Re: Ira & James Brownell

Richard,
Apparently there are several Ira and James Brownells in Schenectady County.
I have Ira b. ca. 1812 and Son James E. b. Apr 1848. I believe James E. m. Martha (D. or O.) Herrick 1873/4. (She appears in probate documents of her father Leonard d. 1872 as Martha Herrick early in the process and Martha Brownell late in the process.) There are Brownells in Duanesburgh in 1810 and 1820. Herricks from Duanesburgh also.
There are "family files" at the Schenectady County Historical Society. http;//www.schist.org
click on library, then holdings, then family files, then appropriate letter. There are Brownell and Duryee files. I was there in Nov 2006 before I knew of the Brownell connection, so haven't looked at that one, yet. (I live in KY but have family up that way whom I visit twice a year.)
If you beat me there maybe you could check for Herrick connection for me.
If you can pin down a death year, or if you want to search a range, you can go to the microfiche of the New York State Vital Records Index in Buffalo, Rochester, or Syracuse Main Public Libaries, or New York State Library at Albany and look up deaths by year alphabetical by last name. You can order a death certificate for genealogy for $22 from NYS Health Dept. It should have names of parents of deceased as well as other info.
Bob