You were lucky to find your man in Bibb Co. I have looked in vain for several years for a clue to why my great grandfather, Thomas A. Bates and parents Francis Marion Bates and wife Easter/Esther Henley/Henly were not in the 1840 Fed Census for Bibb Co. My GGF stated in his Confed pension application in TX in 1912, that he was born in Bibb Co, AL in April 1839. The family did not appear in Bibb or surrounding counties in the 1840 census. They were in the 1850 census in Kemper Co, MS and the birthdates and birthplaces of the children show they were still in AL until about 1844 when they moved on to MS. Did you happen to uncover any data about them in your search for David? Thanx Jack Bates [email protected]