This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/CI.2ADEB/9328.1.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Actually, there's nothing here that rules out Francis marrying twice and just being unaccounted for in the 1880 census (just for the time being, hopefully). The message posted to the ADAMS-L list only and not to the message board by Valerie Brooks is the only one that doesn't appear to be the same Francis Adams (born later and Francis doesn't have a son by that name that we're aware of yet). Here's how I've got it in my mind that this all could be the same guy: Francis is born Oct 1829 (birthdate from 1900 census- thanks Sharon!), marries Sophia Scott in Nov 1850, they have 2 kids between 1850 and 1860 that are listed on 1860 census. The William Payton in the home in 1860 is likely the son of Francis' sister, Serena Adams Payton (spelled PATEN in Francis' father's will, also seen spelled PEYTON, PATTEN- but I digress). In 1870, Francis is not in the home with Sophia and their now 4 kids (note that Mary F.(Fanney) is now simply F. Adams and Sarah E.(Elizabeth) is now E. Adams, and her age should be 12, not 2- the census takers were supposed to list children in age order, and 12, not 2, would support this- missed pen stroke by the enumerator or deterioration of the writing, possibly- things like that happen fairly often. As for the Franklin Adams living nearby, check his age and place of birth and see if they are consistent with the entries we've seen for Francis- he is listed as Franklin M. Adams in the 1850 census, Cedar Twp, Bo! one County. If Francis and Sophia divorced, he just might be living nearby as you stated, Mary, and I'm curious- is this Franklin living alone or in someone else's household? Anyway, we've gotten through the marriage to Sophia Scott, all children born before 1870. Now in Sept 1870 Francis marries Ellen Potter, and they start having kids of record in 1872. 1880 comes, and Francis' first wife Sophia is living with ALL her grown children in the home of their daughter Sarah Elizabeth Coleman and husband William Coleman. Ellen Potter Adams and children are living with Ellen's parents, but, like we're all asking about now, where in tarnation is Francis/Franklin/Whoever? And is Ellen really listed as single in 1880? The LDS census household page indicates as such. We don't find Francis again until 1900, this time listed as Frank M. Adams, but still in Moniteau County, and listed as a widower, and Ellen is listed as widowed also? The only explanation that comes to mind for "! Frank" to be listed as a widower is that maybe he's ditched his second wife, too, and is referring to first wife Sophia when stating he's a widower. That's just speculation, however, as I don't have a death date for Sophia- oh well, just something else to look for. So it is possible that this Francis/Franklin/Frank was the husband of both these ladies, and father to all those kids. Thanks, Sharon, for the additional census info! This has given us some new avenues to try to verify or disprove! I haven't had this much new info at once in many moons! Speaking of many moons, Francis' mother, Elizabeth or Betsy, was reputed to be a Cherokee, but we've got no proof, just the story of the "Indian Grandma" that came down through my family, and my wife's as well, before we found out we shared James and Betsy Adams as common ancestors. Curiouser and curiouser...