I need some help here. I started with the following family in 1880: 1880 Federal Census: Texas, Kaufman County, ED 37, page 35 (108C) household 344/360 Bowles, Nelles L. - W M 34, farmer Bowles, Rilla - W F 32, wife, keeping house Bowles, Clarence - W M 8, son, at school Bowles, Curtis - W M 6, son Bowles, Joella - W F 3, daughter Bowles, Roots - W M 11/12 (born July 1879) Next I looked in the 1900 Kaufman Co TX census and found this family: 1900 Federal Census: Texas, Kaufman County, ED 74, page 9B household 92/95 Bowles, Nuldus L. - head, W M May 1845, 55, married 30 years, GA NC Bowles, Mary S. - wife, W M May 1848, 52, married 30 years, 9 children/5 living, TX KY Anderson, Tulula - daughter, W F Nov 1881, 18, married 2 years, 1 child, TX GA Anderson, Howard M. - grandson, W M Dec 1899, TX TN Anderson, Charles C. - son-in-law, W M Nov 1871, 28, married 2 years, TN Bowles, Clarence C. - son, W M Dec 1871, 28 [This entry crossed out; but it indicates a connection.] Bowles, Conrad L. - son, W M Feb 1895, TX GA Roots, Mary - mother-in-law, W F Sep 1816, 83, widowed, KY VA This record tells me that this Nuldus L. Bowles married a lady named Mary S. Roots. Note that in the 1880 census record above, Nelles and Rilla had a son they named Roots Bowles. This is a very unusual given name unless it is the mother's surname. Notice also that the ages are significantly close for Nuldus/Nelles, Mary/Rilla, and Clarence. I am thinking that these two records are for the same family, but I can't be sure yet. The name Nuldus L. Bowles appears only twice in census indexes, here in 1900 and in 1850 Georgia as shown in the next record. 1850 Federal Census: Georgia, Jackson County, Subdivision 45, household 1118 Anderson Bowles - 45 M, farmer $800, GA Elizabeth M. Bowles - 16 F, GA Cicero R. Bowles - 14 M, GA Balsora J. Bowles - 13 F, GA Anderson H. Bowles - 11 M, GA Franquitta F. Bowles - 10 F, GA Priscilla C. Bowles - 8 F, GA Loven D. Bowles - 7 M, GA Nuldus L. Bowles - 6 M, GA Nancy J. C. Bowles - 4 F, GA The same family is located in the 1860 Jackson Co GA census as follows: 1860 Federal Census: Georgia, Jackson County, J. Randolph District household 776 Anderson Boles - 55 M, farmer, $1200, $1580, VA Elizabeth Boles - 30 F, GA Nathan Boles - 2 M, GA no name Boles - 6/12 F, GA household 777 Anderson H. Boles - 21 M, farm laborer, --, $100, GA Sarah Boles - 21 F, GA John Boles - 6/12 M, GA household 778 Cicero Boles - 23 M, farm laborer, --, $150, GA Elizabeth Boles - 19 F, GA Franqueretta Boles - 19 F, GA Clemantine Boles - 18 F, GA Levin Boles - 16 M, farm laborer, GA Nullia Boles - 14 M, GA <================= Nuldus? Nancy Boles - 13 F, GA Given the very unusual given name of Nuldus, I tend to believe that both Nuldus Bowles (1850, 1900) are the same person. Now let's turn back to the Roots family. Look first at this 1850 census record: 1850 Federal Census: Texas, Sabine County, page 316 household 90 Thomas Roots - 37 M, farmer, KY Mary Roots - 34 F, KY Edmund Roots - 13 M, KY William Roots - 11 M, KY John Roots - 9 M, KY Nancy Roots - 7 F, KY Elizabeth Roots - 4 F, TX Sonilda Roots - 2 F, TX <=========== Is this Mary? Clarrissa Roots - 3/12 F, TX And this 1860 record: 1860 Federal Census: Texas, Grayson County, Sherman Jct., page 138 household 57 Thos Roots - 48 M, farmer, $1200, $800, KY Mary Roots - 43 F, KY Wm R. Roots - 21 M, farmer, --, $250, TX(?) Elizabeth Roots - 13 F, TX Mary S. Roots - 11 F, TX <======== Sonilda? Clara L. Roots - 9 F, TX Thos G. Roots - 7 M, TX Sarah F. Roots - 5 F, TX Preston Roots - 3 M, TX Here is where I have to speculate a bit. I think that this Mary Roots, age 43, is the same as the mother-in-law in the 1900 census who is 83. I also think that her daughter Mary Sonilda Roots is actually Mary Serrilla Bowles, and that the 1880 census record showing Rilla Bowles is her. Please feel free to show me that I am wrong. Charlie