Went to work today (I only work 4 hours) and couldn't help but think about what Melissa wrote. What if I have been looking for the wrong person all the time? There is no guarantee that William H.H. Green of Smith Township, Bradley County in 1850, is the same as W.H. Green registered with the freedman's bureau in 1866. I think my elusive Mr. Green was missing on the census for 1860. Went to Ancestry.Com and there is no W.H. Green on the census or the slave census schedule in the entire state of Arkansas. I'm going to have to get back with Michelle on this one. I refuse to give up because I know my family didn't just 'appear out of thin air'. Once again, this is what the record looks like. Freedman's Bureau Records 'Labor Contracts' of 1866, field office Monticello, Drew County., Entry 393-Labor Contracts (found by Michelle Hood) Employer Contacts Employee's Age Term of Contract W.H. Green Nannie 63 Rations/Clothing Estes and 15 $3.00/Clothing/Rations infant Mike 10 Rations/Clothing Puss/Victor 8 Rations/Clothing Perry 23 1/10 of all crop raised farm of employer except potatoes/2 suits of clothes. Estes is Easter, and Victor is Victoria. Note that Puss and Victoria are both 8 years old. This was recorded in 1866 and on the 1870 Bradley County, Arkansas census it shows Puss has aged 9 years and Victoria is still 8. There is only a 4 year difference here and Puss had aged 9 years and Victoria hasn't aged at all. Also, on the 1870 census, Puss is stating she was born in S. Carolina, and Victoria states (or rather Mike, head of the house, or Easter by then) is reporting she was born in Arkansas. No W.H. Green on the 1860 as I stated before, but Michelle did find a tax record that listed W.H. Green as paying taxes on 10 slaves, ages over 5 and under 60, valued at $5800. I *think* she said this took place in Bradley County. Sound confusing????? Well, guess what?...It is. Who was this W.H. Green? OK, I'm finished and thanks all for letting me dim your eyes and bend your ears, I need the Genies and the Ancestors help here. Dena.