The censuses of some the decades report household children named Joel R. Forrester and Amos L. Forrester. The United States Census of 1860 reports the interesting particular that these were both of “Mulatto” race, aged 22 and 18 respectively. This census (but none of the others) reports the presence of Amos Lovejoy, “Mulatto,” aged 56, suggesting that Amos was the father of Joel R. and Amos L[ovejoy, presumably]., Junior. This was somewhat after the abolition of slavery in New York, but not very long after the time when the slaves were declared free, except that the youngest were obliged to serve an indenture period with their masters.

But the 1870 census includes Amos L. Forrester, noting his race as “White.”150,149

The 1870 census is also notable for reporting the presence of a Putnam family a few lines down from the Forrester family, suggesting a possibly connection for the marriage between son Joseph Henry and Margaret Ella Putnam. However, the two Putnam families were clearly different, and no relationship has so far come to light.