This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Blackburn, Bridges Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/SNE.2ACIB/1234.1.1.2 Message Board Post: My great great grandmother was Eleanor Blackburn (Nellie) who married John S. Merritt in Washington Co, Indiana in l840. They are found that same year in Crawford Co., census next door to another Merritt/Blackburn combo that had married in l837 and had a little child. The woman's name was Nancy Blackburn...and I want to say his was Elias...Merritt. I have wondered if two brothers didn't marry two sisters. Anyhow, it is thought that Ephraim Blackburn and Elizabeth Bridges were Eleanor's parents. She was born in l8l9 in Indiana. In the l850 census it appears Ephraim and Elizabeth were no longer in the picture, and the children were distributed into friends and family. Eleanor and John had one of these in their home. So this has lead some to believe she is the oldest sibling and took in a younger sister. I have quite a bit on Eleanor/John's children, grandchildren, etc. but since I have not been able to prove definately that Ephraim is more than a "close kinsman" . In an earlier census where the children are not named, there was an age category of the girls where Eleanor could have fit. But that is as close as I could get. I would like to hear what you have VERY much.