts. The name Hodge comes up in both and Marion North (or Worth) Blodgett Emery said that in pictures she had seen there was a great family resemblance. What exact relationship there was is unknown. Another refreshing little anecdote connected with the Hodge family trip is about the Judd family who were on the same sailing ship. They arrived in Hamilton and started the Judd Soap Company which became a thriving business. As it passed from generation to generation it finally was being run by two Judd bachelors until they died. Unfortunately they were more interested in sailing boats than the managing of a soap company. Whenever a nice day suitable for sailing appeared the soap company doors were locked and away the Judd brothers went. This state of affairs lasted for some years until the Judds were on the verge of bankruptcy. Mr. W. P. Gudgeon lent them money until finally there was nothing else to be done but go into bankruptcy. Bill the younger brother then came to work for Canadian Ana Line, owned then by Mr. W. P. Gudgeon. He came to work partly to pay his debt and partly to keep food in the mouth. He became well acquainted with Eric Gudgeon and before he died he told Eric he would like his wife to have a china Tea Service which he still owned and which had come over in the same sailing