I agree with what Wilkie wrote -- I think there was a LOT of distrust for the government on the part of the Southern U.S. residents, and so *many* people were not counted in 1870. I can't find my Loveless or Knowles families in 1870 Drew County, yet I am sure they were there. Very frustrating. It's a huge gap from 1860 to 1880 and I know there are kids who were born/died in that time frame, but I cannot prove it. Maybe a good project would be to try to come up with an 1870 census supplement based on tax records. I know it still wouldn't cover everybody, but should turn up some of our families who are missing from the census. --Melissa Quoting bjw <jann_woodard@yahoo.com>: > I know this will sound crazy, but do any of you have trouble trying > to find families in the 1870 census? I have at least five different > families that are in Bradley Co. in 1860 and are still there in > 1880, but cannot locate them in 1870. I know this was during the > reconstruction period and strange things happened, but five > families? I do know lots of folks went to Texas during this time, > quite a few folks were killed in regard to martial law etc., but I > still want to know if any of you have come across this same thing. > > Jann