This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: dmburch123 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.burch/2334.4/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The 1820 Federal Census reports that Thomas Burch's son William Burch (1779-1857) was living in Jefferson Township, Muskingum County, OH. In later censuses, William Burch reports he was born in Maryland. Thus, William Burch moved from Maryland to Ohio before 1820. In the book entitled "The Ohio Frontier," the author Douglas Hurt says that Delaware Indian were settled in lands associated with the Muskingum River (Muskingum County, OH) during the period of 1750-1820. "In 1817,the federal government began in earnest to remake the ohio Indians in the white man's image. It did so by confining them to resevations." As part of this effort, the Delaware Indians were forced off their lands and were sent to a reservation near Upper Sandusky, OH. I believe a legitiment "hypothesis" is that William Burch, who may have been one-half Delaware Indian, originally moved to Muskingum County in order to be close to his mother's family and/or his Indian heritage. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.