Hi Chuck, I didn't mean to sound like you didn't know, its just that a lot of people just assume that a mother didn't want her children because the courts took them.. as I said the children did not belong to her they belonged to the husband.. so the courts decided where they went. Usually if a mother/widow got to keep her children a relative stepped into vouch for her.and put up a bond, to garentee they would pay her bills incured while raising the children.. your: As I understand it, it's stated in the court records. Nelda L. Percival nee Gilpin, IBSSG Beatty descendant line #005 Beaty collateral line #10 Graves descendant line #231 Digin up bones at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/ _________________________________________________________________ Get business advice and resources to improve your work life, from bCentral. http://special.msn.com/bcentral/loudclear.armx