This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Johnson Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4R.2ADE/1605 Message Board Post: I am trying to unravel my Conecuh Johnson ancestry -- and it is very difficult. Let me give everything I have and hope someone can connect or at least give some insight. I have 2 gg-grandfathers Johnson (Richardson and James) who were on the 1840 Conecuh census, and I have wondered if they may have been brothers. Richardson Johnson, born about 1819 in GA. I cannot find him on the 1850 census anywhere, though he had some children about that time born in MS and AR. He is in Baldwin County, AL in 1853 and lived there until his death in about 1894. Richardson had some 3 wives. I descend from the 1st wife and she may have been Effie/Effa, for on the 1850 Conecuh census there is an Effa Johnson with several children who "fit" the children of Richardson -- and with a young son named Richardson -- a very unusual first name. Again my gg-grandfather is not to be found in 1850. Of course Effa may have been his sister or some other relative -- but the connection seems to be very close. And then the mystery: On the 1850 census, Effa is in household number 824. Nearby, in household number 1819 is an older family, Silas and Tempie Johnson. I have a copy of their daughter's Bible which gives Silas born March 9, 1786 and Tempa Kelley born May 11, 1802. It would seem that Richardson and Effa are related and are furthermore somehow related to Silas and Tempie.... But how? My other gg-grandfather was James Johnson, born about 1817 in GA, and his wife Emily, born about 1815 in GA. They are in Conecuh in 1840 and 1850, in Escambia, FL in 1860, back in Conecuh in 1870. Emily is on the 1870 Conecuh Mortality Schedule. Now here is the kicker: James and Emily have children named Silas and Tempy and Leroy (Leroy being the name of one of Silas' sons) -- as for that, their daughter Tempy was my g-grandfather (she married Richardson's son Monroe Johnson in Conecuh in 1870). SOOOOO, it seems that James and Emily have also a very close connection to the older Silas and Tempy. Furthermore, the older Silas sold his land to Emily about the time of the Civil War (from Conecuh land records). How are James and Emily related to Silas and Tempie? OK (are you with me so far?).... Richardson and James have a close connection to Silas and Tempie. I first thought that they were his sons, but I find Silas on the 1820 Conecuh and 1830 Covington County censuses with no sons of the right age to be Richardson and James. As for that, Silas is single on the 1820 census, and he shows only 1 son on the 1830 and 1840 censuses, evidently Leroy, born about 1827 (find Leroy on the 1850 Conecuh census nextdoor to Silas). So it seems that neither Richardson nor James are sons of Silas.... Furthermore, there is a Polly Johnson with James Johnson on the 1870 Conecuh census. Polly was age 85, born in NC -- born about 1785. Hmmmm, was she the mother of James? I know that Polly was many times a nickname for Mary. I have examined the 1850 and 1860 censuses and the ONLY Mary Johnson I can find "in the area" born about 1785 and born in NC was in Washington County, FL -- Mary Johnson, wife of Greenberry Johnson, born about 1870 in NC. Find this Greenberry Johnson on the 1830 and 1840 Lee County, GA census. A lot of connections, but nothing substantial. I would appreciate any help and/or insights. Thanks. Ken Johnson