Using the census records indexes for Henry County VA, I find the following Bowles families from 1820-1850: 1820 Federal Census: Virginia, Henry County, page 28 Alexander Bowles - 00001-0 1830 Federal Census: Virginia, Henry County, page 185 Alexander H. Bowles - 010001-021001 1840 Federal Census: Virginia, Henry County, page 277 Alexander Bowles - 0101001-201111 1850 Federal Census: Virginia, Henry County, page 15 household 321/321 Alexander Bowls - 56 M, farmer, VA Catharine Bowls - 55 F, VA Elizabeth Bowls - 28 F, VA Magy Bowls - 26 F, VA Middleton Bowls - 10 M, VA Malinda Bowls - 14 F, VA Catharine F. Bowls - 14 F, VA 1850 Federal Census: Virginia, Henry County, page 17 household 357/357 John M. Bowls - 33 M, farmer, VA Mary Bowls - 28 F, VA James Bowls - 6 M, VA Henry C. Bowls - 5 M, VA William A. Bowls - 3 M, VA Harriet Bowls - 2, VA 1850 Federal Census: Virginia, Henry County, page 23 household 165/165 Martha Cabinis - 43 F, VA Lemuel Bowls - 27 M, farmer, VA Nancy Bowls - 20 F, VA Nancy Bowls - 1/12 F, VA 1850 Federal Census: Virginia, Henry County, page 33 household 447/447 Joseph Bowls - 31 M, laborer, VA Lucinda Bowls - 30 F, VA Mary Bowls - 5 F, VA (not named) Bowls - 6/12 F, VA I had thought that Alexander might be the father of Joseph, but Joseph doesn't appear in Henry County until he marries Lucinda Robertson on 9 May 1846. Since he was born about 1819, he should be on someone's list for '20, '30, and '40; but Alexander does not show a male the right age in those years. Any ideas on who Joseph's parents might be?