Miriam, Kay, and others, Without digging into my records for specifics I will outline briefly what I know and what I suspect about my William. According to census records of his wife (Nancy Price), and his children he was born in Va. I suspect it was in the Augusta Co. area due to the similarities of sir names in Orange Co., In. and Augusta Co., Va.. I suspect that he was born before 1800 as the census list his wife Nancy being born in Va. abt 1797. I suspect they were married in Va. abt. 1815 as their first child was born in Va. in 1816. I suspect that they were in Ky. from 1817 until abt. the mid 1830's when they show up in Orange Co., In. as they had several of their 'middle' children who list Ky. as their birthplace in census records. Their last two children were born in Orange Co, In. in 1837 and 1839. Nancy and the children show up in the 1840 and 1850 census of Orange Co. Northeast Township, In., but no William, so I suspect that he died in Orange Co. abt 1839/1840. I suspect that he may have been considerably older than Nancy, but he could have just met an untimely death. Before the 1860 census the family moved to Clay Co., Il. as they show up on the 1860 census there. Prior to the 1870 census several of the children moved to Missouri for a short time and then at least one of them moved to Ok. and two of them moved to Montague Co., Tx.. I couldn't find any further information on Nancy so I suspect that she died in Clay Co. before 1870. Her death may have triggered the movement of the children in separate directions because the family had always stayed pretty close together until then. Added note: There was a Robert L. Blackburn who purchased a Federal Land Patent in Orange Co., In. in 1834. I suspect that may be the reason that William showed up there when he did. I think there is a strong possibility of a connection between Robert L. and William. Possibly father - son or brothers. Sam -- Samuel N. Blackburn 6706 South 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72908 501-649-9436 home page http://www.ipa.net/~sblackburn Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.